Thomas James Matthias (born 7 November 1890) was a Welsh international footballer who played the majority of his career for his hometown club, Wrexham AFC.

Tommy Matthias
Personal information
Full name Thomas James Matthias
Date of birth (1890-11-07)7 November 1890
Place of birth Brynteg, Nr Wrexham, Wales
Date of death <
Place of death Towradgi, New South Wales, Australia
Height 5 ft 6+34 in (1.70 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Pentre Broughton
Mold
Saltney
1910–1911 Shrewsbury Town
1911–1912 Chester City 26 (2)
1912–1928 Wrexham 390 (28)
1929 Whitchurch
1930 Oak Alyn
International career
1914–1923 Wales 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tommy made his debut for Wrexham in the Birmingham & District League on 7 September 1912 against Wolverhampton Wanderers Reserves.[2][3] Before joining Wrexham, Tommy played for clubs in the local area.[2] He signed for Shrewsbury Town in 1910[2] and for Chester City a year later,[2] before joining Wrexham. During his early career he also worked as a coal miner and kept fit by using a skipping rope while underground.[3][4]

Over the next 16 seasons, Tommy played 390 league and cup games for Wrexham. His time at the club was interrupted by wartime service during the First World War. He rejoined Wrexham when competitive football restarted after the war. He played in the club's inaugural Football League match in Division 3 North against Hartlepools United on 27 August 1921.[2][4][3] He won four Welsh Cup Winners Medals and was a losing finalist once.[4]

Tommy made 12 appearances for the Wales national football team between 1914 and 1923. He made his international debut on 28 February 1914 against Scotland and played his last match on 17 March 1923, also against Scotland.[5]

Photo of Tommy Matthias in Wales shirt and international cap
Tommy Matthias photographed in his Wales shirt and international cap. Photo taken c. 1922.

After leaving Wrexham, he played briefly for two amateur clubs. After his playing career ended he worked as a pub landlord[4] and later as an office caretaker[4] as well as working as a scout for Wrexham.[3] In 1964, at the age of 73, he emigrated to Australia where he died in 1965.[2]

Honours

edit

Welsh Cup Winner – 1914, 1915, 1921, 1925

Welsh Cup Runner Up – 1920

Inducted into Wrexham AFC Hall of Fame

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Third Division. Northern Section. Wrexham". Athletic News. Manchester. 15 August 1921. p. 6.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Davies, Gareth M.; Jones, Peter (1999). The Racecourse Robins from Adams to Youds. Ynys Mon. pp. 212–213. ISBN 0-952495-01-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ a b c d Jones, Peter (1992). Wrexham - A Complete Record 1872-1992. Breedon Books. p. 139. ISBN 1-873626-19-3.
  4. ^ a b c d e Davies, Gareth M.; Jones, Peter (2000). Wrexham Football Club 1982-1950. Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 46. ISBN 0-7524-1899-8.
  5. ^ "Wales player database 1872 to 2013". eu-football.info. Retrieved 30 April 2016.