Description
Newburn, Tyne & Wear born inside forward (he could play at all three central positions) Tom Hall joined Sunderland in January 1909 having played local football with Newburn Manor, Newburn Grange and Newburn Alliance, making his Football League debut against Everton in April 1910. He scored his first goal on his next appearance at Notts County in December 1910. His first team opportunities gradually increased and in 1912-13 he scored 7 times in 20 games as Sunderland won the LeagueΒ Championship although he didn’t play at all in their FA Cup run that saw them go to the FA Cup Final only to lose to Aston Villa.
In May 1913 he joined rivals Newcastle United playing at St James’ Park both sides of World War One scoring 16 times in 58 games, before a move to League newcomers Gillingham in July 1920. He played in their inaugural Football League fixture against Southampton in August 1920 and missed only one match that first season, scoring 55 goals in 207 appearances over the next five years, including a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Norwich City in February 1922, before his playing retirement in 1926, after which he became Gillingham’s trainer.