Mort Tom Image 4 Aston Villa 1923

Description

Kearsley, Lancashire born left back Tom Mort started his football career before the First World War in junior football with Kearsley St Stephen’s in 1913 and Newton Lads in 1914, playing Army football with The Lancashire Fusiliers during the First World War, before joining Altrincham in 1918. He joined Rochdale in July 1921 for their first season as a Football League club, making his Football League debut at Accrington Stanley that September, and playing 29 matches for ‘Dale before First Division Aston Villa stepped in for his signature in April 1922 for a £1,300 transfer fee with Mort making his Villa debut against Bolton Wanderers later that month.

Mort stayed at Aston Villa for the next 13 seasons, and along with Tommy Smart was part of a defensive tandem known for Villa as “Death and Glory.” Although never an ever present, he scored twice in 368 appearances through to his eventual retirement in May 1935, having played his final match for Villa in January that year. Among his achievements at club level were being twice a League Championship runner up in 1930-31 and 1932-33, and also reaching the 1924 FA Cup Final, when Villa lost 2-0 to Newcastle United at Wembley.

He was capped 3 times for England, winning his first cap in a 2-1 defeat to Wales at Ewood Park in March 1924, before playing in a 3-1 win against France in Paris two months later. His final cap came in April 1926 when England were beaten 1-0 by Scotland at Old Trafford.