Thomas Porteous (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Stoddard Porteous (c.1864 – 23 February 1919) was an English
footballer who played as a right back, for Sunderland
and also one appearance for England
.
, Porteous started his football career north of the border with Hearts
before joining Kilmarnock
in 1884.
after gaining a high reputation in Scotland
, and joining what was to become known as the team of all talents. He made his debut on 18 January 1890 in a FA Cup
match against Blackburn Rovers
, but had to wait until 13 September before making his League debut. He soon became a fixture in the side, appearing in all 22 league matches in 1890–91. This was Sunderland's first season in the Football League
at the end of which they finished in seventh place, with a team consisting mainly of Scottish players.
The following season
Sunderland dominated the league, taking the title by a margin of five points, with Porteous missing only one match. Porteous was again an ever present figure in the 1892–93
season when Sunderland took the Football League
title for the second consecutive season, this time by a substantial 11 point margin.
Although he started the 1893–94
season, after two matches he lost his place to Peter Meehan
, a Scottish
international who had recently been signed from Celtic
. Porteous left Sunderland at the end of the season, moving to Rotherham Town
where he spent two seasons, also spending a few months with Ardwick.
, when England won 4–1 at Newcastle Road, Sunderland in the 1891 British Home Championship
. The Wales game was Porteous' only game for England, which was also the first international game in Sunderland.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played as a right back, for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and also one appearance 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...
.
Early career
Although born in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Porteous started his football career north of the border with Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
before joining Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in 1884.
Sunderland
In 1889 Porteous arrived at SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
after gaining a high reputation in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and joining what was to become known as the team of all talents. He made his debut on 18 January 1890 in a 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...
match against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, but had to wait until 13 September before making his League debut. He soon became a fixture in the side, appearing in all 22 league matches in 1890–91. This was Sunderland's first season in 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...
at the end of which they finished in seventh place, with a team consisting mainly of Scottish players.
The following season
1891-92 in English football
The 1891–92 season was the 21st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Three new clubs joined the Football Alliance, following the expansion of the Football League to 14 teams, and the defection of Sunderland Albion to the Northern League...
Sunderland dominated the league, taking the title by a margin of five points, with Porteous missing only one match. Porteous was again an ever present figure in the 1892–93
1892-93 in English football
The 1892–93 season was the 22nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Football League and the Football Alliance formally merged, and so the Football League Second Division was formed, consisting mostly of Football Alliance clubs...
season when Sunderland took 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...
title for the second consecutive season, this time by a substantial 11 point margin.
Although he started the 1893–94
1893-94 in English football
The 1893–94 season was the 23rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:The 1893–94 season saw four of the most famous teams in English Footballing history join the Second Division: Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester City, and the first team based in London, Woolwich Arsenal...
season, after two matches he lost his place to Peter Meehan
Peter Meehan
Peter Meehan was a Scottish professional footballer best known for making nineteen appearances in Sunderland's English Title winning team of 1895....
, a Scottish
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international who had recently been signed from Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Porteous left Sunderland at the end of the season, moving to Rotherham Town
Rotherham Town F.C.
Rotherham Town Football Club was the name of two English football clubs from Rotherham, Yorkshire. The first briefly played in the Football League, while the second became part of another Football League club, Rotherham United, who are still members of the League today...
where he spent two seasons, also spending a few months with Ardwick.
England
Porteous' England call-up came in the 1890–91 season against WalesWales 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...
, when England won 4–1 at Newcastle Road, Sunderland in the 1891 British Home Championship
1891 British Home Championship
The 1891 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. Despite strong showings from all four teams, England eventually won the trophy with victories in all three games including, as at the 1890 and 1892 competitions, matches against Wales and...
. The Wales game was Porteous' only game for England, which was also the first international game in Sunderland.
Honours
SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
- Football LeagueThe Football LeagueThe 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...
champions: 1891–92 and 1892–93