Thomas Wainwright

Thomas Wainwright (1876 – 13 May 1949) was an English footballer who played as a half-back for Burslem Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra, Wellington Town, and Notts County between 1900 and 1906.

Thomas Wainwright

Wainwright in a Burslem Port Vale team photo.
Personal information
Full name	Thomas Wainwright[1]
Date of birth	1876[1]
Place of birth	Nantwich, England[1]
Date of death	13 May 1949 (age 72-73)[1]
Place of death	Nantwich, England[1]
Position(s)	Half-back
Youth career
	Crewe Carriage Works
1893–1900	Nantwich
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1900–1902	Burslem Port Vale	21	(0)
1902	Crewe Alexandra
1903	Wellington Town
1904–1905	Notts County	8	(0)
1906	Wellington Town
Total		29+	(0+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Thomas Wainwright was born in 1876 in the Johnstons Buildings on Beam Street in Nantwich. His father was James Wainwright (1851–1926) who married his mother Mary Ann Simmons (1852–1937) on 3 March 1872 in Nantwich. He was one of nine children, having six brothers and two sisters. Around 1891 he moved from Beam Street to 24 Mill Street, Nantwich, and according to the 1891 census his occupation was a boot clicker. He started his footballing career with Crewe Carriage Works before appearing for Nantwich in The Combination in 1893–94, going on to serve his home town club to the turn of the century. In 1901 the census reports him as a general labourer just before he went on to play football.

Wainwright joined Burslem Port Vale in November 1900 and made his debut at the Athletic Ground in a 3–2 win over Barnsley on 1 December.[1] He enjoyed a spell in the first team, and ended the 1900–01 campaign with 14 Second Division appearances to his name.[1] However he then fell out of the first team picture, and was released at the end of the 1901–02 season.[1] He then moved on to Crewe Alexandra, Wellington and Notts County.[1] He finished his playing career back at Nantwich before becoming the club's trainer in 1913.

At the end of his professional playing career he married Emily Pitt in Nottingham. They then moved back to Nantwich, living at 22 Mill Street, Nantwich, where he became an engineering labourer, moving on to be a furnace-man at the local railway works. They had five children between 1907 and 1922: Eric, Doris, Leonard, James and Olive.

Thomas Wainwright died in Nantwich on 13 May 1949 from prostate cancer. He is buried in Nantwich cemetery with his wife Emily and daughter Doris.

Statistics

Source:[2]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Burslem Port Vale	1900–01	Second Division	14	0	0	0	14	0
	1901–02	Second Division	7	0	2	0	9	0
	Total		21	0	2	0	23	0
Notts County	1904–05	First Division	5	0	0	0	5	0
	1905–06	First Division	3	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		8	0	0	0	8	0

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 299. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. Thomas Wainwright at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)