Tom Barlow (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry "Tom" Barlow (born 1875) was an English footballer who played as an inside-forward around the turn of the 20th century, spending most of his career with Bolton Wanderers
.
and after playing for Halliwell Rovers of the Lancashire League
, he joined Bolton Wanderers
in May 1898. He was soon established at the inside-left position, playing sixteen matches, with five goals, but was unable to prevent Bolton being relegated to the Second Division at the end of the season.
In the following season, he made only fourteen League appearances, with newly signed Jack Picken
being preferred by secretary/manager Frank Brettell
. At the end of the season, Bolton regained their place in the First Division as runners-up to The Wednesday
. Back in the top flight, Picken was moved to inside-right and Barlow once again became settled in the No. 10 shirt, scoring 10 goals from 28 appearances in the 1901–02 season.
He remained at Bolton until the summer of 1902, when he moved to the south coast
to join Southampton
of the Southern League
. At the "Saints", he was considered to be "a capture" and was described in the local press as "a player who combines good ball control and distribution with legitimate trickery". He made his debut in the opening match of the 1902–03 season
, scoring twice in a 6–0 victory over Brentford
(with three goals from Jack Fraser
).
His performances at The Dell soon impressed the England
selectors and he was chosen to represent "The South" in a trial match against "The North" played at White Hart Lane
, although he was not selected for the national side. By early 1903, Barlow was beginning to feel "homesick" and following the return of Fred Harrison from injury in January he lost his place in the side, making only two further appearances at left-half. At the end of the season, when Saints won the Southern League title for the fifth time in seven years, Barlow was granted a transfer back to Burnden Park
.
Barlow only made five league appearances in the 1903–04 season, with Wattie White now established at inside-left, and in the summer of 1904 he returned to the Southern League to join Millwall Athletic. In his two spells with Bolton, he made 90 appearances in League and Cup matches, scoring 25 goals.
He remained at Millwall for one season before returning to Lancashire
to join Atherton Church House of the Lancashire Combination
before finishing his career at Oldham Athletic
, playing their final season in the Lancashire Combination, at the end of which they were champions and elected to the Football League
.
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Football career
Barlow was born in BoltonBolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
and after playing for Halliwell Rovers of the Lancashire League
Lancashire League (football)
The Lancashire League has been the name of two separate football competitions for clubs based in northern England.-Lancashire League :...
, he joined Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in May 1898. He was soon established at the inside-left position, playing sixteen matches, with five goals, but was unable to prevent Bolton being relegated to the Second Division at the end of the season.
In the following season, he made only fourteen League appearances, with newly signed Jack Picken
Jack Picken
John Barclay "Jack" Picken was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside forward for several Football League clubs, including Bolton Wanderers, Manchester United, Burnley and Bristol City, as well as Plymouth Argyle in the Southern Football League...
being preferred by secretary/manager Frank Brettell
Frank Brettell
Frank E. Brettell was an English-born Irish football player, manager and administrator.He played as a full back for Everton, a club that was originally called St. Domingo's. He combined his role as player-secretary-manager with his full time job as a reporter for the Liverpool Mercury...
. At the end of the season, Bolton regained their place in the First Division as runners-up to The Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. Back in the top flight, Picken was moved to inside-right and Barlow once again became settled in the No. 10 shirt, scoring 10 goals from 28 appearances in the 1901–02 season.
He remained at Bolton until the summer of 1902, when he moved to the south coast
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. At the "Saints", he was considered to be "a capture" and was described in the local press as "a player who combines good ball control and distribution with legitimate trickery". He made his debut in the opening match of the 1902–03 season
Southern Football League 1902-03
The 1902–03 Southern League season saw Southampton win Division One and Fulham finishing top of Division Two. No clubs applied to join the Football League.-Division One:There were no new clubs in Division One this season....
, scoring twice in a 6–0 victory over Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
(with three goals from Jack Fraser
John Fraser (footballer born 1876)
John Fraser was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the Dundee team who won the Scottish Cup in 1910...
).
His performances at The Dell soon impressed the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
selectors and he was chosen to represent "The South" in a trial match against "The North" played at White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
, although he was not selected for the national side. By early 1903, Barlow was beginning to feel "homesick" and following the return of Fred Harrison from injury in January he lost his place in the side, making only two further appearances at left-half. At the end of the season, when Saints won the Southern League title for the fifth time in seven years, Barlow was granted a transfer back to Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
.
Barlow only made five league appearances in the 1903–04 season, with Wattie White now established at inside-left, and in the summer of 1904 he returned to the Southern League to join Millwall Athletic. In his two spells with Bolton, he made 90 appearances in League and Cup matches, scoring 25 goals.
He remained at Millwall for one season before returning to Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
to join Atherton Church House of the Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
before finishing his career at Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, playing their final season in the Lancashire Combination, at the end of which they were champions and elected to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.