Tommy, the owner of arguably the most distinctive head of hair in post-war football, was an automatic choice as England for a decade, a centre-forward described by Joe Mercer as 'technically, surely the greatest number nine of all time'. At his peak in the late 1940s, he was the central figure in the most celebrated of all England forward lines: Matthews, Mannion, Mortensen and Finney supplied the chances, but Tommy was the undisputed leader, the fulcrum, of the attack.
Tommy, whose slicked back black hair and centre-parting made him an instantly recognisable figure, was rated by many of his contemporaries as the greatest ever practitioner of the art, surpassing even Dixie Dean, once his hero and mentor at Everton. At the height of his career Tommy earned in the region of £3,000 a year, making him, it was claimed, the first ever footballer to the top rate of tax. Sadly though, he would end his life a lonely, impoverished figure.
Tommy was a football prodigy. At the age of 16 years and 174 days, he became the youngest centre-forward ever to play League football, according to newspapers of the day. The day after signing professional in 1936, he scored a hat-trick against Spurs, outwitting Arthur Rowe, the Spurs and England centre-half. Everton had seen enough. The club paid £6,500, a record fee for a teenager, the following December veteran Dean immediately took him under his wing. 'You'll be no bloody good at this heading lark 'till you move your feet more,' Dean told him. 'Tommy soon learned. He had just the right build for a centre-forward.' The following season, his first full campaign at Goodison Park, Tommy was the leading scorer in the First Division, with a total of 28 goals. Leading scorer again in 1938-39, his tally of 35 goals that season helped Everton lift the title.
In 1945 Tommy left Everton for Chelsea, a decision he would later regret. Having already lost six prime years of his career to the war, he then became something of a footballing nomad, with stints at Notts County, Brentford and Arsenal. He stayed only one full season at Stamford Bridge before making the most controversial move of his career. Notts County of the Third Division paid a record transfer fee of £20,000 for his signature. He was also promised a job outside football to augment his income. The transfer caused a sensation. It was certainly good business for County: the club won promotion and crowds rose almost four-fold. At 28 years of age, Tommy was in his prime. Yet the following season he made his last appearance for England. Both Billy Wright and Stanley Matthews thought he was dropped prematurely. 'It was a huge mistake,' Matthews said.
Reflecting on Tommy's contribution over the years, Billy Wright cited one goal above all others: a first-time shot 'that barely rose four inches from the ground' against Italy in 1948. 'No hesitation, no nerves, just the work of a truly great player, a natural goal-scorer.'
His ashes are lodged at the National Football Museum at Preston.
Tommy, whose slicked back black hair and centre-parting made him an instantly recognisable figure, was rated by many of his contemporaries as the greatest ever practitioner of the art, surpassing even Dixie Dean, once his hero and mentor at Everton. At the height of his career Tommy earned in the region of £3,000 a year, making him, it was claimed, the first ever footballer to the top rate of tax. Sadly though, he would end his life a lonely, impoverished figure.
Tommy was a football prodigy. At the age of 16 years and 174 days, he became the youngest centre-forward ever to play League football, according to newspapers of the day. The day after signing professional in 1936, he scored a hat-trick against Spurs, outwitting Arthur Rowe, the Spurs and England centre-half. Everton had seen enough. The club paid £6,500, a record fee for a teenager, the following December veteran Dean immediately took him under his wing. 'You'll be no bloody good at this heading lark 'till you move your feet more,' Dean told him. 'Tommy soon learned. He had just the right build for a centre-forward.' The following season, his first full campaign at Goodison Park, Tommy was the leading scorer in the First Division, with a total of 28 goals. Leading scorer again in 1938-39, his tally of 35 goals that season helped Everton lift the title.
In 1945 Tommy left Everton for Chelsea, a decision he would later regret. Having already lost six prime years of his career to the war, he then became something of a footballing nomad, with stints at Notts County, Brentford and Arsenal. He stayed only one full season at Stamford Bridge before making the most controversial move of his career. Notts County of the Third Division paid a record transfer fee of £20,000 for his signature. He was also promised a job outside football to augment his income. The transfer caused a sensation. It was certainly good business for County: the club won promotion and crowds rose almost four-fold. At 28 years of age, Tommy was in his prime. Yet the following season he made his last appearance for England. Both Billy Wright and Stanley Matthews thought he was dropped prematurely. 'It was a huge mistake,' Matthews said.
Reflecting on Tommy's contribution over the years, Billy Wright cited one goal above all others: a first-time shot 'that barely rose four inches from the ground' against Italy in 1948. 'No hesitation, no nerves, just the work of a truly great player, a natural goal-scorer.'
His ashes are lodged at the National Football Museum at Preston.
