Tommy Broad
Encyclopedia
Thomas Higginson Broad was an English footballer who played at outside-right for various clubs in the first quarter of the twentieth century, spending the largest part of his career with Oldham Athletic and Bristol City
.
and after playing youth football with various clubs, he had an unsuccessful trial with Manchester City
in 1904. In September 1905, he signed his first professional contract with West Bromwich Albion
where he made 14 league and cup appearances before joining Chesterfield
in February 1908.
Broad remained at Saltergate until the end of the 1908–09 season, at the end of which the "Spireites" were relegated to the Third Division
. Broad then returned to his native Lancashire
, joining Oldham Athletic
in May 1909. At the end of Broad's first season at Boundary Park
, the "Latics" were promoted to the First Division
as runners-up to Manchester City
. After three years with Oldham, during which he made over 140 first-team appearances, Broad was on the move again, this time back to the Second Division
with Bristol City
.
Broad remained with the Ashton Gate
club until after the First World War, making over 110 appearances, before again returning to Lancashire and the First Division, with Manchester City
. Two years at Hyde Road
were followed by three seasons at Stoke where Broad helped his club again finish as Second Division runners-up in 1921–22, although this was followed by relegation the following season. After three years in the Potteries, where Broad made 89 first-team appearances, he moved to the South Coast to join Southampton
.
Broad still holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever signed by the "Saints", being just three weeks short of his 37th birthday. At The Dell, he was used as cover for Bill Henderson
and only had a run of three games in October, followed by six in April.
In September 1925, Broad moved to Weymouth
of the Western League
, before playing out his career with Rhyl
.
Stoke
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
Football career
Broad was born in StalybridgeStalybridge
Stalybridge is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 22,568. Historically a part of Cheshire, it is east of Manchester city centre and northwest of Glossop. With the construction of a cotton mill in 1776, Stalybridge became one of...
and after playing youth football with various clubs, he had an unsuccessful trial with Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in 1904. In September 1905, he signed his first professional contract 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...
where he made 14 league and cup appearances before joining Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
in February 1908.
Broad remained at Saltergate until the end of the 1908–09 season, at the end of which the "Spireites" were relegated to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. Broad then returned to his native 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...
, joining 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 May 1909. At the end of Broad's first season at Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
, the "Latics" were promoted to 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....
as runners-up to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. After three years with Oldham, during which he made over 140 first-team appearances, Broad was on the move again, this time back to the 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...
with Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
Broad remained with the Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
club until after the First World War, making over 110 appearances, before again returning to Lancashire and the First Division, with Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. Two years at Hyde Road
Hyde Road
Hyde Road was a football stadium in Ardwick, Manchester, England. It was home to Manchester City F.C. and their predecessors from its construction in 1887 until 1923, when the club moved to Maine Road. It was named after Hyde Road, a road which begins at the east end of Ardwick Green South in...
were followed by three seasons at Stoke where Broad helped his club again finish as Second Division runners-up in 1921–22, although this was followed by relegation the following season. After three years in the Potteries, where Broad made 89 first-team appearances, he moved to the South Coast to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
Broad still holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever signed by the "Saints", being just three weeks short of his 37th birthday. At The Dell, he was used as cover for Bill Henderson
Bill Henderson (footballer born 1899)
William James "Bill" Henderson was an English footballer who played at outside-right in the 1920s, spending most of his career with Southampton.-Early career:...
and only had a run of three games in October, followed by six in April.
In September 1925, Broad moved to Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
of the Western League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
, before playing out his career with Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
.
Honours
Oldham Athletic- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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...
runners-up: 1909–10
Stoke
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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...
runners-up: 1921–22