Tom Devlin

James Thomas S. Devlin (10 April 1903[upper-alpha 1] – after 1935) was a Scottish professional footballer who made 17 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham, Preston North End, Swindon Town, Walsall and Oldham Athletic. He played as an inside forward.[1]

Tom Devlin
Personal information
Date of birth (1903-04-10)10 April 1903[upper-alpha 1]
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Place of death Scotland
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Vale of Clyde
– Shawfield Juniors
– Kilsyth Rangers
1923–1924 Third Lanark 7 (0)
1924 King's Park
1924–1926 Birmingham 2 (1)
1926–1927 Preston North End 8 (1)
1927–1928 Liverpool 0 (0)
1928–1929 Swindon Town 1 (0)
1929–19xx Brooklyn Wanderers
1931–1932 Aberdeen 0 (0)
1932 Walsall 4 (0)
1932 Fall River
1933–1934 FC Zürich
1934 Fleetwood Town
1934–193x Oldham Athletic 2 (0)
1935–1936 RC Roubaix
– Fleetwood Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Devlin was born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire. He began his football career with junior clubs[2] before moving into the Scottish League, first with Third Lanark[3] and then King's Park. He came to England to sign for Birmingham of the First Division in September 1924. Devlin played only twice for Birmingham, unable to dislodge Johnny Crosbie from the inside-right position, and in January 1926 joined Preston North End for a fee of £362.[4] After only a few first-team games, Devlin was sold on to Liverpool for £250,[4] at the same time as his brother William joined from Huddersfield.[5] Unlike his brother, Tom Devlin failed to appear for Liverpool's first team,[6] and moved on to Swindon Town 12 months later.[2]

Then followed appearances for clubs in several countries, including Brooklyn Wanderers and Fall River in the United States, FC Zürich in Switzerland, and RC Roubaix in France, interspersed with a return to Scotland with Aberdeen,[1][4] though again without appearing for the first team,[7] and several more English clubs,[4] including further appearances in the Football League with Walsall and Oldham Athletic.[1] He retired from the game in about 1936, and died in his native Scotland.[4]

Notes
  1. Michael Joyce's Football League Players' Records gives a birth date of 10 April 1903,[1] whereas Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk gives 6 October 1903.[2]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 73. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "Tom Devlin". Swindon-Town-FC. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  3. [A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players], John Litster / Scottish Football Historian magazine, October 2012
  4. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  5. "William Devlin". lfchistory.net. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  6. "On this day in Liverpool history – 18th May". YNWA.tv. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  7. "1931–32 Senior Squad". Aberdeen FC Heritage Trust. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
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