Ah, Thomas Townsley, okay not quite a Falkirk-ite [he came from a couple of miles outside the town, he was from California] I like him for many reasons [not least of which is the fact I am vagueley related to him, he was the uncle of my uncle's wife [I don't know what that is called]], he only played one match for Scotland [for which he was captain], but I like the most that when Falkirk got a penalty, he whistled for Thomas Scot to run up from right-back to bluter the ball in, in one movement, I can imagine that.
He started and ended his career at Falkirk, spending a couple of seasons at Leeds in between, it is the way of things. I hope he earned lots of money at Leeds.
As a player, he seems to have been the controlling midfielder type of Centre-Half than a stopper, he scored, if not prolifically. In pictures he is instantly recognisable by his 'lugs'.
He seemed like a decent chap was probably undervalued by Scotland because of his club.
Thomas Townsley
b 28th April 1898, Polmont, Stirlingshire
d 10th April 1976Debut – Saturday April 26th 1919 v Vale of Leven (H) Friendly
League Debut – Monday September 8th 1919 v Ayr United (H) Scottish League
Positions – Centre-Half, Right-Half
Representative Honours – Scotlandv Wales 1925/26, Scottish League v English League 1922/23, 1923/24, 1924/25, v Irish League 1924/25
Falkirk FC Club Honours – Dunedin CupW 1922/23, RU 1921/22, 1931/32, Stirlingshire Cup W 1922/23, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1919/20, 1920/21, 1921/22, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1924/25, 1930/31
Known Career – Laurieston Villa, Cowie Wanderers, California Celtic, Falkirk [1918/19-1925/26], Leeds United [1925/26-1930/31], Falkirk [1931/32-1932/33], Bo'ness [1933/34]
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [267/12]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [17/-]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [28/2]