Tommy, the owner of arguably the most distinctive head of hair in post-war football, was an automatic choice as England for a decade, a centre-forward described by Joe Mercer as 'technically, surely the greatest number nine of all time'. At his peak in the late 1940s, he was the central figure in the most celebrated of all England forward lines: Matthews, Mannion, Mortensen and Finney supplied the chances, but Tommy was the undisputed leader, the fulcrum, of the attack.
Tommy, whose slicked back black hair and centre-parting made him an instantly recognisable figure, was rated by many of his contemporaries as the greatest ever practitioner of the art, surpassing even Dixie Dean, once his hero and mentor at Everton. At the height of his career Tommy earned in the region of £3,000 a year, making him, it was claimed, the first ever footballer to the top rate of tax. Sadly though, he would end his life a lonely, impoverished figure.
Tommy was a football prodigy. At the age of 16 years and 174 days, he became the youngest centre-forward ever to play League football, according to newspapers of the day. The day after signing professional in 1936, he scored a hat-trick against Spurs, outwitting Arthur Rowe, the Spurs and England centre-half. Everton had seen enough. The club paid £6,500, a record fee for a teenager, the following December veteran Dean immediately took him under his wing. 'You'll be no bloody good at this heading lark 'till you move your feet more,' Dean told him. 'Tommy soon learned. He had just the right build for a centre-forward.' The following season, his first full campaign at Goodison Park, Tommy was the leading scorer in the First Division, with a total of 28 goals. Leading scorer again in 1938-39, his tally of 35 goals that season helped Everton lift the title.
In 1945 Tommy left Everton for Chelsea, a decision he would later regret. Having already lost six prime years of his career to the war, he then became something of a footballing nomad, with stints at Notts County, Brentford and Arsenal. He stayed only one full season at Stamford Bridge before making the most controversial move of his career. Notts County of the Third Division paid a record transfer fee of £20,000 for his signature. He was also promised a job outside football to augment his income. The transfer caused a sensation. It was certainly good business for County: the club won promotion and crowds rose almost four-fold. At 28 years of age, Tommy was in his prime. Yet the following season he made his last appearance for England. Both Billy Wright and Stanley Matthews thought he was dropped prematurely. 'It was a huge mistake,' Matthews said.
Reflecting on Tommy's contribution over the years, Billy Wright cited one goal above all others: a first-time shot 'that barely rose four inches from the ground' against Italy in 1948. 'No hesitation, no nerves, just the work of a truly great player, a natural goal-scorer.'
His ashes are lodged at the National Football Museum at Preston.
Tommy, whose slicked back black hair and centre-parting made him an instantly recognisable figure, was rated by many of his contemporaries as the greatest ever practitioner of the art, surpassing even Dixie Dean, once his hero and mentor at Everton. At the height of his career Tommy earned in the region of £3,000 a year, making him, it was claimed, the first ever footballer to the top rate of tax. Sadly though, he would end his life a lonely, impoverished figure.
Tommy was a football prodigy. At the age of 16 years and 174 days, he became the youngest centre-forward ever to play League football, according to newspapers of the day. The day after signing professional in 1936, he scored a hat-trick against Spurs, outwitting Arthur Rowe, the Spurs and England centre-half. Everton had seen enough. The club paid £6,500, a record fee for a teenager, the following December veteran Dean immediately took him under his wing. 'You'll be no bloody good at this heading lark 'till you move your feet more,' Dean told him. 'Tommy soon learned. He had just the right build for a centre-forward.' The following season, his first full campaign at Goodison Park, Tommy was the leading scorer in the First Division, with a total of 28 goals. Leading scorer again in 1938-39, his tally of 35 goals that season helped Everton lift the title.
In 1945 Tommy left Everton for Chelsea, a decision he would later regret. Having already lost six prime years of his career to the war, he then became something of a footballing nomad, with stints at Notts County, Brentford and Arsenal. He stayed only one full season at Stamford Bridge before making the most controversial move of his career. Notts County of the Third Division paid a record transfer fee of £20,000 for his signature. He was also promised a job outside football to augment his income. The transfer caused a sensation. It was certainly good business for County: the club won promotion and crowds rose almost four-fold. At 28 years of age, Tommy was in his prime. Yet the following season he made his last appearance for England. Both Billy Wright and Stanley Matthews thought he was dropped prematurely. 'It was a huge mistake,' Matthews said.
Reflecting on Tommy's contribution over the years, Billy Wright cited one goal above all others: a first-time shot 'that barely rose four inches from the ground' against Italy in 1948. 'No hesitation, no nerves, just the work of a truly great player, a natural goal-scorer.'
His ashes are lodged at the National Football Museum at Preston.
Gravesite Details
Commemorated in Book of Remembrance.
Ashes held at the National Football Museum, Preston.
Sponsored by Ancestry
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