Thomas Wainwright was an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 footballer who played as a half-back

Midfielder

A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

 for Burslem Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

, Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra F.C.

Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...

, Wellington Town

Telford United F.C.

Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...

, and Notts County

Notts County F.C.

Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...

 between 1900 and 1906.

Early life

Thomas Wainwright was born in 1876 in the Johnstons Buildings on Beam Street in Nantwich. His father was James Wainwright (1851–1926) who married his mother Mary Ann Simmons (1852–1937) on 3 March 1872 in Nantwich. He was one of nine children, having six brothers and two sisters.

Around 1891 he moved from Beam Street to 24 Mill Street, Nantwich, and according to the 1891 census his occupation was a boot clicker. In 1901 the census reports him as a general labourer just before he went on to play football.

Playing career

Wainwright joined Burslem Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

 in November 1900 and made his debut in a 3–2 home win over Barnsley

Barnsley F.C.

Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...

 on 1 December 1900. He enjoyed a spell in the first team from January to September 1901 but was released at the end of the 1901–02 season

1901–02 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1901–02 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the Football League. The season was an unremarkable mid-table affair, however was a positive step for the club as they managed to turn a profit without selling any major players.-Second Division:After an...

. He then moved on to Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra F.C.

Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...

, Wellington and Notts County

Notts County F.C.

Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...

.

Later life

At the end of his playing career he married Emily Pitt in Nottingham

Nottingham

Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...

. They then moved back to Nantwich, living at 22 Mill Street, Nantwich, where he became an engineering labourer, moving on to be a furnaceman at the local railway works. They had five children between 1907 and 1922: Eric, Doris, Leonard, James and Olive.

Thomas Wainwright died in Nantwich on 13 May 1949 from prostate cancer

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...

. He is buried in Nantwich cemetery with his wife Emily and daughter Doris.