Tommy Winship

Tommy Winship
Personal information
Full name Thomas Winship[1]
Date of birth (1890-07-14)14 July 1890[1]
Place of birth Byker, England
Date of death 1976[1]
Place of death Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[2]
Playing position Outside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Sleekburn Villa
– Wallsend Park Villa
1910–1913 Woolwich Arsenal 28 (3)
1913 Fulham 2 (0)
1913–1915 Woolwich Arsenal / Arsenal 27 (4)
1919 Hartlepools United[lower-alpha 1] 8 (2)
1919–1926 Darlington[lower-alpha 2] 146 (17)
1926–1927 Crewe Alexandra 19 (1)
1927–19?? Wallsend

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Thomas Winship (14 July 1890 – 1976), generally known as Tom or Tommy Winship, but also referred to as Wee Winship because of his small stature,[2][3] was an English footballer who played as an outside left. He scored 25 goals from 222 appearances in the Football League playing for Woolwich Arsenal and Fulham before the First World War and for Darlington and Crewe Alexandra after it.[1]

Winship began his football career in the area local to his native Newcastle upon Tyne for clubs including North-Eastern League club Wallsend Park Villa, from where he joined Football League First Division club Woolwich Arsenal in late 1910. He made nearly 30 first-team appearances in a little over two years, then spent the last few weeks of the 1912–13 season with Fulham before returning to Arsenal, by then a Second Division team. In the two seasons before the Football League was suspended for the duration of the First World War, he took his appearance total to 56 matches, then returned to the north-east where he worked in shipbuilding and then served in the Royal Engineers.

After the war, he played for Hartlepools United in the Northern Victory League, then helped Darlington reach runners-up spot in the 1919–20 North-Eastern League and win the title the following year. Darlington were elected to the newly formed Northern Section of the Third Division in 1921, and Winship contributed to their second-place finish in their first season and their Northern Section title in 1924–25. Before Winship could represent Darlington in Second Division football, they had to pay £100 to Arsenal to transfer his registration, which that club had retained. He was not a regular at the higher level, but still took his total of league appearances for Darlington to nearly 150 over five seasons. He then spent one last season in the Football League with Third Division Crewe Alexandra before winding down his career back with Wallsend.

Early life and career

Winship was born in the Byker area of Newcastle upon Tyne, which was then part of Northumberland,[1] the third child of John Winship, a brickmaker, and his wife Mary.[4] He began his football career in the local area, and it was playing for North-Eastern League club Wallsend Park Villa that he earned himself a reputation as "one of the best junior players in the North".[5] He attracted attention from clubs at a higher level, and in late 1910, he signed for Woolwich Arsenal of the Football League First Division.[5]

Woolwich Arsenal

Winship made his Woolwich Arsenal debut on Boxing Day 1910 against league leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford; United won 5–0.[6][7] A fortnight later, the Sheffield Daily Telegraph described the team as having "a couple of capable, enterprising wingers, though Winship was a bit late waking up" in a 3–2 defeat to Sheffield United.[8] He had a run of seven league matches, counting the visit of Aston Villa abandoned because of bad light, before losing his place to the established first-choice winger David Greenaway.[7]

He came into the team for the Christmas 1911 fixtures against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur: a heavy defeat at Tottenham preceded a 3–1 win in muddy conditions at the Manor Ground, in which Winship – described by the Daily Mirror as having the ideal build for work in mud – played a major role. He crossed the ball to give Charles Lewis an opening goal from close range, Arsenal's second goal followed the free kick awarded when he was fouled, and he scored "an exceptionally clever" third himself.[9] It was his first competitive goal for Arsenal, and his second came a few days later in a 2–2 draw with Aston Villa.[7] In mid-March, he was carried off the field with what the Daily Express called a nasty leg injury in a match against West Bromwich Albion and played no further part in the first team that season.[7][10] Winship married Rose Kilpatrick in Newcastle later that year.[11][12]

In 1912–13, he played 14 league matches, scoring once,[7] before signing for Fulham just ahead of the March transfer deadline.[13] Arsenal were relegated to the Second Division at the end of that season, and promptly re-signed Winship, who had played just twice for Fulham. Questions were asked as to the probity of the transfer – Sir Henry Norris had been and remained a director of Fulham before becoming major shareholder in and chairman of Arsenal[14] – but the Football League's management committee ratified his return.[15] Woolwich Arsenal began the 1913–14 season in their new stadium with the visit of Leicester City on 6 September. The visitors took a one-goal lead, and George Jobey scored the equaliser – Arsenal's first goal at what would become generally known as Highbury – with a header from Winship's corner; Arsenal won 2–1.[16]

