Tom Waring

Thomas Waring (12 October 1906 – 20 December 1980), commonly known as "Pongo" Waring, was an English professional footballer who played as a centre-forward, renowned for his prolific goal-scoring during the interwar period.^[1]^[2] Born in Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire, he began his career with Tranmere Rovers in 1926, where he quickly established himself by scoring 23 goals in his first 24 appearances.^[1]^[2] Waring's career peaked after transferring to Aston Villa in February 1928 for a then-significant fee of £4,700, where he became one of the club's most celebrated players, netting 159 goals in 216 appearances over seven seasons.^[1]^[2] His standout 1930–31 season saw him score a remarkable 49 league goals, helping Villa finish as runners-up in the First Division and establishing a record that remains the highest single-season tally in English top-flight history by a Villa player.^[3]^[4] He also contributed to the team's second-place finish in 1932–33 and earned five caps for the England national team between 1931 and 1932, scoring four goals, including one on his debut against France.^[2] After leaving Villa in 1935 amid personal and disciplinary challenges, Waring played for clubs including Barnsley, Wolverhampton Wanderers, a return to Tranmere Rovers, and Accrington Stanley, before retiring from professional football in 1939.^[1]^[2] Post-retirement, he continued in non-league football with teams such as Bath City and Ellesmere Port Town, and later worked at The Hercules Motor and Cycle Company following World War II.^[1] Waring's nickname "Pongo" derived from a popular cartoon character, Pongo the Pup, reflecting his energetic playing style, and his ashes were scattered at Villa Park after his death in Liverpool at age 74.^[2]^[3]

Early life

Birth and family

Thomas Waring was born on 12 October 1906 at 4 Chapel Place in Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead, England.^[2]^[5]^[6] He was the third of four children born to his parents, Henry Arthur Waring and Charlotte Waring.^[2]^[6] According to the 1911 census, the family resided at 15 Walker Place in the Higher Tranmere area of Birkenhead, with Henry Arthur working as a plasterer.^[2] The relocation to 15 Walker Place placed the family in close proximity to Prenton Park, the home ground of Tranmere Rovers, just a ten-minute walk away, which contributed to Waring's early immersion in the local football environment.^[6]^[7]

Youth in Birkenhead

Thomas Waring grew up in the working-class district of Higher Tranmere in Birkenhead, an industrial town on the Wirral Peninsula characterized by shipbuilding, engineering, and labor-intensive trades that shaped its community in the early 20th century.^[8]^[9] His family's residence at 15 Walker Place placed them amid this environment, with his father employed as a plasterer, a common occupation reflecting the socioeconomic conditions of the area.^[8] The proximity of Higher Tranmere to Prenton Park, the stadium of local club Tranmere Rovers, immersed Waring in the town's football-centric atmosphere from a young age, naturally cultivating his interest in the sport.^[8] Waring's early football experiences were rooted in non-professional play, beginning with schoolboy matches organized in Birkenhead, where he honed his skills and gained initial recognition for his abilities as a forward.^[8] These local games, often played on rudimentary pitches amid the urban landscape, provided essential practice and exposure, allowing him to develop physically and technically in a competitive yet informal setting before any formal affiliations.^[8] Such opportunities were typical for boys in Birkenhead, where community fields and streets served as training grounds for aspiring players. The broader football scene in Birkenhead during the 1910s and 1920s exerted a significant influence on Waring's youth, as the town emerged as a breeding ground for talent amid its passionate supporter base and proximity to Merseyside's professional clubs.^[10] Peers like Dixie Dean, another Birkenhead native who rose through local ranks to become one of England's greatest goalscorers, exemplified the inspirational environment, fostering a sense of rivalry and aspiration among young players in the area.^[11] This communal enthusiasm for the game, supported by amateur leagues and school competitions, encouraged Waring's dedication and laid the foundation for his future career.^[12]

Club career

Tranmere Rovers (1926–1928)

