Tom Williamson (Scottish footballer)

Thomas Robertson Williamson (8 February 1901 – 1 April 1988) was a Scottish footballer who played in the Football League for Blackburn Rovers, Norwich City and Stoke.[1]

Tom Williamson
Personal information
Full name Thomas Robertson Williamson[1]
Date of birth 8 February 1901[1]
Place of birth Dalmuir, Scotland[1]
Date of death 1 April 1988(1988-04-01) (aged 87)[1]
Place of death Norwich, England[1]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Half-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
1922–1923 Blackburn Rovers 19 (1)
1923–1926 Third Lanark 85 (2)
1926–1930 Stoke City 152 (14)
1931–1933 Norwich City 82 (4)
Total 253 (19)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Williamson was a Ship's plater working on the River Clyde before he started to play junior football for Kirkintilloch Rob Roy at weekends before signing for English First Division side Blackburn Rovers.[1] Unfortunately, he never fitted in at Ewood Park and he returned to Scotland to sign for Third Lanark.[1][3]

In 1926 Stoke City moved in and persuaded Williamson to sign for them in an attempt to gain an instant return to the Second Division.[1] Williamson proved to be a shrewd signing by Tom Mather as he displayed his quality in his first season with Stoke winning the Football League Third Division North in 1926–27.[1] He was almost ever-present in 1927–28 missing just two matches as Stoke had a good return to the second tier, finishing fifth.[1] For the next two seasons Williamson forged a fine half back partnership with both Len Armitage and Harry Sellars and this trio were a vital part of Stoke's midfield towards the end of the 1920s.[1]

In 1931 he left the Victoria Ground and joined Norfolk club Norwich City where he played for two seasons before retiring.[1] He continued to live in Norwich until his death in 1988 at the age of 87.[1]

Career statistics

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Source:[4]

Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 1922–23 First Division 4 0 0 0 4 0
1923–24 First Division 15 1 0 0 15 1
Total 19 1 0 0 19 1
Stoke City[1] 1926–27 Third Division North 28 5 2 0 30 5
1927–28 Second Division 40 2 4 1 44 3
1928–29 Second Division 33 3 1 0 34 3
1929–30 Second Division 37 3 1 0 38 3
1930–31 Second Division 14 1 2 0 16 1
Total 152 14 10 1 162 15
Norwich City 1931–32 Third Division South 40 1 2 0 42 1
1932–33 Third Division South 41 1 1 0 42 1
1933–34 Third Division South 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 82 4 3 0 85 4
Career Total 253 19 13 1 266 20

Honours

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Stoke City

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ Quiz (21 August 1922). "Few big transfers in the First Division of the Football League. Blackburn Rovers". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  3. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Tom Williamson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)