Later that season, the club dropped the "Woolwich" from its name and began to call itself The Arsenal. Winship scored the first goal for the club under that new name to equalise against Bristol City: Jobey sent a free kick across goal "and Winship, running in, crashed the ball into the net with a magnificent first-time drive".[17] He also appeared to score a winner, but the "goal" was disallowed; the game was temporarily halted while the police dealt with displeasure among the home support.[16] Winship never established himself as a first-team regular; his Arsenal career ended when the Football League was suspended for the duration of the First World War, at which point he had played 56 first-team matches.[6]

First World War

Winship returned to Tyneside to work in shipbuilding,[6] but kept up his footballing skills when he could. In October 1915, together with a number of other former professional players, he took part in a benefit match for the family of a local footballer killed on active service.[18] The following year he guested for Ashington in Easter fixtures against Blyth Spartans,[19] and was expected to appear for Leeds City at Grimsby Town in the Midland Section of the wartime league competition, but did not.[20][21] By November 1917, listed as Sapper Winship, he was guesting for Grimby for their visit to Leicester Fosse,[22] and in September 1918, he was a member of the Royal Engineers Reserve Battalion team that won a five-a-side tournament in aid of the Football National War Fund.[23] In December 1918, after the war ended but before his demobilisation, Lance-Corporal Winship played for the 1st Royal Engineers stationed at Newark, Nottinghamshire, against a Derby-based eleven featuring the former England international Steve Bloomer, who was making his first footballing appearance since his return from a German prisoner-of-war camp.[24]

By February 1919, Winship was back in the north-east and playing for Hartlepools United in the Northern Victory League. He appeared in eight matches and scored twice.[3] When league football resumed in the 1919–20 season, he did not return to Arsenal, but became one of a number of former Football League players to sign for the re-formed Darlington club, playing in the North-Eastern League.[25]

Darlington

North-Eastern League

In his first season he helped Darlington reach the second round proper (last 32) of the 1919–20 FA Cup, with a goal in the 5–0 elimination of Southern League club Norwich City,[26] was "ever dangerous" in the goalless draw at home to First Division The Wednesday in the first round,[27] and took the corner from which George Stevens opened the scoring in the replay.[28] Darlington faced Second Division Birmingham in the second round without centre forward Dick Healey, and according to the Yorkshire Post's reporter, in his absence "there were long spells in the game when Winship, who is very clever when he gets an opening, was left without the slightest chance of gaining distinction."[29] Winship missed a penalty, Birmingham won 4–0, and "it must have been exasperating to the supporters of Darlington to see Winship having such an idle time on the far wing."[29]

The club began the North-Eastern League season well. By mid-October, when Winship contributed two goals to a 5–3 defeat of Sunderland Reserves, they were top of the table,[30] but were unable to hold on to their lead, and finished two points behind Middlesbrough Reserves.[31] He was a key player in 1920–21:[32] his contributions included the only goal of the away match against Hartlepools United[33] and a penalty in the 3–2 win away to Middlesbrough Reserves,[34] as Darlington finished one point ahead of the latter to win the title.[31] They were one of four North-Eastern League teams to be elected to the newly formed Northern Section of the Third Division.[31]

Football League

Within the first minute of Darlington's first Football League match, at home to Halifax Town on 27 August 1921, Winship made a run down the left wing and crossed towards Bill Hooper, whose "driving shot"[35] was "in all probability" the first goal scored in the new division.[32] According to the Northern Echo, Winship was the best player on the field: "time and again he got away down the wing and sent across some lovely centres".[32] He provided numerous assists over the season,[36][37] including one cross that confused Wrexham defenders into giving away an own goal,[38] and scored goals as well, including two in a 7–3 defeat of Durham City,[39] as Darlington finished in second place.[40]

Although Darlington performed rather less well in 1922–23, Winship remained in the thick of the action. Against Rochdale, he scored his side's only goal, struck the crossbar from distance, and was fouled for a penalty, but George Malcolm's kick was saved.[41] The following week, he was again fouled for a penalty, and this time Hughie Dickson's kick produced the only goal of the game.[42] In March 1923, after he scored twice against Bradford, the Derby Daily Telegraph described him as "quite the most consistent forward in Darlington's weak attack" whom "no inducement has yet proved sufficient" to persuade to leave.[43] Arsenal had retained his registration, and listed him for transfer at a fee of £300, a not inconsiderable sum for a man of nearly 33.[44]

At the end of the next season, Winship was awarded a benefit, in recognition of his five years' service as "one of the most popular players ever connected with the Skerneside club";[45] he could not play in the match, against a Middlesbrough eleven, because of injury.[46]

