Biography
Burly Welsh centre half William Tabram in May 1934 and was quickly given the captain’s armband by manager Jack Hill. He started 36 consecutive games in 1934/35 and missed only four fixtures towards the end of the season. In 1935/36 managers Hill and his successor David Menzies used Tabram in both the centre half a wing half roles, as the Tigers crashed out of the Second Division with a defeat-laden relegation. In 1936/37 Menzies was repalced by Ernest Blackburn, who preferred to use Tabram in the inside forward role, which yielded Billy five goals in his last dozen or so games for the club. He moved on in the 1937 close season, although his player registration was retained by Hull City for two years in the hope of one day receiving a transfer fee.
Born in Swansea, Tabram played for local side Crown Mission before joining Swansea Town in 1929 after an unsuccessful trial with Preston North End. Tabram made only 21 senior appearances for the Swans in four seasons before joining Port Vale in 1933, where he finally saw regular first team action and showed form that attracted the attention of Hull City.
In June 1937 Tabram joined South Shields, a successful phoenix club who won the North Eastern League title in 1939 (the previous South Shields team had moved west up the Tyne and become Gateshead United a year earlier). Tabram remained with South Shields until 1941 until World War Two drew his playing career to a close. When his playing days were over Tabram returned to his Swansea roots, where he died in April 1992.
Details
Nationality: Wales
Date/Place of Birth: 19 January 1909, Swansea
Hull City First Game: 29 August 1934, Plymouth Argyle A (Division Two), 25 years, 222 days old
Hull City Final Game: 1 May 1937, Darlington H (Division Three North), 28 years, 102 days old
Clubs
Crown Mission, Swansea Town (1929-1933), Port Vale (1933-1934), Hull City (1934-1937), South Shields (1937-1941)
Hull City Record
Career: 110 apps, 5 goals
William Tabram| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934/35 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1935/36 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1936/37 | 35 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |