Tommy Vail Explained

Tommy Vail
Fullname:Thomas Naismith Vail
Birth Date:1873
Birth Place:Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland
Death Date: ~67 years old
Death Place:Buckhaven, Fife, Scotland
Position:Centre forward
Clubs1:Lochgelly United
Years2:1895−1896
Clubs2:Dundee
Caps2:9
Goals2:5
Years4:1896
Clubs4:Bolton Wanderers
Caps4:4
Goals4:1
Years5:1896−1898
Clubs5:Chatham United
Years6:1898−1899
Clubs6:Walsall
Caps6:31
Goals6:16
Years7:1899
Clubs7:Bristol Rovers
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Years8:1899−1900
Clubs8:Gainsborough Trinity
Years9:1900–1901
Clubs9:Doncaster Rovers
Goals9:20
Years10:1901−1903
Clubs10:Lochgelly United
Years11:1903−1905
Clubs11:Dunfermline Athletic

Tommy Vail (born 1873) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre forward with Lochgelly United, Dundee, Bolton Wanderers, Chatham United, Walsall, Bristol Rovers, Gainsborough Trinity, Doncaster Rovers and Dunfermline Athletic.

Playing career

Born in Auchterderran, Fife, he is first known to have played for his local club Lochgelly United, and then was signed by Dundee[1] before moving to Division 1 team Bolton Wanderers after the start of the 1895–96 season where he scored once in 4 games.

After a failed trial at Oldham Athletic, in 1896 Vail moved south to Chatham United for two seasons in the Southern League.

The next season he was with Walsall of Division 2. In March, Small Heath unsuccessfully tried to get him on a loan. He ended the season as joint top scorer with 16 League goals as Walsall finished in 6th place.

The following season he moved to fellow Division 2 club Gainsborough Trinity.

For the 1900–01 season Vail went to play for Midland League side Doncaster Rovers, scoring 26 League and Cup goals, plus 5 in friendlies. He was also used as a trainer.

He then moved back to Scotland and played for his old club Lochgelly United, before a move in March 1903 to Dunfermline Athletic. He retired in 1905.

Personal life

Vail was born in 1873 in Auchterderran, Fife to Michael Vail and Ann Naysmith. He married Betsy Watson on 26 Oct 1898 in Auchterderran. Around 1901, whilst playing for Doncaster he also worked as a railway labourer. He died on 3 July 1940 in Buckhaven, Fife.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas Vail Player Statistics Dundee (Dee Archive) . 2022-11-19 . deearchive.co.uk . en.