Wyper Tommy Image 1 Chester 1932

Description

Coatbridge, Lanarkshire born outside right Tommy Wyper began his football career playing for North Ayrshire junior side Glengarnock Vale. After playing in services football following the First World War  he signed for Southport in February 1921 on amateur terms and turned professional at the start of 1922, immediately making his Football League debut against Crewe Alexandra, one of 7 matches he played before the season end. After a brief spell at Motherwell and the start of 1922-23 season, where he didn’t break into the first eleven, Wyper returned to Southport but made only 2 Division Three (North) appearances that season to add to the 7 he made the previous term. He drifted into the non league scene in September 1923, playing for Wallasey United, signing for Burscough Rangers in August 1924 before re-joining the Division Three (North) ranks when he signed for Accrington Stanley in August 1925.

He hit his straps in East Lancashire, scoring 15 times in 68 appearances across two seasons prior to joining Hull City in February 1927 to replace Alf Horne at outside right. He scored on his debut, a 3-3 draw against Middlesbrough, and missed only two matches for the remainder of the season. At the start of 1927-28 season Wyper was again the first choice outside right for manager Bill McCracken, but the goals did not come and by late October he had drifted out of the first team picture. He returned in February 1928 and scored his second and final goal for the Tigers in a 3-1 win over Leeds United but he missed the last five games of the season and moved on that summer after two goals in 40 matches for The Tigers.

Wyper signed for Charlton Athletic in September 1928 after an unsuccessful trial at Arsenal and spent three seasons at The Valley, winning the Division Three (South) title in 1929, scoring 12 goals in 88 matches. He spent 1931-32 season at Queens Park Rangers, joining them for £100 in June 1931 but only made 11 appearances before his journeyman career took him north to Chester in February 1932, where he scored 5 times in 14 matches, then west to Bristol Rovers in January 1933 where he scored twice in 11 matches.

Wyper rejoined Accrington Stanley in May 1933 and took his totals for Stanley to 23 goals in 101 matches after a further season at Peel Park. He had a short spells at Macclesfield who he joined in September 1934, scoring twice in 2 matches the next month, moving to Crewe Alexandra in March 1935 without making their first eleven, and he finished his career at non league Rossendale United joining them in August 1935 for a season before his eventual retirement.