Tom Halliday

Thomas Halliday (11 September 1909 – 1975) was an English footballer who made 313 appearances in the Football League playing for Darlington, Norwich City and Exeter City in the 1920s and 1930s. He played non-league football in the north-east of England before joining First Division club Sunderland, but never played first-team football for that club. His primary position was that of centre half, although he also played at right back or right half.[1]

For similarly named people, see Thomas Halliday.

Tom Halliday
Personal information
Full name Thomas Halliday[1]
Date of birth (1909-09-11)11 September 1909[1]
Place of birth Browney Colliery, County Durham,[1] England
Date of death 1975 (aged 65–66)[1]
Position(s) Defender, wing half
Youth career
– Browney Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Esh Winning
– Meadowfield
1927–1928 Sunderland 0 (0)
1928–1933 Darlington 118 (2)
1933–1939 Norwich City 191 (0)
1939 Exeter City 14 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Halliday was born in Browney Colliery, in County Durham.[1] As a schoolboy, he played three times for Durham Schools under-15 team in the 1923–24 season,[2] and captained England Schoolboys against Wales in Cardiff.[3] He played for non-league teams in his local area,[4][1] and captained Durham Amateurs before turning professional.[5] He spent the 1927–28 season with First Division club Sunderland, but never appeared for the first team, and joined Third Division North club Darlington in 1928 as an 18-year-old.[1]

He established himself in the starting eleven, and despite his youth, captained the team for three years.[3] In the 1932–33 season, Halliday made 41 out of a possible 42 appearances in the league,[3] taking his total to 127 in senior competition.[4] In May 1933, he and Darlington teammates Harry Brown, Billy Eden and Fred Hopkinson were members of the Rest of Durham XI that faced Sunderland in a match to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Durham County Football Association.[6] Darlington had finished bottom of the Northern Section, so had to apply for re-election. Although their application was successful,[7] Halliday left the club.

He moved into the Southern Section of the Third Division with Norwich City, where he became a regular in the side. He made 40 appearances as Norwich won the divisional title and with it promotion to the Second Division for the first time in the club's history.[8] Based on Norwich's recruitment of Exeter City's Harold Houghton, the Manchester Guardian suggested that the club "realise[d] the worth of a footballer of experience and anticipation in such a struggle", and went on to list "other players of this stamp", including "Halliday, a rare centre-half".[9] In his review of the season, the Observer's J.A.H. Catton, praised Norwich's forwards, and thought that "of all the capital players behind the front line, Thomas Halliday, a centre half-back formerly of Darlington, must be highly commended."[10]

Halliday took over the captaincy from Stan Ramsay during the next season.[11] He remained with Norwich for six-and-a-half years, making the last of his 203 appearances for the club on 27 December 1938 in a 4–0 defeat away to Newcastle United,[12] and finished the season with Exeter City in the Third Division South.[1]

In recognition of his contribution to Norwich City, Halliday was elected to the club's Hall of Fame.[13] He died in 1975, aged 65 or 66.[1]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "Results and Players 1920–21 to 1929–30". Durham County Schools Football Association. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  3. "Fred Cook for Saints". Daily Mirror. London. 2 August 1933. p. 22.
  4. "Nev's bowling lacked punch". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 13 December 2002. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  5. "Norwich City build up strength". Daily Mirror. London. 17 August 1933. p. 23.
  6. "1932–33: Durham FA Jubilee Match". thestatcat.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  7. "Division 3 (North) 1932/33". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  8. Dale, Iain (5 April 2012). When Football Was Football: Norwich City (PDF). J.H. Haynes. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-0857331700.
  9. "Games and players. Many good players". Manchester Guardian. 13 March 1934. p. 4.
  10. Catton, J.A.H. (6 May 1934). "Good-bye to football. Review of the season". The Observer. London. p. 33.
  11. "Stars of the Past – Stan Ramsay". Sing Up The River End. Andrew Harrison. October 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  12. "First & Last – Tom Halliday". Sing Up The River End. Andrew Harrison. April 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
    "Norwich City Appearances: H". Sing Up The River End. Andrew Harrison. May 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  13. "Hucks and Green enter Hall of Fame". The Pink 'Un. Norwich. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
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