Walsh Tommy “Tot” Image 2 Bristol City 1926

Description

Bolton, Lancashire born centre forward Tommy “Tot” Walsh began his senior football career with hometown First Division club Bolton Wanderers, making his Football League debut against Derby County in November 1920. But he found it difficult to get opportunities in the very strong Bolton team of the time, boasting the likes of David Jack, Frank Roberts, Joe and JR Smith amongst its number during his time there, and he remained a fringe player for four seasons at Burnden Park, scoring four times in 22 appearances for The Trotters, before moving to Bristol City in January 1923.

He couldn’t help prevent City’s relegation from the Second Division at the end of the 1922-23 season, but topped their goalscoring charts over the next three seasons with 21, 25 and 32 goals respectively, in the latter campaign they were promoted as Third Division (South) Champions back to the Second Division. His total that season included four goals in a 5-0 win over Watford in September 1926, a Christmas Day hat-trick at Aberdare Athletic, and a sensational 6 goals in a 9-4 thrashing of Gillingham in January 1927. But 1927-28 proved his last season at Ashton Gate, and he joined Crystal Palace in the 1928 close season after 91 goals in 150 appearances for The Robins. However his spell at Selhurst Park proved unsuccessful, scoring once in 9 appearances, before he returned to Lancashire to join non league Hurst in 1929. He then had spells with Chorley in 1930 and Mossley in 1931 before his eventual retirement.