Tom Manley (footballer)
Thomas Ronald Manley (7 October 1912 – 4 July 1988) was an English professional footballer who made over 300 appearances in the Football League for Manchester United and Brentford as a utility player. He later managed hometown club Northwich Victoria in non-League football.
| Manley while a Brentford player | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Ronald Manley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 October 1912 | ||
| Place of birth | Northwich, England | ||
| Date of death | 4 July 1988 (aged 75)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Brentwood, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Utility player, outside left | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1927–1928 | Brunner Mond | ||
| 1928–1929 | Norley United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1929–1930 | Northwich Victoria | ||
| 1930–1939 | Manchester United | 188 | (40) |
| 1939–1952 | Brentford | 116 | (8) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1954 | Northwich Victoria | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career edit
Early years edit
Manley began his career with junior clubs Brunner Mond and Norley United, before joining Cheshire County League club Northwich Victoria in 1929.[3] He remained at Drill Field until September 1930.[3]
Manchester United edit
Manley was brought to First Division club Manchester United by scout Louis Rocca on an amateur basis in September 1930.[3] At the end of the 1930–31 season, after the club's relegation to the Second Division, he signed a professional contract.[3] Manley broke into the team over the course of the 1932–33 and 1933–34 seasons and scored 15 goals in United's 1935–36 Second Division title-winning campaign.[4] After suffering relegation straight back to the Second Division at the end of the 1936–37 season, he helped the team to an immediate return to the top-flight one season later.[4] 1938–39 was Manley's final season at Old Trafford and he finished his Manchester United career having made 195 appearances and scored 41 goals.[4] Predominantly an outside left, he also performed the role of a utility player at Old Trafford by also playing in half and full back positions.[4]
Brentford edit
Manley joined First Division club Brentford for a "substantial fee" in August 1939 and was immediately named captain.[5] Just three matches of the 1939–40 season were played before the season was abandoned and competitive football was suspended for the duration of the Second World War.[5] Manley's duties with the RAF meant that he appeared sparingly for the club during the war, making just 36 appearances and scoring six goals by the end of the 1945–46 season.[6] He also played as a guest player for Blackpool, Chester, Fulham, Manchester United, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur during the war.[7] Competitive football resumed for the 1946–47 season and Manley would go on to make 122 appearances and scored 8 goals for the club before making his final appearance in September 1950.[8][5] He remained as Griffin Park as a reserve team player for the 1951–52 season (playing one match as a goalkeeper) before retiring at age 39 in May 1952.[5] Manley was awarded a joint-testimonial with Ted Gaskell versus a Tommy Lawton XI in April 1954.[5]
Management career edit
Manley managed Cheshire County League club Northwich Victoria, with whom he began his career as a player, between March and October 1954.[5]
Personal life edit
Manley served in the RAF during the Second World War.[5] After his retirement from football, he became the licensee of a pub in Northwich.[5]
Career statistics edit
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 1931–32[4] | Second Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1932–33[4] | Second Division | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 1933–34[4] | Second Division | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| 1934–35[4] | Second Division | 30 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 9 | |
| 1935–36[4] | Second Division | 31 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 15 | |
| 1936–37[4] | First Division | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |
| 1937–38[4] | Second Division | 21 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 7 | |
| 1938–39[4] | First Division | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 | |
| Total | 188 | 40 | 7 | 1 | 195 | 41 | ||
| Brentford | 1946–47[8] | First Division | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 1947–48[8] | Second Division | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 1948–49[8] | Second Division | 42 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 46 | 3 | |
| 1949–50[8] | Second Division | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| 1950–51[8] | Second Division | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| Total | 116 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 122 | 8 | ||
| Career total | 304 | 48 | 13 | 1 | 317 | 49 | ||
Honours edit
Manchester United
- Football League Second Division: 1935–36[4]
- Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1937–38[4]
References edit
- ^ a b "Tom Manley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Manchester United. Weak positions improved". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. v – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Manley Tom Manchester United 1938". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Tommy Manley". 11v11.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ White 1989, p. 375-378.
- ^ Goodwin, Bob (2017). The Spurs Alphabet. Lulu.com. p. 290. ISBN 978-0-9540434-2-1.
- ^ a b c d e f White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 378–381. ISBN 0951526200.