Born in Hartlepool on 21st April 1925, Tom played his first football during the war for local side Railway Athletic before moving to Pools as an amateur in April 1946, playing in just one wartime game that season. In the summer he signed professional terms for the club, reverting back to amateur terms weeks later. However, the centre half made just a handful of league starts before later playing for Murton Colliery Welfare. He passed away in February 2008.