Thomas Fitchie
Encyclopedia
Thomas Tindal Fitchie was a Scottish
football
player.
A talented forward
, nickname
d the "Prince of Dribblers", Fitchie was born in Edinburgh
and played football as an amateur (having had too many business
commitments to commit to the game professionally). He appears to have travelled a lot, and his career was rather eclectic as a result; he played for a variety of clubs, and the dates of some of his tenures are not known.
Having started out at West Norwood, Fitchie joined Woolwich Arsenal
when he was 19, in November 1901. He made his debut against Gainsborough Trinity
in a Second Division
match on February 8, 1902, and scored twice as Woolwich Arsenal rolled out 5-0 winners. However, being unable to fully commit to the team, he was only in the Woolwich Arsenal side intermittently, and often guested for other London
sides, including Fulham
, London Caledonians
and even Tottenham Hotspur
— although as they were not at this time Arsenal's deadly local rivals, this would have raised few eyebrows at the time.
Fitchie's main club, however, was Woolwich Arsenal, and it seems he played mostly for them while he was in London. It wasn't until the 1904-05
season did he have any sort of decent run in the side, though; he scored six goals in nine league games that season, Arsenal's first in the First Division
.
Fitchie's ability was such that he was called up to play for Scotland
, against Wales
on March 6, 1905, which Scotland lost 3-1. In all he won four caps for his country, scoring one goal — the only goal of the game against Ireland
on St Patrick's Day 1906. He was still a regular for Woolwich Arsenal, scoring nine league goals in 1905-06
and reaching an FA Cup
semi-final the same season.
Fitchie left Arsenal in mid-1906 back to his native Scotland, and played for Queen's Park
for two years. He also spent some time in Southern England during this period, occasionally appearing for Norwich City
and Brighton & Hove Albion
. He returned to Woolwich Arsenal in 1908, and he played another full season (1908-09
) there; he scored ten goals (nine in the league, one in the cup) in twenty-one games, making him Arsenal's top scorer; that season they finished sixth in the First Division, which would remain their highest-finishing position until 1925-26
. In all, he played 63 times for Arsenal and scored 30 goals.
After leaving Arsenal, Fitchie joined a touring team known as The Pilgrims, a side composed of British players that toured the United States
in October and November 1909. After returning to England, Fitchie played for Glossop North End between 1909 and 1911, and Fulham for a second spell in 1912.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player.
A talented forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d the "Prince of Dribblers", Fitchie was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and played football as an amateur (having had too many business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
commitments to commit to the game professionally). He appears to have travelled a lot, and his career was rather eclectic as a result; he played for a variety of clubs, and the dates of some of his tenures are not known.
Having started out at West Norwood, Fitchie joined Woolwich Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
when he was 19, in November 1901. He made his debut against Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
in a Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
match on February 8, 1902, and scored twice as Woolwich Arsenal rolled out 5-0 winners. However, being unable to fully commit to the team, he was only in the Woolwich Arsenal side intermittently, and often guested for other London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
sides, including Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, London Caledonians
London Caledonians F.C.
London Caledonians F.C. was an amateur football club based in London, primarily for Scottish players.-History:The club won the first of their five Middlesex Senior Cups in 1889–90 and the first of their five London Senior Cups in 1899–1900. They were founder members of the Isthmian League in 1905...
and even Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
— although as they were not at this time Arsenal's deadly local rivals, this would have raised few eyebrows at the time.
Fitchie's main club, however, was Woolwich Arsenal, and it seems he played mostly for them while he was in London. It wasn't until the 1904-05
1904-05 in English football
The 1904–05 season was the 34th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Stockport County were replaced by Doncaster Rovers in the Second Division....
season did he have any sort of decent run in the side, though; he scored six goals in nine league games that season, Arsenal's first in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
.
Fitchie's ability was such that he was called up to play for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on March 6, 1905, which Scotland lost 3-1. In all he won four caps for his country, scoring one goal — the only goal of the game against Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
on St Patrick's Day 1906. He was still a regular for Woolwich Arsenal, scoring nine league goals in 1905-06
1905-06 in English football
The 1905–06 season was the 35th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Following the increase in size of the Football League from 36 clubs to 40, and with Doncaster Rovers having been relegated from the Second Division, four new clubs were elected into the league, along with Stockport...
and reaching an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final the same season.
Fitchie left Arsenal in mid-1906 back to his native Scotland, and played for Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
for two years. He also spent some time in Southern England during this period, occasionally appearing for Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. He returned to Woolwich Arsenal in 1908, and he played another full season (1908-09
1908-09 in English football
The 1908–09 season was the 38th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Tottenham Hotspur played their first ever season in the Football League, gaining promotion to the First Division in the process...
) there; he scored ten goals (nine in the league, one in the cup) in twenty-one games, making him Arsenal's top scorer; that season they finished sixth in the First Division, which would remain their highest-finishing position until 1925-26
1925-26 in English football
The 1925–26 season was the 51st season of competitive football in England. This marked the year that Huddersfield Town won the League three years running, making them the first team in Football League history to do so.-Honours:-First Division:...
. In all, he played 63 times for Arsenal and scored 30 goals.
After leaving Arsenal, Fitchie joined a touring team known as The Pilgrims, a side composed of British players that toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in October and November 1909. After returning to England, Fitchie played for Glossop North End between 1909 and 1911, and Fulham for a second spell in 1912.