Tom Waring began his professional football journey with his hometown club, Tranmere Rovers, after impressing in junior football with Tranmere Celtic. In 1926, at the age of 20, he signed amateur forms with the Third Division North side, initially playing for their reserve team while also working matchday jobs at Prenton Park.^[2]^[6] Waring turned professional ahead of the 1927-28 season and made his league debut on 29 August 1927 against Rotherham United. In that debut campaign, he quickly established himself as a prolific centre-forward, scoring 23 goals in just 24 appearances in the Football League Third Division North.^[1]^[6] His remarkable goal-scoring rate, including a brace on his second appearance against Durham City, highlighted his potential as a powerful and instinctive forward from Birkenhead.^[6] Waring's rapid emergence drew attention from higher-division clubs, culminating in a record transfer to Aston Villa on 13 February 1928 for a fee of £4,700—the highest ever paid for a player from the Third Division at the time. This move came midway through his breakout season, after he had already netted 20 league goals by that point.^[2]^[13]^[1]

Aston Villa (1928–1935)

Tom Waring joined Aston Villa from Tranmere Rovers on 13 February 1928 for a fee of £4,700, which set a record for a player transferring from the Third Division.^[2] He made his debut for the club just 12 days later in a 3–1 league defeat at Sunderland, scoring once on that occasion.^[3] Over his seven-year spell at Villa Park, Waring established himself as one of the First Division's most prolific centre-forwards, making 225 appearances and scoring 167 goals across all competitions.^[3] His contributions were pivotal in key moments, including Villa's run to the 1929 FA Cup semi-final, where they fell 1–0 to Portsmouth at Highbury, with Waring featuring prominently in the earlier rounds.^[14] Waring's standout campaign came in the 1930–31 season, during which he netted 49 goals in 42 league matches, helping Aston Villa score a First Division record of 128 league goals en route to second place behind Arsenal.^[15] Including one goal in the FA Cup, his total haul of 50 goals across all competitions that year marked him as the last player to achieve 50 top-flight goals in a single season until modern eras.^[16] This extraordinary scoring rate showcased his predatory instincts and powerful shooting, often capitalizing on service from inside-forwards like Billy Walker, with whom he formed a potent attacking partnership that terrorized defenses throughout the campaign.^[3] Throughout his Villa tenure, Waring recorded ten hat-tricks, underlining his consistency as a goal threat in both league and cup ties.^[1] His blend of physicality and finishing precision not only elevated Villa's attack but also earned him international recognition, though his club form remained the cornerstone of his legacy at the club.^[2]

Later clubs (1935–1942)

After leaving Aston Villa, where he had established himself as a prolific scorer, Tom Waring experienced a period of club instability marked by frequent transfers to lower-division sides. In November 1935, he joined Barnsley of the Second Division for a club-record fee, making 18 league appearances and scoring 7 goals during the 1935–36 season.^[2] His time at Barnsley was brief and unproductive compared to his Villa peak, reflecting a decline in form and opportunities at the higher levels.^[2] In July 1936, Waring moved to First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers, but his stint there proved even shorter, lasting just three months with 10 league appearances and 3 goals before he departed in October.^[2] Seeking regular football, he returned to his boyhood club Tranmere Rovers in the Third Division North later that month, where he enjoyed a more settled and productive spell from 1936 to 1938, contributing 74 league appearances and 42 goals.^[2] This second tenure at Tranmere showcased his enduring goal-scoring instinct in a familiar environment, though the team remained mid-table.^[2] Waring's nomadic phase continued in November 1938 when he signed for Third Division North side Accrington Stanley, scoring 10 goals in 22 league appearances during the 1938–39 season.^[2] He then transitioned to non-league football with Bath City in July 1939, followed by spells at minor clubs including Ellesmere Port Town in 1939 and again post-war in 1946, as well as Graysons, Birkenhead Docks, and Harrowby United, though no competitive appearances or goals are recorded for these teams.^[2] The outbreak of World War II disrupted organized football, leading Waring to make guest appearances for Everton in the 1941–42 season, where he played 3 wartime matches and scored 1 goal.^[17] Across his entire professional career spanning multiple clubs, Waring amassed 363 league appearances and 245 league goals, underscoring his longevity as a goal poacher despite the later challenges.^[18]

