17 Facts About Tom Holford

Thomas Holford was an English footballer who played for Stoke, Manchester City, Port Vale and the England national team.

Tom Holford later managed Port Vale on two separate occasions, serving throughout World War I, before three years from 1932 to 1935.

Tom Holford served the club for many years as a trainer and a scout.

Thomas Tom Holford was born on 22 February 1878 in Hanley, Staffordshire.

Tom Holford was the fifth of six children to Thomas Henry and Anna Davis, a potter's manager and potter's sponger respectively.

Tom Holford worked in the pottery industry from at least 1891 to 1921.

Tom Holford married Sarah Jane Platt in 1903, and the couple had two daughters, Lily and Annie.

Tom Holford started his career with Granville's Night School and Cobridge before he moved on to one of the two local league clubs; Stoke in 1899.

Tom Holford "did not put a foot wrong" in his first seasons at the club before establishing himself as the centre of Stoke's half-back line between James Bradley and George Baddeley following Alf Wood's departure in March 1901.

Tom Holford was too good to be lost to non-League football, so he had to leave his hometown club, for which he played nearly 270 games.

However, Manchester City finished second-bottom in the First Division, and Holford again suffered relegation.

Tom Holford made his last appearance for Manchester City on 13 April 1914 against Newcastle United, giving him a final total of 183 appearances and 38 goals for the club.

Tom Holford led the side to a North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup victory in 1915.

Over his full career Tom Holford played 474 league games, an exceptionally large number for the period, he had played everywhere except in goal.

Tom Holford was regarded as an excellent passer of the ball.

Tom Holford had two spells as manager of Port Vale, the first as player-manager from 1914 to 1918 when he was player-manager.

Tom Holford retired as a scout in 1950, having been a trainer at the club from July 1939 to July 1946.