Tommy Magee
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patrick "Tommy" Magee (6 May 1899 – May 1974) was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half
. He made more than 400 appearances during his 15 years at West Bromwich Albion
. He also won five England
cap
s.
, the first child of James and Agnes Magee, Tommy Magee attended St Mary's School. After playing rugby league
for Appleton Hornets and St Helen's Recreation Club
, he switched to football, playing for Widnes Athletic as an amateur during 1914–1915. He turned professional with West Bromwich Albion
in 1919 and scored in his first match, helping Albion to a 3–1 victory against Derby County
in the Midland Victory League in April 1919. Following the end of the First World War, The Football League
resumed for the 1919–20 season, and Magee made his league debut on the opening day of the campaign, against Oldham Athletic
. In the following match, away at Newcastle United
, he scored his first goal for the club. Albion went on to win the First Division
that season, the only time in the club's history that they have been champions of England
. Magee made a significant contribution, appearing in 24 out of 42 league games and scoring seven goals.
Although the next few seasons were less successful for Albion, Magee nonetheless won five cap
s for England
during the 1920s. He made his international debut against Wales
on 5 March 1923, while his last cap was won two years later against France
. Albion did manage another title challenge in 1924–25, when they finished as runners-up to Huddersfield Town
. Magee played in all but two of the club's league matches during the season. In 1926–27 he was the only West Bromwich Albion player to appear in all 42 league matches, but the club were relegated to Division Two in 22nd (last) position.
He won a winners' medal with Albion when they beat Birmingham
2–1 in the 1931 FA Cup Final
and a few days later was part of the team that secured promotion as Second Division runners-up. As of November 2008, he remains the only Albion player to have won both a League Championship medal and an FA Cup
winners' medal with the club.
Magee was married to Elizabeth, with whom he had two daughters. Elizabeth died of a brain haemorrhage in February 1932, aged 33. At just 5 ft 2½ ins tall, Magee was the smallest ever player to appear for West Bromwich Albion's first team. His short stature earned him nicknames such as "Wee Tommy", "Pocket Hercules" and the "Mighty Atom". After 434 first team appearances for Albion (394 in the league), he joined Crystal Palace
in May 1934 on a free transfer, becoming the club's player-coach. In 1935 he moved to Runcorn as player-manager; he later became a coach at the club before retiring from football around 1947. He died in his home town of Widnes in May 1974.
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
. He made more than 400 appearances during his 15 years at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. He also won five 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...
cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s.
Career
Born in WidnesWidnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, the first child of James and Agnes Magee, Tommy Magee attended St Mary's School. After playing rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
for Appleton Hornets and St Helen's Recreation Club
Pilkington Recs
The Recs Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby league team based in St Helens, Merseyside.-History:The club was founded in 1878 as part of the sports and recreational section of Pilkington Glass. The side played rugby, and occasionally association football.However, on 14 June 1913, to discuss the...
, he switched to football, playing for Widnes Athletic as an amateur during 1914–1915. He turned professional with West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in 1919 and scored in his first match, helping Albion to a 3–1 victory against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in the Midland Victory League in April 1919. Following the end of the First World War, 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...
resumed for the 1919–20 season, and Magee made his league debut on the opening day of the campaign, against 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...
. In the following match, away at Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, he scored his first goal for the club. Albion went on to win 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....
that season, the only time in the club's history that they have been champions of England
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
. Magee made a significant contribution, appearing in 24 out of 42 league games and scoring seven goals.
Although the next few seasons were less successful for Albion, Magee nonetheless won five cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s for 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...
during the 1920s. He made his international debut 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 5 March 1923, while his last cap was won two years later against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. Albion did manage another title challenge in 1924–25, when they finished as runners-up to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. Magee played in all but two of the club's league matches during the season. In 1926–27 he was the only West Bromwich Albion player to appear in all 42 league matches, but the club were relegated to Division Two in 22nd (last) position.
He won a winners' medal with Albion when they beat Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
2–1 in the 1931 FA Cup Final
1931 FA Cup Final
The 1931 FA Cup Final was a football match between West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham, played on 25 April 1931 at the original Wembley Stadium in London. The showpiece event was the final match of the 1930–31 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge...
and a few days later was part of the team that secured promotion as Second Division runners-up. As of November 2008, he remains the only Albion player to have won both a League Championship medal and 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...
winners' medal with the club.
Magee was married to Elizabeth, with whom he had two daughters. Elizabeth died of a brain haemorrhage in February 1932, aged 33. At just 5 ft 2½ ins tall, Magee was the smallest ever player to appear for West Bromwich Albion's first team. His short stature earned him nicknames such as "Wee Tommy", "Pocket Hercules" and the "Mighty Atom". After 434 first team appearances for Albion (394 in the league), he joined Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in May 1934 on a free transfer, becoming the club's player-coach. In 1935 he moved to Runcorn as player-manager; he later became a coach at the club before retiring from football around 1947. He died in his home town of Widnes in May 1974.
Honours
West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
- First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
winners: 1919–20 - First Division runners-up: 1924–25
- FA CupFA CupThe 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...
winners: 19311931 FA Cup FinalThe 1931 FA Cup Final was a football match between West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham, played on 25 April 1931 at the original Wembley Stadium in London. The showpiece event was the final match of the 1930–31 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge...