Griffiths Tom Image 1 Blackburn Rovers 1907

Description

Wavertree, Liverpool born left half Tom Griffiths began his football career playing for Liverpool Telegraph Messengers and then went to Clitheroe in 1905, playing as an amateur for three months in the Lancashire Combination. It was during his time with the Clitheroe club that he was spotted and signed by Blackburn Rovers as a professional in March 1907.

He featured in their Lancashire Combination side and played in the team that won the division’s championship but failed to make the breakthrough into their first eleven, and he signed for Southern League club Exeter City in the summer of 1910, making his senior debut in a Southern League fixture at Leyton. He only managed four more appearances that season, but the following campaign added a further 17 outings, scoring twice for The Grecians.

Moving on to join Clapton Orient for the 1912-13 season, Griffiths had to wait until March 1913 to make his Football League debut in a match at Birmingham and appeared in 13 matches for The O’s. He joined Llanelli in 1914. Griffiths was also noted as an athlete and ran as a professional in Lancashire, winning over £100 in prize money. During the First World War, Griffiths served with The Royal Garrison Artillery.