Thomas John "Spill" Spilsbury (1874–1947) was a footballer who played 57 games at left-back for Burslem Port Vale (25 in the Midland Football League, 16 in the Football League).

Thomas Spilsbury
Spilsbury in a Burslem Port Vale squad photo in 1898
Personal information
Full name Thomas John Spilsbury[1]
Date of birth 1874
Place of birth Stoke-upon-Trent, England
Date of death 1947 (aged 72–73)
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
Dresden United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1897–1901 Burslem Port Vale 41 (0)
Total 41 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Spilsbury played for Dresden United, before joining Burslem Port Vale in February 1897.[1] His debut match could hardly have gone better; an 8–0 romp over Grantham Rovers at the Athletic Ground.[1] He was a regular until January 1899, and was a member of the 1898 Staffordshire Senior Cup winning side during his run.[1] He played 15 Second Division and two FA Cup games in the 1898–99 season, but featured just once in the 1899–1900 season and retired at the end of the 1900–01 campaign.[1]

Career statistics edit

Source:[2]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Burslem Port Vale 1896–97 Midland League 9 0 0 0 9 0
1897–98 Midland League 16 0 5 0 21 0
1898–99 Second Division 15 0 2 0 17 0
1899–1900 Second Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 41 0 7 0 48 0

Honours edit

Port Vale

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 277. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Thomas Spilsbury at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)