Tommy Cheadle
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cheadle (8 April 1919 – 4 September 1993) was an English
footballer. He played for Port Vale
in various positions for over a decade. It was his time as a centre-back, captaining some of the most successful Vale sides in the club's history
, that made Cheadle a legend at the club.
said that: "Tom was quick and strong and nobody could beat him. Pound for pound, in fact, I would say Tom is the hardest man I have ever met." In fact he had 22 stitches in the head after various collisions with opposition players, his toughness earning him the nickname "wooden head" from his teammates.
, Cheadle received a shrapnel injury. At a rehabilitation
centre, Cheadle spoke to Vale trainer Ken Fish, who told him to report Port Vale
after the war where the club may have a place for him. Playing in Army matches, Cheadle was coached by Matt Busby
who managed to secure a trial for Cheadle for Liverpool
against Stoke City
.
, he signed professional forms in March 1946 for £8 a week. He made his league debut in a 4–1 victory against Ipswich
on 2 March 1946. His first goal was against Southend United
in a 2–1 win on 20 April that year. Signing as a professional in May 1946, he spent the 1946–47 season
across the back four, even as centre-forward in a few games. For the 1947–48 season
Cheadle spent 16 straight games as a striker, scoring a patch of seven goals in seven games. Cheadle was one of the starting XI who played in the first match at Vale Park
.
After settling in the centre-half role he was an ever-present during the 1949–50 and 1952-53
seasons. He was captain during the 1953-54 season
where Vale made it to the FA Cup
semi-finals and won the Third Division North
title. The team had conceded just 21 goals in 46 games with Cheadle at the heart of the 'Iron Curtain
' defence.
He appeared less frequently from December 1955, at the age of 36. His final game was a 6–0 defeat on 25 March 1957, to Sheffield United
with Cheadle scoring an own goal
. That season
Vale were relegated, many blamed an ageing team, Cheadle himself was 37. He moved to Cheshire
outfit Crewe Alexandra
as a player-coach in July 1957, retiring from league football
in 1959.
in Porthill
.
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. He played for 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 various positions for over a decade. It was his time as a centre-back, captaining some of the most successful Vale sides in the club's history
History of Port Vale F.C.
The history of Port Vale F.C., an English association football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, began when the club was formed in 1876. In 1884, the club moved to the town of Burslem, changing their name to Burslem Port Vale in the process. The club joined the Football League Second Division upon its...
, that made Cheadle a legend at the club.
Playing style
Former teammate Roy SprosonRoy Sproson
Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957...
said that: "Tom was quick and strong and nobody could beat him. Pound for pound, in fact, I would say Tom is the hardest man I have ever met." In fact he had 22 stitches in the head after various collisions with opposition players, his toughness earning him the nickname "wooden head" from his teammates.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Cheadle received a shrapnel injury. At a rehabilitation
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
centre, Cheadle spoke to Vale trainer Ken Fish, who told him to report 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...
after the war where the club may have a place for him. Playing in Army matches, Cheadle was coached by Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
who managed to secure a trial for Cheadle for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
against Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
.
Playing career
Cheadle took the advice of Fish and came to the Old Recreation GroundThe Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground was a football stadium, located in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and home to Port Vale for almost 40 years. The Rec had been Vale's home between 1913 and 1950 and was the sixth ground the club used.-Structure and facilities:...
, he signed professional forms in March 1946 for £8 a week. He made his league debut in a 4–1 victory against Ipswich
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
on 2 March 1946. His first goal was against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in a 2–1 win on 20 April that year. Signing as a professional in May 1946, he spent the 1946–47 season
1946–47 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1946–47 season was Port Vale's thirty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and their second full season in the Third Division South. It was their first full season following the outbreak of war in Europe, they thus continued where they left off in 1938–39, albeit after seven seasons...
across the back four, even as centre-forward in a few games. For the 1947–48 season
1947–48 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1947–48 season was Port Vale's thirty-sixth season of football in the Football League, and their third full season in the Third Division South. Gaining just three of their sixteen victories away from home, they were very much a club of two teams. Manager Gordon Hodgson continued his policy of...
Cheadle spent 16 straight games as a striker, scoring a patch of seven goals in seven games. Cheadle was one of the starting XI who played in the first match at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
.
After settling in the centre-half role he was an ever-present during the 1949–50 and 1952-53
1952–53 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1952–53 season was Port Vale's forty-first season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Third Division North, following their switch from the Third Division South...
seasons. He was captain during the 1953-54 season
1953–54 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1953–54 season was Port Vale's forty-second season of football in the Football League, and their second season back in the Third Division North. Quite possibly the greatest season in the club's history, Freddie Steele's side were crowned Third Division North champions with 69 points out of a...
where Vale made it to the 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-finals and won the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
title. The team had conceded just 21 goals in 46 games with Cheadle at the heart of the 'Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
' defence.
He appeared less frequently from December 1955, at the age of 36. His final game was a 6–0 defeat on 25 March 1957, to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
with Cheadle scoring an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
. That season
1957–58 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1957–58 season was Port Vale's forty-sixth season of football in the Football League, and their first full season back in the Third Division South following their relegation from the Second Division...
Vale were relegated, many blamed an ageing team, Cheadle himself was 37. He moved to Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
outfit 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...
as a player-coach in July 1957, retiring from league football
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...
in 1959.
Post-retirement
Following his retirement, Cheadle became a postmanMail carrier
A mail carrier, mailman, postal carrier, postman, postwoman , postman/postwoman , letter carrier or postie is an employee of the post office or postal service, who delivers mail and parcel post to residences and businesses...
in Porthill
Porthill, Staffordshire
Porthill is a suburb of Newcastle-under-Lyme and a ward in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Porthill Bank is the main backbone with streets such as Vale View, First Avenue and Inglewood Drive leading from it. It is a major transport link as the A500 can be easily...
.
Honours
with Port Vale- Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
winner: 1953-541953–54 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1953–54 season was Port Vale's forty-second season of football in the Football League, and their second season back in the Third Division North. Quite possibly the greatest season in the club's history, Freddie Steele's side were crowned Third Division North champions with 69 points out of a... - Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
runner-up: 1952–531952–53 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1952–53 season was Port Vale's forty-first season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Third Division North, following their switch from the Third Division South...