He began the 1924–25 season in the reserves, Walter Creasor being preferred at outside left,[47] but soon returned to first-team duties. In September, he "played a great game" in a losing cause at Tranmere Rovers,[48] and scored with a "swinging shot which curled into the net" to open the scoring at home to Bradford.[49] Darlington soon established a lead at the top of the division which they were to hold for the rest of the season, despite their team containing numerous "real old stagers", players who were well known before the war.[50] Winship himself was still "nippy",[51] despite his veteran status, though not as quick as the outside-right Mark Hooper.[52]

If Darlington wanted to retain his services for their Second Division campaign, Arsenal required payment; a fee of £100 was agreed, and Winship became Darlington's player. Similarly, they had to pay £150 to Bury for the transfer of full-back Tommy Greaves, who had been with the club a similar length of time.[53][54] By October, the team were struggling at the higher level, and Winship and other of the older men were dropped in favour of "younger and speedier players".[55] Darlington retained their Second Division status, and Winship brought his career statistics to 17 goals from 146 Football League matches with the club.[1]

Later life and career

Winship, Davie Brown and George Stevens were among the players not offered terms for 1926–27. All three were given free transfers,[56] and all three returned to the Third Division North with Crewe Alexandra.[57] Winship scored what was to prove his only goal for Crewe in a 3–3 draw with Lincoln City in September,[58] but after the game conceded "without hesitation" that the goal should have been disallowed because a teammate was clearly in an offside position.[59] The Derby Daily Telegraph wrote in December that he had been one of Crewe's most consistent players of the season thus far, that his experience counted for much, and despite his advancing years, he was still capable of being a "very powerful and dangerous raider".[60] He scored once from 19 League matches with Crewe, and his Football League career ended at the end of that season.[1]

In December 1927, Winship returned to the North-Eastern League with his former club Wallsend.[61]

He died in Newcastle in late 1976 at the age of 86.[62]

