Spot the player turns up some results for Morecambe football team

Kay Walker thought she recognised her uncle, Arthur Thomson, on the photo saying he played for Morecambe and Manchester Utd so I followed her thoughts down the M6 to Old Trafford.

As Arthur Thomson, second player standing from the left on the second row, played for Morecambe, before and after playing for Manchester United, I assume the photo will be between 1934 and 1939.

Arthur Thomson was born in the County Durham pit village of West Stanley, one of a string of gifted players with roots in the North East. He began as an 18-year-old with West Stanley Football Club in the 1925-26 season. He was soon invited for a trial with Derby County but this didn’t lead to an engagement and in October 1927 he joined Morecambe. He began in Lancashire Combination football at outside-right and soon revealed ability in both ball control and shooting. A trial with Huddersfield followed but Arthur refused the terms offered. In January 1928 he was first tried at inside-right by Morecambe and responded by scoring six goals in his first seven matches. Several Lancashire clubs became interested but Manchester United were successful in obtaining his services for £150. Arthur was paid £5 a week during the season and £4 a week in the close season plus a signing-on fee of £10.

At Old Trafford, Arthur spent three seasons as a reserve forward. He scored his only goal in league football in his final appearance against Arsenal at Highbury on February 21, 1931 who were managed by the legendary Herbert Chapman.

After leaving United he joined Southend United for £50, scoring six goals in 14 League appearances, before moving on to Coventry City and Tranmere Rovers. On leaving Prenton Park he returned to Lancashire Combination football at Morecambe.

A summary of Arthur Thomson’s career is as follows:- West Stanley 1925

Derby County (trial) 1926

Morecambe October 1927-28

Huddersfield Town (trial) November 1927

Manchester United May 1928-31

Southend United August 1931

Coventry City May 1932

Tranmere Rovers 1933-34

Morecambe 1934-39

Arthur’s father, Alex Thomson, was a former Middlesbrough and West Ham United centre forward who ended his career with West Stanley back in County Durham.

Arthur would play five games for Manchester United as follows:-

Jan 26 1929 FA Cup 4th Round v Bury at Old Trafford – result 0-1 defeat

April 4 1930 Football League Division 1 v Everton at Old Trafford - result 3-3 draw

Jan 19 1931 FA Cup 3rd Round 2nd Replay v Stoke City, neutral venue - result 4-2 win

Feb 14 1931 Football League Division 1 v West Ham Utd at Old Trafford - result 1-0 win

Feb 21 1931 Football League Division 1 v Arsenal at Highbury - result 1-4 defeat.

At a Manchester United board of directors meeting on April 21 1931 six players were placed on the transfer list. They were F Williams £500, Arthur Thomson £500, J Bullock £1,000, Rees Williams £1,000, W Johnston £2,500 and C Spencer £750. On June 18, 1931 Arthur asked the board of directors to reduce his transfer fee. They reduced the fee to £250 and a month later to £150 prior to accepting an offer from Southend Utd for £50 for his services. Arthur died in Lancaster in 1983.

Jane Walker contacted the Lancaster Guardian with some information about another man in the picture, who she thinks is her grandfather Tom Gardner(top row, fifth from the left). Jane said Tom was a master builder, mayor and later alderman. Jane said: “On close examination I can just possibly make out a section of the mayoral chain under the label of his coat, this would date the picture to his term of mayor to 1931-1933.”

Tom Gardner died in 1947.