Tommy Lawton: Head and Shoulders Above the Rest by Jack Rollin

Author:Jack Rollin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pitch Publishing
Published: 2020-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Transferred from Everton to Chelsea

THERE HAD been rumours that Tommy Lawton was to ask to be placed on the transfer list because his wife was unwell and had been advised by her doctor to move south for her health. Clubs immediately started scrambling for his signature. Of those in the south, Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Millwall were among the first to be interested. Nottingham Forest was another club interested, but despite frantic speculation, after two weeks Tommy withdrew his application as his domestic problem had been resolved.

A pre-season visit to Switzerland under the FA Services banner produced a shock for the tourists, beaten 3-1 at the Neufeld Stadion in Berne by the national team. Such was the overwhelming dominance that the Swiss crowd carried Frank Swift off the field at the end because of his outstanding performance. Tommy Lawton was quoted as saying they were the finest combination he had seen. The Swiss led 1-0 at the interval and ‘Sailor’ Brown was the scorer of the Services’ sole goal. Three days later in Zurich the Swiss B team was beaten 3-0 – Tom Finney, Micky Fenton and Willie Watson were the scorers.

No sooner was he back in England than Lawton injured his right knee by falling at the Army Cadet Camp and it was decided as a precaution that he would see a specialist. He thus missed the Celtic benefit match for Mattha Gemmell on 15 August in which Everton lost 4-0. But the club had announced that Lawton would be captain for the team in the coming season with Norman Greenhalgh his deputy. However, on 29 August Tommy was still a spectator when Bolton visited Goodison but was given the all-clear by the specialist and had started training already for the Evertonians’ game with Wanderers on the following Saturday.

But little went right for either Everton or Lawton at Burnden Park. The team lost 3-1 after Boyes had given them the lead. Tommy had a terrific shot that hit an upright and in the second half his header rebounded down off the bar and appeared to be over the line before being cleared. Shortly after that he injured his bad knee after stubbing his toe on the turf and faded out of the game.

More woe followed. On 4 September at a board meeting Lawton asked to be put on the transfer list again as he and his wife had been unable to find accommodation in an area that would suit her medical needs. He emphasised that he had no quarrel with Everton Football Club.

At Preston in the next match, Lawton led the attack but appeared subdued. He was brought down for a penalty, which Mercer converted, Wainwright having already scored Everton’s opener in the 2-0 win. Then for Tommy it was Victory International time in Ireland at Windsor Park, Belfast. A record crowd of 45,061 paid £4,446 for the privilege. With an early shot, a header and getting a knock from which he recovered quickly, Lawton was lively at the start, but gradually Vernon clamped down on him.

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