Tom Bamford
Encyclopedia
Thomas F. "Tom" Bamford (1887 – 9 August 1944) was an English
professional footballer who played as a full back. Born in Horwich
, he began his career in non-league football
with Darwen
before joining Burnley
in 1909. He was part of the Burnley side that won the FA Cup
in 1914
, but then missed five years of his career due to the outbreak of the First World War. By the time league football resumed, Bamford was over 30 years of age, and found it difficult to regain his place in the team. After more than 150 first-team appearances for the club, Bamford left Burnley in 1920 to sign for Rochdale
, where he ended his career.
, Lancashire
in 1887 and spent the whole of his life living in the county of his birth. He died on 9 August 1944, aged 57.
in the Lancashire Combination
. His performances attracted the attention of professional Football League Second Division
club Burnley
, who he joined on a free transfer in April 1909. He was originally signed as cover for the veteran fullback Fred Barron
, and made his league debut for Burnley in the 3–2 victory over Blackpool
on 25 March 1910. He played in the remaining eight matches of the season, but at the start of the 1910–11 campaign he found himself out of the side again thanks to the emergence of Scottish defender Thomas Splitt
. Bamford made his first appearance of the season on 27 December 1910 in the defeat to Hull City
, and went on to play 15 league matches in the remainder of the campaign.
Bamford was John Haworth
's first choice left-back for the first 13 matches of the 1911–12 season, but again found himself left out of the team in December 1911 following the signing of David Taylor
, who had been a part of Bradford City's FA Cup
winning side in that year. Bamford did not appear again for Burnley until 9 September 1912 when he played left-back against Hull City
at Turf Moor
. Following the departure of Splitt in October 1912, Bamford found himself reinstated into the team, but at the unfamiliar right-back position. He went on to enjoy his longest run in the Burnley side, playing 24 matches in the 1912–13 season as the team achieved promotion to the Football League First Division
after securing a second-placed finish in the league. Bamford also played in six FA Cup ties during the campaign as Burnley reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by Sunderland
following a replay.
Following promotion to the top flight, Bamford played all 46 first-team matches in the 1913–14 as the side attained a respectable 12th-placed finish in the league. Despite starting his career as a left-back, Bamford became an established right-sided defender as Burnley built on their cup success of the previous campaign, beating South Shields
, Derby County
and Bolton Wanderers
in the early rounds before atoning for their defeat to Sunderland in the fourth round. Bamford was selected in the starting line-up as Burnley defeated Liverpool
1–0 to win their first (and as of 2010, only) FA Cup title. The eleven players selected for that match had only ever previously played four first-team matches together and in fact never again lined up together after the Final. Bamford carried his first-place berth into the next season, again playing in every league and cup fixture in 1914–15 as Burnley finished fourth in the division, their highest league finish since 1899. On 24 April 1915, Bamford played what turned out to be his final game in a Burnley shirt, a 0–0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday
at Hillsborough
.
From the summer of 1915 onwards, the First World War brought competitive football to a halt in England just when Bamford was in his late twenties and at the peak of his career. He continued to play for Burnley part-time in the Wartime Football League, making 34 appearances in 1915–16 and a playing a further three matches between 1917 and 1919. When league football eventually resumed in August 1919, Bamford was 32 years old and could not regain his place in the Burnley team thanks to the emergence of young fullback Len Smelt
. In September 1920, after failing to play a competitive match in over five years, Bamford left Burnley to join Central League
outfit Rochdale
on a free transfer and he played there until the end of his career.
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...
professional footballer who played as a full back. Born in Horwich
Horwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
, he began his career in non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Darwen
Darwen F.C.
A.F.C. Darwen is a football club from Darwen in Lancashire, North West England. The team, formed in 1870 as Darwen F.C., currently play in the Division One of the North West Counties League. They play their home games at the Anchor Ground.-History:...
before joining Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in 1909. He was part of the Burnley side that won 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...
in 1914
1914 FA Cup Final
The 1914 FA Cup Final was contested by Burnley and Liverpool at Crystal Palace. Burnley won by a single goal, scored by ex-Evertonian Bert Freeman. The game was the last ever final at Crystal Palace and was played in front of a reigning monarch, George V, for the first time. Neither club had...
