Biography
Tom Brandon joined Hull City in June 1920 and was slotted straight into the right back role by manager David Menzies. On Christmas Day 1920 Brandon was advanced to the inside right position due to the sale of David Mercer, and he remained in the Tigers’ forward line for the rest of the season as Sam Cheetham deputised at right back. Tom scored his first goal for the Tigers in a February 1921 1-1 draw against Stockport County. A fortnight later City were paired with First Division giants Burnley in the FA Cup, the Lancastrians were top of the First Division and had compiled a run of 26 matches without defeat. But the Tigers despatched the Clarets 3-0 with Brandon scoring twice, the second goal being thumped home from 30 yards. He scored two further goals for City that season in wins against Blackpool and Cardiff City. After starting the first two games of the 1921/22 season in the forward line, Brandon dropped out of the City first team and returned in October back in his usual right back role. However from December 1921 onwards City stalwart Jimmy Lodge was preferred at full back and Brandon left the club in the 1922 close season.
William Thomas “Tom” Brandon was born in Blackburn, his father was a professional footballer for Blackburn Rovers who was born in Ayrshire and capped for Scotland in 1896. By the age of 7 young Tom and his mother were living in Blackburn while their father was in Scotland serving a prison sentence for non-payment of maintanence charges – Tom’s father then emigrated alone to the United States. Brandon joined Blackburn Rovers in 1909 and played a season in their Reserves while living in a boarding house and working as a cotton weaver. After spells with Rossendale United and South Liverpool, Brandon was signed by Southern League side West Ham United in June 1913. He made 36 appearances for the Hammers prior to World War One and also played two wartime matches during the conflict. When the war ended and the Football League resumed in 1919 Brandon spent a season at Bristol Rovers, making 26 league appearances. He joined Hull City in the 1920 close season.
Brandon joined Bradford Park Avenue in June 1922 and returned to his right back role for three seasons, making 91 starts. He spent the 1926/27 season at Wigan Borough, making 9 appearances, then ended his playing career with a season playing for Bootle Borough. Brandon’s wife Elsie, who he married in East London in 1913, was born in Liverpool and when his playing days were over they settled in Norris Green, a suburb of Liverpool, with Tom working as a markets constable. He died in Liverpool in May 1956.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 8 May 1893, Blackburn
Hull City First Game: 28 August 1920, West Ham United A (Division Two), 27 years, 92 days old
Hull City Final Game: 25 February 1922, Bury A (Division Two), 28 years, 273 days old
Clubs
Blackburn Rovers (1909-1910), Rossendale United (1910-1911), South Liverpool (1911-1913), West Ham United (1913-1919), Bristol Rovers (1919-1920), Hull City (1920-1922), Bradford Park Avenue (1922-1926), Wigan Borough (1926-1927), Bootle Borough (1927-1928)
Hull City Record
Career: 61 apps, 5 goals
Tom Brandon| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920/21 | 41 | 3 | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1921/22 | 15 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |