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Vastly experienced Scottish keeper who was coming to the end of
his playing days when picked up by Leeds. Having pocketed
championship medals with Hibs in 1951 and 1952, he went on to
captain his country in the 1958 World Cup. When he went to Falkirk
it was to take a management role as well as playing, but a move
south of the border left him concentrating on the playing side.
After leaving Leeds, he coached in Canada before returning to take
up an administrative role at Easter Road towards the end of the
1960s. His involvement in that side of things lead to him rising to
become president of the Scottish FA, an office he held on his
untimely death at the age of 53.
Thanks to Jim Younger for the photo.
I knew Tommy extremely well, as I am his younger Brother Jim
Younger. He is also survived by an elder Brother Jacky. My Father
and Jacky would collect Tommy from Renfrew Airport on a Friday
night as he flew in from Germany where he was a P.E. Instructor
during his National Service. He would be taken back to Renfrew on
the Sunday to Fly back. He also played for his Regiment in Germany,
and due to his frequent trips home (paid for by Hibernian) he was
nicknamed Herr Tommy Offenback. He travelled back and forward so
often that the then B.E.A. (British European Airways) presented him
with a laque for "Best Customer of the Year". Prior to playing for
Hibernian, he was an Ameteur for Hutchison Vale in Edinburgh. My
Mother only went to see him play on 1 occasion while with Hutchison
Vale, ad on that occasion he was knocked out twice by hitting his
head on the Goalpost while diving to save the Ball, and she vowed
never to watch him again, and she didn't. My Father gave Tommy a
Watch when he started with Hibs, and inscibed on the back were the
words "Always play the game Tam". I have in my possesion one of his
first Autographed Photo's taken when he was about aged about 18/19
and started with Hibs.
Jackie Younger says: Just a small amendment to the history of
Tommy - he went to Canada before joining Leeds with Stanley
Matthews who telephoned Don Revie (manager of Leeds) to tell him
Tommy was playing extremely well and that he should sign him, which
Don did. This amendment is made by Jacky Younger who is Tommy and
James's eldest brother.
Jeffrey Fearnley says: Tommy worked for my father, Monty
Fearnley, as a toy sales rep (Kiddies Favourites, Glasgow) in the
early fifties and was, I believe, very popular with the customers.
My father met him many years later in Lisbon, where Tommy was on
holiday with his large family. Apparently, so my father tells me,
my brother and I used to play football in the back garden with
Tommy.
Ian Gledhill says: I remember Tommy's party-piece during his
time at Leeds being a full-blooded sprint for the goal at the
Scratching Shed end of the ground as the teams ran out before
kick-off. From second or third position in the line emerging from
the tunnel he used to arrive on his goal-line before any other
Leeds player had got twenty yards on to the pitch! I also remember
that the cap he brought on to the pitch with him looked as though
it had been with him for his entire career.
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