Tom Nolan (footballer, born 1909)

Tom Nolan
Personal information
Full name	Thomas Gerard Nolan
Date of birth	13 June 1909
Place of birth	Preston, England
Date of death	1969 (aged 59–60)
Height	5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (1.79 m)
Position(s)	Centre-forward
Youth career
	Preston Catholic College
Senior career*
Years	Team
	Preston North End
	Manchester Central
1931–1935	Port Vale
1935–1936	Bradford Park Avenue
1936–1940	Port Vale
Total
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Thomas Gerard Nolan (13 June 1909 – 1969) was an English footballer, noted for his powerful cannonball shots. He was Port Vale's most prolific forward of the 1930s.^[3]

Career

Nolan played for Preston North End and Manchester Central before joining Port Vale in October 1931.^[1] He hit 11 goals in 21 games to become the club's top-scorer, helping the "Valiants" to remain in the Second Division on goal average.^[1] Nolan then scored eight goals in 17 appearances in 1932–33, including a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Plymouth Argyle at The Old Recreation Ground on 29 April.^[1]

In the 1933–34 season, he scored 22 goals in 32 appearances, including hat-tricks in home wins over Bury, Hull City, and Nottingham Forest.^[1] He was the club's top-scorer for a second successive season in 1934–35, hitting 16 goals in 40 games.^[1] However, he was transferred to Bradford Park Avenue in July 1935.^[1] He hit 17 goals in 42 league appearances at Park Avenue, before he returned to Port Vale in a trade for George Stabb in September 1936.^[1] The "Valiants" had been relegated to the Third Division North in his absence.^[1] He hit 12 goals in 41 appearances in 1936–37, including a hat-trick over eventual league champions Stockport County.^[1] He was dropped at the start of the 1937–38 campaign in favour of Jack Roberts. However, he still hit the net seven times in his 20 appearances.^[1] He hit 17 goals in 41 games in 1938–39 to become the club's top-scorer for a fourth time.^[1] In February 1940, Nolan retired from the game due to his war duties.^[1] In his two spells with Port Vale, he scored 96 goals in 221 appearances over all competitions.^[1]

Career statistics

Source:^[4]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1931–32	Second Division	19	8	2	3	0	0	21	11
	1932–33	Second Division	17	8	0	0	0	0	17	8
	1933–34	Second Division	32	22	0	0	0	0	32	22
	1934–35	Second Division	39	16	1	0	0	0	40	16
	Total		107	54	3	3	0	0	110	57
Bradford Park Avenue	1935–36	Second Division	35	14	6	3	0	0	41	17
	1936–37	Second Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		36	14	6	3	0	0	42	17
Port Vale	1936–37	Third Division North	37	11	1	0	3	1	41	12
	1937–38	Third Division North	18	7	1	0	1	0	20	7
	1938–39	Third Division South	39	17	2	0	0	0	41	17
	Total		94	35	4	0	4	1	102	36
Career total			237	103	13	6	4	1	254	110

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 215. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
^ "Bradford. Backs wanted. Directors show no lack of enterprise". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. vii – via Newspapers.com.
^ Fielding, Rob (15 April 2021). "Five of the best - Port Vale strikers of the 1930s". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
^ Tom Nolan at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

[kent-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 215. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[2] "Bradford. Backs wanted. Directors show no lack of enterprise". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. vii – via Newspapers.com.

[3] Fielding, Rob (15 April 2021). "Five of the best - Port Vale strikers of the 1930s". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2021.

[4] Tom Nolan at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

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