Tommy Sale

Infobox Football biography
playername = Tommy Sale


fullname = Thomas Sale
dateofbirth = 30 April 1910
cityofbirth = Stoke-on-Trent
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|1990|11|10|1910|04|30
cityofdeath = Stafford
countryofdeath = England
height =
position = Centre forward, Inside forward
youthyears = 1929-30
youthclubs = Stoke City
years = 1930-36
1936-38
1938-46
1947
1949
clubs = Stoke City
Blackburn Rovers
Stoke City
Northwich Victoria
Hednesford Town
caps(goals) = 483 (282) [This figure was achieved over Sale's two spells at Stoke City. The figure includes goals scored in all competitions, not just in the League.]
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =

Thomas Sale (30 April 1910 - 10 November 1990) was an English footballer who played as a striker. Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Sale had two spells at his home town club, Stoke City, amassing 483 appearances, either side of a two year stint at Blackburn Rovers. Later in his career, he had brief spells at Northwich Victoria and Hednesford Town, before opting to retire at the age of thirty-nine.

Early life

As a fourteen year old, Tommy Sale worked in a Pottery factory. In conjunction with his work, he played football for Stoke St Peter's (a youth side that were linked with Stoke City). His performances attracted the attention of Tom Mather, Stoke City's manager. [cite web|url=http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Managers/0,,10310,00.html|title=Stoke City FC Managers|work=Stoke City F.C.|date=2007-07-04|accessdate=2007-08-07] In August 1929, at the age of 19, he signed with Stoke City on amateur terms.cite book |last=Matthews |first=Tony |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A-Z of Stoke City |year=1997 |publisher=The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited |location= |isbn=1 85983 100 1 | pages =199 ]

Playing career

toke City

In May 1930, Sale signed a professional contract with Stoke City.cite web|url=http://www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistoryDetail/0,,10310~401166,00.html|title=1930-1940 Stan's The Man|work=Stoke City F.C.|accessdate=2007-06-23] On Christmas day, 25 December, of the same year, Sale made his senior début in a match against Bradford City. By the 1932-33 season, Sale had established himself as a prominent member of the team, helping Stoke win the Second Division with 11 goals in 21 appearances. [cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1932-33.html|title=England 1932-33|work=rsssf.com|accessdate=2007-08-08] In the following two seasons, Sale was the club's top scorer. He scored 17 times in the 1933-34 season, in which Stoke finished 12th in the First Division. [cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1933-34.html|title=England 1933-34|work=rsssf.com|accessdate=2007-08-08] In the subsequent season, 1934-35, Sale scored 21 goals, helping Stoke to a 10th place finish in the First Division. [cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1934-35.html|title=England 1934-35|work=rsssf.com|accessdate=2007-08-08]

Blackburn Rovers

Bob McGrory, Mather's successor as Stoke manager, sold Tommy Sale to Blackburn Rovers in March 1936, for the sum of £6,000. This surprised supporters at the time, however McGory had confidence in Freddie Steele, who he had earmarked as a potential replacement for Sale. Sale spent two years at Blackburn before departing. Blackburn were relegated from the First Division in his first season at the club, 1935-36, finishing bottom of the table. [cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1935-36.html|title=England 1935-36|work=rsssf.com|accessdate=2007-08-08] He left the club halfway through the subsequent season, 1936-37, in which Blackburn finished 12th in the Second Division. [cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1936-37.html|title=England 1936-37|work=rsssf.com|accessdate=2007-08-08]

econd spell at Stoke City

Bob McGrory, Stoke's manager, re-signed Tommy Sale for Stoke in March 1938, initially as cover for Freddie Steele, who was injured at the time. Following his return, Sale scored five goals in three games, as he set about regaining his place in the team. He re-established his place in the side, as he scored 18 further goals in the remainder of the 1938-39 season. The 1939-40 season was suspended due to the outbreak of World War II, however Sale continued his goalscoring exploits with 56 goals (in all competitions) in 1941-42 and then 64 goals over the course of two seasons: 1943-44 and 1944-45. In the latter of these two seasons, Sale netted six times in an 8–0 win over Walsall. Despite most of his goals coming from open play, Sale was a Penalty specialist; it is reported Sale only missed one penalty in his entire professional career. Sale's last appearance for Stoke came on 8 April 1946, at the age of thirty-five, in a League game against Sheffield United at Stoke's home ground, the Victoria Ground. Following his departure from Stoke, Sale had two spells at Northwich Victoria and Hednesford Town before announcing his retirement in 1949, at the age of thirty-nine.

References