Tom Brittleton
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Thomas Brittleton | ||
| Date of birth | 23 April 1882 | ||
| Place of birth | Winsford, Cheshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 22 February 1955 (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Winsford, Cheshire, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Wing half back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1892–1894 | Winsford Juniors | ||
| 1894–1896 | Winsford Celtic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1896–1902 | Winsford United | ||
| 1902–1905 | 45 | (10) | |
| 1905–1920 | Sheffield Wednesday | 343 | (30) |
| 1920–1925 | Stoke | 114 | (5) |
| 1925–1928 | Winsford United | ||
| Total | 502 | (45) | |
| National team | |||
| 1912–1914 | England | 5 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1925–???? | Winsford United (Player-manager) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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John Thomas "Tom" Brittleton (23 April 1882 – 22 February 1955) was a professional footballer. He was one of the pioneers of the long throw-in. With a career spanning over 30 years, including 24 seasons in the Football League, he is the oldest person to play for Sheffield Wednesday in a competitive game.
Brittleton was born in Winsford, Cheshire on St George's Day 1882. He started his football career by playing for Winsford Juniors at the age of 10. Whilst at his next junior club, Winsford Celtic, he played in every position including goalkeeper.
After leaving school at the age of 14, Brittleton signed for the town's senior side, Winsford United. He went on to play many County League games and earned several winners medals in the Cheshire Amateur Cup, appearing in three district finals in one season.
Whilst at United, a fan, who was visiting his girlfriend in Winsford, watched Brittleton play a match and informed the Stockport management of his skills. Shortly afterwards he signed amateur forms with County at the age of nineteen. He continued his job at the Winsford Salt Works, and even, on one occasion, missed a Stockport game that he was due to play in so that he could instead play for Winsford in a Cheshire Amateur Cup game. Despite his apparent lack of commitment to County he eventually signed professional forms with the club and hence started his Football League career.
Brittleton began his league career with Stockport County in 1902 as an inside forward. He went on to score ten goals in forty-five appearances for the Lancashire club, and after County had played a game at Ashton in December 1904, the referee sent a report to Sheffield Wednesday recommending the player. Wednesday immediately sent a £200 bid to Stockport which was rejected. Undeterred, the Owls improved their offer to a club record fee of £300, and Brittleton signed for the Yorkshire club on 6 January 1905.
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