Notes

  1. ↑ Appearances and goals in the Northern Victory League.[3]
  2. ↑ Appearances and goals in the Football League only.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 285. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. 1 2 "Tommy Winship played in the first game at Highbury". woolwicharsenal.co.uk. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Wee Winship". In The Mad Crowd. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription Wilfred Street, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England". Census reference: RG12 4214 38 24. Retrieved 29 July 2015 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  5. 1 2 "World of Sport". Daily Mirror. London. 2 December 1910. p. 18.
  6. 1 2 3 "Tommy Winship". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Arsenal first team line-ups". The Arsenal History. Andy Kelly. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  8. ↑ 'Athleo' (9 January 1911). "Best of five. United win a unexpectedly close match". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. p. 3 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  9. ↑ "Arsenal avenged. 'Spurs defeated on a morass at Plumstead". Daily Mirror. London. 27 December 1911. p. 6.
  10. ↑ "Arsenal checked. Albion demonstrate marked superiority". Daily Express. London. 18 March 1912. p. 8.
  11. ↑ "Those Who Proudly Served: 4449147 Pte Anthony Corkhill 2 DLI". Durham Light Infantry 1920–1946. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "England & Wales marriages 1837–2008 Transcription". Thomas Winship. Marriage quarter: 3. Marriage year: 1912. Spouse's last name: Kilpatrick. District: Newcastle upon Tyne. County: Northumberland. Volume: 10B. Page: 206. Retrieved 3 August 2015 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  13. ↑ Mancunian (14 March 1913). "Important transfer". Manchester Courier. p. 2 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  14. ↑ Attwood, Tony; Kelly, Andy & Andrews, Mark (13 May 2014). "When Arsenal died one man stepped up and rescued the club. The story of May 1910". The History of Arsenal. AISA Arsenal History Society. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  15. ↑ "English Football League settle transfers and players' claims". Dundee Courier. 14 June 1913. p. 7 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)). An explanation as to the transfer of Winship from Fulham to Woolwich, about which there had been some doubt, was accepted.
  16. 1 2 Smith, Bruce (2005). "Fifteen: Landmark Games". Highbury: The Story of Arsenal Stadium. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 1 84596 104 8.
  17. ↑ "City's creditable draw". Western Daily Press. Bristol. 6 April 1914. p. 9 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  18. ↑ "Charity match in Newcastle". Newcastle Daily Journal. 9 October 1915. p. 11 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  19. ↑ "Association football". Newcastle Daily Journal. 22 March 1916. p. 9 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  20. ↑ "Football. Notes on to-day's matches". Yorkshire Post. 9 September 1916. p. 12 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  21. ↑ "Football. Association". Yorkshire Post. 11 September 1916. p. 10 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  22. ↑ "Football. Notes on to-day's matches". Yorkshire Post. 24 November 1917. p. 12 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  23. ↑ "Sports and pastimes". Grantham Journal. 7 September 1918. p. 7 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  24. ↑ "Steve Bloomer's re-appearance". Derby Daily Telegraph. 7 December 1918. p. 3 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  25. ↑ The Ranger (27 August 1919). "North-Eastern League. Prospects of the competition". Sunderland Daily Echo. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  26. ↑ J.W.H. (22 December 1919). "English Cup and League surprises". Daily Mirror. London. p. 11.
  27. ↑ 'Free Lance' (14 January 1920). "Wednesday's tie. Goalless draw wth Darlington at Feethams". Yorkshire Telegraph & Star. p. 8 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  28. ↑ 'Free Lance' (19 January 1920). "Cup replay. Wednesday forwards' missed chances". Yorkshire Telegraph & Star. p. 5 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  29. 1 2 "Birmingham v. Darlington. Darlington easily defeated". Yorkshire Post. 2 February 1920. p. 5 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  30. ↑ "North-Eastern League". Yorkshire Post. 13 October 1919. p. 12 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  31. 1 2 3 Abbink, Dinant (6 December 2006). "England – North Eastern League". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  32. 1 2 3 Lloyd, Chris (16 August 2003). "The day Feethams started life as a football ground". The Northern Echo. Darlington. p. 10 – via Newsbank.
  33. ↑ "North-Eastern League. Hartlepools United v. Darlington". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 28 January 1921. p. 5 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  34. ↑ "North-Eastern League". Yorkshire Post. 4 January 1921. p. 12 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  35. ↑ "Darlington v. Halifax Town". Yorkshire Post. 29 August 1921. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  36. ↑ "Lincoln's ill-luck". Lincolnshire Echo. 19 November 1921. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  37. ↑ "Darlington v. Walsall". Yorkshire Post. 3 January 1922. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  38. ↑ "Darlington v. Wrexham". Yorkshire Post. 17 October 1921. p. 12 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  39. ↑ "Durham City v. Darlington: heavy scoring". Yorkshire Post. 24 October 1921. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  40. ↑ "Darlington". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  41. ↑ "Drawn game at Darlington". Yorkshire Post. 3 January 1923. p. 12 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  42. ↑ "Darlington v. Stalybridge Celtic". Yorkshire Post. 8 January 1923. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  43. ↑ "North and South". Derby Daily Telegraph. 3 March 1923. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  44. ↑ "The Football League. Benefit matches and transfers sanctioned". Nottingham Evening Post. 12 March 1923. p. 6 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  45. ↑ "Sports items". Derbyshire Times. 26 January 1924. p. 9 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  46. ↑ "Untitled". Yorkshire Post. 24 April 1924. p. 11 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  47. ↑ "World of Sport. Darlington's selections". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 28 August 1924. p. 5 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  48. ↑ "Darlington's first defeat". Yorkshire Post. 15 September 1924. p. 3 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  49. ↑ "Darlington's remarkable home record". Yorkshire Post. 29 September 1924. p. 3 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  50. ↑ "North and South". Derby Daily Telegraph. 27 December 1924. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  51. ↑ "In the world of sport. "The Quakers'" famous men". Evening Telegraph. Dundee. 22 April 1925. p. 11 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  52. ↑ 'Athleticus' (8 April 1925). "The duel with Darlington". Burnley Express. p. 6 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  53. ↑ "World of Sport. Another "Quaker" re-engaged". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 16 May 1925. p. 5 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)). His transfer is nominally held by The Arsenal, and is necessary before he can play in Second League Football, but negotiations have so far proceeded as to justify the directors re-engaging him.
  54. ↑ An Outside Right (20 May 1925). "Close season chatter. Coaches not popular in England; Darlington happy". Derby Daily Telegraph. p. 6 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  55. ↑ "Promotion points". Derby Daily Telegraph. 10 October 1925. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  56. ↑ "Signings-on". Daily Express. London. 20 May 1926. p. 12.
  57. ↑ "Tomorrow's football. Crewe Alexandra v. Lincoln City". Lincolnshire Echo. 17 September 1926. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  58. ↑ "Crewe Alexandra v. Lincoln City. Lincoln's smart recovery". Yorkshire Post. 20 September 1926. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  59. ↑ "Lincoln's fight at Crewe. Offside goal saves Railwaymen". Lincolnshire Echo. 20 September 1926. p. 2 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  60. ↑ "North and South". Derby Daily Telegraph. 18 December 1926. p. 4 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  61. ↑ "World of Sport. Winship for Wallsend". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 3 December 1927. p. 5 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
  62. ↑ "England & Wales deaths 1837–2007 Transcription". Thomas Winship. Birth date: 14 Jul 1890. Death quarter: 4. Death year: 1976. District: Newcastle upon Tyne. County: Northumberland. Volume: 2. Page: 0757. Retrieved 3 August 2015 – via Findmypast. (subscription required (help)).
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