Tommy Gore

Thomas John Gore (born 26 November 1953) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He played 257 league appearances in a six-year career in the Football League.

Tommy Gore
Personal information
Full name Thomas John Gore[1]
Date of birth (1953-11-26) 26 November 1953[1]
Place of birth Liverpool, England[1]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Liverpool
Tranmere Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1974–1980 Wigan Athletic 287 (41)
1974–1975 → Dallas Tornado (loan) 35 (3)
1980–1983 Bury 119 (16)
1983–1984 Port Vale 36 (2)
Total 477 (62)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He began his career at Liverpool, playing in the 1972 FA Youth Cup final. He later joined Tranmere Rovers, before signing with Wigan Athletic in January 1974. He helped the club to the Northern Premier League title in 1974–75, as well as second-place finishes in 1973–74 and 1977–78, before Wigan were granted Football League status in 1978. Voted the club's player of the year in 1978–79, he moved on to Bury in October 1980. During his time at Wigan he also spent two summers in the United States with Dallas Tornado. He switched to Port Vale in July 1983, before a neck injury forced his retirement in October 1984.

Career

Gore played youth football for Liverpool, playing for the "Reds" in the 1972 FA Youth Cup final defeat to Aston Villa. He moved on to Tranmere Rovers, before joining Wigan Athletic in January 1974.[3] He made 185 Northern Premier League appearances for Wigan, as they finished as runners-up in 1973–74, champions in 1974–75, sixth in 1975–76, 14th in 1976–77, and then second again in 1977–78.[4] He also spent the 1974 and 1975 summers in the North American Soccer League with Dallas Tornado.[5] He played against Hereford United in Wigan's first ever Football League game and scored in a 1–1 draw at Tranmere Rovers in a Football League Cup first round first leg fixture on 12 August 1978, which was Wigan's first competitive goal as a professional club.[6] He was an ever-present in Ian McNeill's side throughout the 1978–79 Fourth Division campaign. He also voted as the "Latics" first ever Player of the Year.[7] In the 1979–80 season, he scored the winning goal for Wigan against Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup. He was suddenly transferred to Bury in October 1980, having made 102 consecutive league appearances since the club's first Football League fixture.

Manager Jim Iley led the "Shakers" to 12th in the Fourth Division in 1980–81, ninth in 1981–82, and fifth in 1982–83, just one place and two points behind promoted club Scunthorpe United.

Gore joined Port Vale in July 1983 after manager John McGrath secured the midfielder on a free transfer.[1] He made 43 appearances for "Valiants" in 1983–84, scoring three goals, as new manager John Rudge failed to prevent relegation out of the Third Division.[1] He suffered a neck injury in a League Cup game against former club Bury in August 1984, which forced his retirement two months later.[1]

Post-retirement

After retiring, Gore owned and ran a snooker club in Wigan for eight years. He now lives in Billinge and runs a cleaning company providing cleaning services on board ships.[3] An accomplished golfer, he became club captain at Dean Wood Golf Club.[8] He has also worked as a co-commentator on Wish FM and iFollow Latics.[6]

Career statistics

Source:[9][10]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dallas Tornado1974NASL203––––203
1975NASL150––––150
1976NASL00––––00
Total 3530000353
Wigan Athletic 1978–79 Fourth Division 4622131514
1979–80 Fourth Division 46963205412
1980–81 Fourth Division 1030043146
Total 10214849411922
Bury 1980–81 Fourth Division 3035010363
1981–82 Fourth Division 4544052546
1982–83 Fourth Division 44910214710
Total 119161008313719
Port Vale 1983–84 Third Division 3621061433
1984–85 Fourth Division 00001010
Total 3621071443
Career total 2573219424830044

Honours

Individual

Liverpool

Wigan Athletic

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 114. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 394. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. Hodkinson, Mark (13 August 2005). "Gore and glory". The Times. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  4. "Latics A–Z". Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  5. Tommy Gore NASL Statistics
  6. "Wigan Athletic FC". Wigan Athletic. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  7. "Who Gets Your Vote?". wiganlatics.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  8. "Tommy Gore (6): Seniors Victory Trophy Friday 23rd September 2011". deanwoodgolfclub.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  9. Tommy Gore at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  10. "profile". neilbrown. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
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