Tom Baxter (footballer, born 1903)

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Tom Baxter

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Thomas William Baxter

| birth_date = {{birth date|1903|2|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Mansfield, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|08|21|1903|2|1|df=y}}

| death_place = Cannock, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=4}}{{cite news |title=Port Vale's Capture |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19290822/009/0002 |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=22 August 1929}}

| position = Left-winger

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Warsop Church Lads

| years1 = | clubs1 = Welbeck Colliery| caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = | clubs2 = Newark Town| caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = | clubs3 = Worksop Town| caps3 = | goals3 =

| years4 = | clubs4 = Mansfield Town| caps4 = | goals4 =

| years5 = 1927–1929| clubs5 = Wolverhampton Wanderers| caps5 = 50| goals5 = 14

| years6 = 1929–1931| clubs6 = Port Vale| caps6 = 54| goals6 = 11

| years7 = 1931–1932| clubs7 = Mansfield Town| caps7 = 14| goals7 = 1

| years8 = | clubs8 = Margate| caps8 = | goals8 =

| years9 = 1933–1934| clubs9 = Carlisle United| caps9 = 5| goals9 = 0

| years10 = | clubs10 = Distillery| caps10 = | goals10 =

| totalcaps = 118+| totalgoals = 26+

}}

Thomas William Baxter (1 February 1903 – 21 August 1987) was an English footballer who played on the left wing for Welbeck Colliery, Newark Town, Worksop Town, Mansfield Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Port Vale, Margate, Carlisle United, and Distillery. He helped the "Valiants" to win the Third Division North title in 1929–30.

Career

Baxter played amateur football for Welbeck Colliery, Newark Town and Worksop Town (Midland League). He began his professional career with his hometown club Mansfield Town. He moved to Second Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers in late 1927, and made his "Wolves" debut on 17 December 1927 in a 2–0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.{{cite book |author=Matthews, Tony |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers: The Complete Record |year=2008 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |isbn=978-1-85983-632-3}} He remained in the team for the remainder of the 1927–28 season and played the majority of the 1928–29 campaign. He scored 15 goals in 53 appearances for the Midlanders as an attacking player. He left Molineux to join Port Vale in August 1929.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Personalities|publisher=Witan Books|page=20|year=1996|isbn=0-9529152-0-0}}

He was a regular member of the "Valiants" 1929–30 Third Division North winning side, claiming nine goals in 43 appearances. He lost his first-team place in December 1930, and featured in just 16 games of the 1930–31 season, as the Vale achieved a club record high of fifth in the Second Division. He left The Old Recreation Ground at the end of the campaign and returned to Mansfield. He later spent two spells with Margate and also played for Carlisle United and Distillery (Irish League).

Career statistics

Source:{{ENFA}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="3"|Wolverhampton Wanderers

|1927–28

|Second Division

|24

42100265
1928–29

|Second Division

|26

1010002710
colspan="2"|Total

!50

1431005315
rowspan="3"|Port Vale

|1929–30

|Third Division North

|39

93000423
1930–31

|Second Division

|15

21000162
colspan="2"|Total

!54

1140005811
Mansfield Town

|1931–32

|Third Division South

|14

10000141
Carlisle United

|1933–34

|Third Division North

|5

0000050

Honours

Port Vale

  • Football League Third Division North: 1929–30{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale|publisher=Witan Books|year=1990|pages=124–150|chapter=From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)|isbn=0-9508981-4-7}}

References