, but then missed five years of his career due to the outbreak of the First World War. By the time league football resumed, Bamford was over 30 years of age, and found it difficult to regain his place in the team. After more than 150 first-team appearances for the club, Bamford left Burnley in 1920 to sign for Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, where he ended his career.
Biography
Thomas Bamford was born in the town of HorwichHorwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in 1887 and spent the whole of his life living in the county of his birth. He died on 9 August 1944, aged 57.
Career
Bamford started his career playing as an amateur for DarwenDarwen F.C.
A.F.C. Darwen is a football club from Darwen in Lancashire, North West England. The team, formed in 1870 as Darwen F.C., currently play in the Division One of the North West Counties League. They play their home games at the Anchor Ground.-History:...
in the Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
. His performances attracted the attention of professional Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
club Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, who he joined on a free transfer in April 1909. He was originally signed as cover for the veteran fullback Fred Barron
Fred Barron (footballer)
Frederick Barron was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half. He made over 400 first-team appearances in thirteen years for Burnley-References:...
, and made his league debut for Burnley in the 3–2 victory over Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on 25 March 1910. He played in the remaining eight matches of the season, but at the start of the 1910–11 campaign he found himself out of the side again thanks to the emergence of Scottish defender Thomas Splitt
Thomas Splitt
Thomas Splitt was a Scottish professional association footballer who played as a full back.-References:...
. Bamford made his first appearance of the season on 27 December 1910 in the defeat to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, and went on to play 15 league matches in the remainder of the campaign.
Bamford was John Haworth
John Haworth
John Haworth was an English football manager. After playing amateur football as a youth, he was appointed manager of Accrington Stanley in 1897. He was in charge of the team for 13 years, leading them to two Lancashire Combination titles, before moving to nearby Burnley in July 1910...
's first choice left-back for the first 13 matches of the 1911–12 season, but again found himself left out of the team in December 1911 following the signing of David Taylor
David Taylor (footballer born 1883)
David Taylor was a Scottish professional footballer who won the FA Cup in 1911 with Bradford City, and in 1914 with Burnley.-Career:...
, who had been a part of Bradford City's 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...
winning side in that year. Bamford did not appear again for Burnley until 9 September 1912 when he played left-back against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
. Following the departure of Splitt in October 1912, Bamford found himself reinstated into the team, but at the unfamiliar right-back position. He went on to enjoy his longest run in the Burnley side, playing 24 matches in the 1912–13 season as the team achieved promotion to the Football League 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....
after securing a second-placed finish in the league. Bamford also played in six FA Cup ties during the campaign as Burnley reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by 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...
following a replay.
Following promotion to the top flight, Bamford played all 46 first-team matches in the 1913–14 as the side attained a respectable 12th-placed finish in the league. Despite starting his career as a left-back, Bamford became an established right-sided defender as Burnley built on their cup success of the previous campaign, beating South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
, 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...
and Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in the early rounds before atoning for their defeat to Sunderland in the fourth round. Bamford was selected in the starting line-up as Burnley defeated 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...
1–0 to win their first (and as of 2010, only) FA Cup title. The eleven players selected for that match had only ever previously played four first-team matches together and in fact never again lined up together after the Final. Bamford carried his first-place berth into the next season, again playing in every league and cup fixture in 1914–15 as Burnley finished fourth in the division, their highest league finish since 1899. On 24 April 1915, Bamford played what turned out to be his final game in a Burnley shirt, a 0–0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
.
From the summer of 1915 onwards, the First World War brought competitive football to a halt in England just when Bamford was in his late twenties and at the peak of his career. He continued to play for Burnley part-time in the Wartime Football League, making 34 appearances in 1915–16 and a playing a further three matches between 1917 and 1919. When league football eventually resumed in August 1919, Bamford was 32 years old and could not regain his place in the Burnley team thanks to the emergence of young fullback Len Smelt
Len Smelt
Leonard "Len" Smelt was an English professional association footballer who played as a full back.- References :...
. In September 1920, after failing to play a competitive match in over five years, Bamford left Burnley to join Central League
Central League (football)
The Central League , is a football league in England for reserve teams primarily of Football League clubs in the Midlands and North of England....
outfit Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on a free transfer and he played there until the end of his career.