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Personal
Fullname: Thomas John Black Whitney
aka: Tom Whitney, Thomas Whitney
Born: 6 March 1910
Died: […]
Birthplace: At sea
Signed: 11 July 1931
Left: May 1932 (free)
Position: Outside-left
Debut: Leith Athletic 0-3 Celtic, League, 8 Aug 1931
Internationals: none
Biog
Outside-left Tom Whitney was signed by the Bhoys from neighbouring junior side Bridgeton Waverley in July 1931.
Apparently Willie Maley is said to have asked first as he stepped off the SS Transylvania ship (after the 1931 America tour): “Who have we got?“, the answer was “Tom Whitney“. Rangers got Sam English who was to be a great goalscorer for the club but whose career came to tragedy following an unintended collision with Celtic’s John Thomson which caused John Thomson’s premature death.
After impressing in a public trial match, he went on to make his Celtic debut on 8th August 1931 in a 3-0 league win at Leith Athletic and enjoyed a brief four game run in the team. Described by one as:
“A cool customer… he can beat a man with almost as much craft as Bertie Thomson… gets his crosses in so as to find his target every time“.
However after that short spell, Tom Whitney, a fine crosser of the ball, faded from the first team picture. Celtic were undefeated in his four matches which were the first of the league season, and he scored in his final match in a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen. Right-winger Andy Love got Aberdeen off to a flyer in 7 minutes but Tom Whitney equalised before the break. The referee got stoned by the crowds and had to stop play.
Celtic went on to win the next two games at a cantor, yet couldn’t keep up this form and still finished the league season far behind Motherwell (league winners) and Rangers (runners-up).
One added note of honour is that he was part of the squad that helped to honour the legendary Patsy Gallacher in his benefit match: Scottish Football League v Celtic & Falkirk Select won 10-7 by the Celtic/Falkirk select, in January 1932.
After being loaned to Stenhousemuir he was released in May 1932 without playing another first team match.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1931 | 4 | – | – | – | 4 |
| Goals: | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
Honours with Celtic
none