Tom White (footballer, born 1939)

Tom White
Personal information
Full name Thomas White
Date of birth (1939-08-12) 12 August 1939
Place of birth Musselburgh, Scotland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Forward
Youth career
–1959 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1959–1962 Raith Rovers 30 (11)
1962–1963 St Mirren 35 (20)
1963–1965 Hearts 37 (30)
1965–1966 Aberdeen 14 (4)
1966–1968 Crystal Palace 39 (13)
1968–1969 Blackpool 34 (9)
1969–1971 Bury 48 (13)
1971–1972 Crewe Alexandra 4 (0)
Total 241 (100)
Teams managed
1990 Blackpool (caretaker-manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Thomas White (born 12 August 1939 in Musselburgh) is a Scottish former professional footballer. He played as a forward. White is the younger brother of John White and Eddie White both professional footballers.[1]

Football career

A prolific scorer during his early career with Raith Rovers, Brown's time at Rovers was shortened by two years of National Service, during which time he played for the British Army. He also played for St Mirren, then managed by Jackie Cox. White joined Hearts for £8,000 in November 1963 and was soon dubbed "Goal-a-game White" by the local media.[2] His attacking partnership with Willie Wallace was particularly effective and earned the sobriquet the "W-formation", White's abrasive, bustling style complimenting Wallace.[3] In tandem, they scored 48 goals during the 1963–64 season; however, White's progress was interrupted when he suffered severe injuries in a car crash in Wallyford.[2]

White remained a regular in the Hearts side up until January 1965; however, with Donald Ford blossoming into first-team contention, manager Tommy Walker saw fit and in June 1965 he moved to Aberdeen in an exchange deal for Don Kerrigan.[2]

He finished his playing career with a short spell at Crewe Alexandra in 1971–72. He later became a director of Blackpool for 12 years only to be ousted by the then new chairman of the club, Owen Oyston,[2]

Family tragedy

Tragedy befell White in July 1964 when his 27-year-old brother, John, was killed at Crews Hill Golf Course, Enfield, by a lightning-strike. That year in November, White transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for one game and played in a testimonial match for his sibling against the Scottish national side; 25,000 spectators paid their respects, as, despite White's goal, Scotland won 6–2.[3]

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Julie Welch; Rob White (2011). The Ghost of White Hart Lane: In Search of My Father the Football Legend. Random House. ISBN 978-1-4070-9229-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hogan, p193
  3. 1 2 Price pp42-43
Sources
  • Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.
  • Hogan, Andrew (1995). Hearts in Art. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 1-85158-736-5.
  • Price, Norrie (1997). Gritty Gallant, Glorious: A History and Complete Record of Hearts 1946–1997 (Hardback). Price. ISBN 0-9521426-3-5.
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