Tom Manley (footballer)
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 Manley while a Brentford player | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Ronald Manley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 October 1912 | ||
| Place of birth | Northwich, England | ||
| Date of death | 4 July 1988 (aged 75)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Brentwood, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Utility player, outside left | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1927–1928 | Brunner Mond | ||
| 1928–1929 | Norley United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1929–1930 | Northwich Victoria | ||
| 1930–1939 | Manchester United | 188 | (40) |
| 1939–1952 | Brentford | 116 | (8) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1954 | Northwich Victoria | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Thomas Ronald Manley (7 October 1912 – 4 July 1988) was an English professional footballer who made over 300 appearances in the Football League for Manchester United and Brentford as a utility player. He later managed hometown club Northwich Victoria in non-League football.
Early years
Manley began his career with junior clubs Brunner Mond and Norley United, before joining Cheshire County League club Northwich Victoria in 1929.[3] He remained at Drill Field until September 1930.[3]
Manchester United
Manley was brought to First Division club Manchester United by scout Louis Rocca on an amateur basis in September 1930.[3] At the end of the 1930–31 season, after the club's relegation to the Second Division, he signed a professional contract.[3] Manley broke into the team over the course of the 1932–33 and 1933–34 seasons and scored 15 goals in United's 1935–36 Second Division title-winning campaign.[4] After suffering relegation straight back to the Second Division at the end of the 1936–37 season, he helped the team to an immediate return to the top-flight one season later.[4] 1938–39 was Manley's final season at Old Trafford and he finished his Manchester United career having made 195 appearances and scored 41 goals.[4] Predominantly an outside left, he also performed the role of a utility player at Old Trafford by also playing in half and full back positions.[4]
Brentford
Manley joined First Division club Brentford for a "substantial fee" in August 1939 and was immediately named captain.[5] Just three matches of the 1939–40 season were played before the season was abandoned and competitive football was suspended for the duration of the Second World War.[5] Manley's duties with the RAF meant that he appeared sparingly for the club during the war, making just 36 appearances and scoring six goals by the end of the 1945–46 season.[6] He also played as a guest player for Blackpool, Chester, Fulham, Manchester United, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur during the war.[7] Competitive football resumed for the 1946–47 season and Manley would go on to make 122 appearances and scored 8 goals for the club before making his final appearance in September 1950.[8][5] He remained as Griffin Park as a reserve team player for the 1951–52 season (playing one match as a goalkeeper) before retiring at age 39 in May 1952.[5] Manley was awarded a joint-testimonial with Ted Gaskell versus a Tommy Lawton XI in April 1954.[5]
Management career
Manley managed Cheshire County League club Northwich Victoria, with whom he began his career as a player, between March and October 1954.[5]