Profile

Born in Hollinwood, Tom first played with Hollinwood Swifts and followed the path of many others in joining Oldham via the Failsworth Old Boys club in 1893. An agile, vigorous, forward, he occasionally played in the backs and was also a noted local sprinter.

He had spells with Salford and Crompton before returning to Oldham in 1896. Despite losing two fingers and a thumb in a works accident, Tom continued his rugby career and gained a winners medal for the 1899 Challenge Cup, although he didn’t play in the final, he did appear in the first two rounds.

He went on to become a permanent fixture on the Watersheddings scene serving on the committee and being a honorary vice-president right up until the 1940s.