The Thistle Archive

This left-back began with his local junior club, Lochgelly Rangers before switching to the senior grade with Northern League Lochgelly United in May 1903. He was loaned to Thistle for couple of games in April 1904, and was included in the travelling party for a tour of Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, he got injured over there and his parent club were not best pleased! Tommy signed for Cowdenbeath, another Northern League side, for season 1904-05. In May 1905 he moved on to Leith Athletic, where he would make a name for himself over the course of two seasons in the Scottish League Second Division, hardly missing a game for the Edinburgh side. They were champions in 1905-06 and won the Scottish Qualifying Cup, but all of this was not enough to be favoured in the promotion vote at the League elections. After the completion of his second League season at Leith, Tommy won a big move down to Blackburn Rovers who were a real force in the English game. He spent 8 seasons at Ewood Park making over 100 competitive appearances, but having to be content with reserves football for the majority of his time there. They were champions of England in both 1911-12 and 1913-14. Early in 1915, Tommy left for Accrington Stanley of the Lancashire Combination. After the war was over, he wound down with Darwen (non League) in 1918 and Great Harwood (Lancashire Combination Division Two) in 1919, before retiring from the game. His son, David, was also a footballer, and was on the books at Blackburn Rovers, Nelson and Carlisle United.