International career

England national team debut

Tom Waring's selection for the England national team came during the peak of his club career at Aston Villa, where his prolific scoring in the 1930–31 First Division season—culminating in a record 49 league goals—earned him recognition from the international selectors.^[2]^[1] Waring made his England debut on 14 May 1931, as part of an end-of-season tour to Europe, facing France at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes, Paris.^[19] In a 5–2 defeat, he scored England's consolation goal in the 71st minute, reducing the arrears after France had surged to a 4–1 lead.^[19] This appearance marked his elevation to the highest level of international football, showcasing the centre-forward's finishing ability despite the loss. Retaining his place for the tour's second fixture, Waring earned his second cap just two days later on 16 May 1931 against Belgium at the Stade du Daring in Brussels. He contributed one goal to England's 4–1 victory, further demonstrating his immediate impact and justifying the selectors' faith in his Villa-honed form.

Subsequent appearances and goals

Waring earned his third cap for England on 17 October 1931, during the British Home Championship match against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in Belfast. Playing as centre-forward, he scored twice in a dominant 6–2 victory, netting in the 12th and 50th minutes to help secure the win alongside goals from John Smith, Ernest Hine, and Eric Houghton.^[20]^[2] His fourth appearance came a month later on 18 November 1931, against Wales at Anfield in Liverpool, also in the British Home Championship. Waring started but did not score in England's 3–1 triumph, with goals from John Smith, Sammy Crooks, and Ernest Hine.^[20]^[2] Waring's fifth and final international cap occurred on 9 April 1932, facing Scotland at Wembley Stadium in the British Home Championship. He opened the scoring in the 36th minute, contributing to a 3–0 clean-sheet victory completed by goals from Bobby Barclay and Sammy Crooks; this performance helped England claim the championship that season.^[20]^[2] Over his international career, spanning 1931 to 1932 while at Aston Villa, Waring amassed 5 caps and scored 4 goals, all as a centre-forward, with his appearances yielding an 80% win rate for England. His international involvement concluded abruptly after the 1932 Scotland match, as he was not selected for subsequent fixtures despite his club form.^[20]^[2]

Personal life and legacy

Employment and nickname

During his time as a professional footballer with Aston Villa from 1928 to 1935, Tom Waring supplemented his income through part-time manual labor at The Hercules Motor and Cycle Company in Aston, a district of Birmingham, where he balanced factory work with his sporting commitments in an era when football wages were modest.^[7] Waring earned the enduring nickname "Pongo" due to his resemblance to the mischievous cartoon dog character Pongo the Pup, popular in British comics during the 1930s, which captured his playful and lighthearted demeanor and quickly caught on among fans and the press.^[7]^[3] The moniker reflected his jovial personality, often described as clownish and unpredictable, with a reluctance to follow strict training regimens that endeared him to supporters despite frustrating club management.^[1] Off the field, Waring's charisma shone through his sociable habits, such as sharing pints with fans after matches, fostering a strong bond with the Villa crowd, while his on-pitch showmanship—marked by humorous antics and a maverick flair—further highlighted his entertaining, fun-loving nature.^[7]^[3]

Death and commemoration

Tom Waring passed away on 20 December 1980 in Liverpool at the age of 74.^[2] His death was registered in Liverpool, marking the end of a life deeply intertwined with football in his hometown and beyond.^[2] In a poignant tribute to his time at Aston Villa, Waring's ashes were scattered at the Holte End goalmouth at Villa Park prior to a First Division match against Stoke City.^[7] This ceremony honored his legacy as a prolific goalscorer for the club, where he had netted 49 league goals in the 1930–31 season alone, contributing to Villa's runners-up finish.^[4] Waring is remembered as an Aston Villa legend, celebrated for his remarkable scoring prowess that made him the last top-flight player to reach 50 goals in a season until Erling Haaland achieved the feat for Manchester City in 2022–23.^[3] His contributions also cemented his place in Birkenhead's football heritage, alongside contemporaries like Dixie Dean, highlighting the town's tradition of producing exceptional talents.^[21]