Derek Tomkinson

Derek Tomkinson (6 April 1931 – 28 July 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward for Burton Albion, Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra, and Macclesfield Town. He helped the "Valiants" to win the Third Division North title in the 1953–54 season. He also won the Cheshire Senior Cup with Macclesfield Town in 1960.

Derek Tomkinson
Personal information
Full name Derek Tomkinson[1]
Date of birth (1931-04-06)6 April 1931[1]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 28 July 2021 (aged 90)[2]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1949–1951 Port Vale 0 (0)
1951–1952 Burton Albion
1952–1955 Port Vale 29 (5)
1955–1957 Crewe Alexandra 17 (1)
1958–1961 Macclesfield Town 99 (2)
1961–1962 Altrincham
Total 145+ (8+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Tomkinson joined Port Vale as an amateur in 1949 after his father took him to The Old Recreation Ground and asked staff "could you give my boy a game?".[1][4] He never played a first-team match and instead departed for Burton Albion in 1951.[1] He returned to Port Vale in December 1952 to sign as a professional and made his debut on Boxing Day 1951 in a 4–1 win over Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road.[1] He played five further Third Division North games in 1952–53, as the "Valiants" finished second in the league.[1] Having forced his way into first-team contention by scoring a hat-trick for the reserve team against the first XI, he went on to score five goals in 20 games in the 1953–54 title winning campaign.[4] He played in the FA Cup semi-final defeat to West Bromwich Albion.[4][1] He was primarily used as a reserve for Albert Leake, though took Ken Griffiths place in the semi-final after Griffiths failed a fitness test.[4] He played four Second Division games in 1954–55, before leaving Vale Park for Crewe Alexandra.[1]

The "Railwaymen" finished bottom of the Third Division North in 1955–56 and 1956–57 under the stewardship of Maurice Lindley. He then moved on to Cheshire County League side Macclesfield Town in 1958, appearing as a regular first team player for three seasons and helping the "Silkmen" to win the Cheshire Senior Cup in 1960.[5] He made 39 appearances for Altrincham during the 1961–62 season.[5]

Post-retirement

Tomkinson became a company secretary in the pottery industry and worked at Keele University, before emigrating to Europe.[4] He later returned to England and in December 2013 was living in Cullompton, though would go on to reside in a care home in Sidmouth.[6][4]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1952–53[7]Third Division North60000060
1953–54[7]Third Division North1951000205
1954–55[7]Second Division40000040
Total 2951000305
Crewe Alexandra1956–57[7]Third Division North1712000191
Macclesfield Town 1958–59[8] Cheshire County League 2301010250
1959–60[9] Cheshire County League 3521081443
1960–61[10] Cheshire County League 4105020480
Total 992701101170

Honours

Port Vale

Macclesfield Town

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 292. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. "Derek Tomkinson (1931 - 2021)". www.port-vale.co.uk. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. "Altrincham FC". www.lusaweb.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  4. official matchday programme Port Vale v Exeter City (PDF). 2 April 2021. p. 8. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  5. "Profile". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. "Cup semi-finalists Derek Tomkinson is alive and well and living in Devon". The Sentinel. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  7. Derek Tomkinson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  8. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  9. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  10. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  11. Sherwin, Phil; Askey, Steve (2013), Men of Steele: The story of Port Vale's stunning 1953/54 season, Pass Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8
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