Thomas Lea

The first professional player signed by Southport Central, and former player for Southport Wanderers and Southport Football Club.

 Tom Lea came to live in Southport as a baby and was the oldest of three boys to have played football for Southport.

Tom and brother Harry together played for Southport Wanderers in 1885 and also the amalgamated Southport Football Club from 1886 to 1888. Whilst representing Southport, he also made the occasional guest appearance for Everton. Tom then became the first professional player to sign for Southport Central in the summer of 1888 and then later re-joined his brother Harry at Accrington before ending his career because of a knee injury in 1895.

Tom was a versatile player, able to change position on the field at ease, often deputising for injured players. He played in every position on the pitch apart from goalkeeper.

He was a life member of the Birkdale Conservative Club, which he joined in 1887 when the club premises were a cottage in Everton Road. Both he, and his brother William, were Town Councillors, Tom being elected to represent the Birkdale East Ward between 1912 and 1918.

Tom’s father William had established a shop in Brighton Road Birkdale, which Tom later expanded as he became a wine and spirit merchant. He had been ill for some time prior to his death, aged 70.