Thomas Bartley

Thomas Bartley (1874 – 24 December 1951) was a Welsh footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs in the 1890s and 1900s and made one appearance for Wales.

Football career Bartley was born in Flint in North Wales and played for his local club in the North Wales Coast League as well as reaching the first final of the Welsh Amateur Cup in 1891. At Flint, he gained a reputation for his goal-scoring, although he did "tend towards rough play".

In 1896, he moved to England spending a year at Port Sunlight in the Wirral & District League before he was signed for Glossop North End. Described as "good in the air and possessing a rasping shot", Bartley "infused bite and determination into the (Glossop) forward line". Despite this, they were invited to join an expanded Football League Second Division, finishing as runners-up in 1898–99. Bartley played in Glossop's opening match in the Football League in September 1898 against Blackpool. He didn't play in the First Division and in the summer of 1899 returned to North Wales to spend a year at Llandudno.

In 1901, he returned to Lancashire where he settled at Newton-le-Willows for the rest of his life. In particular, he was renowned for his ability to place a corner kick under the crossbar, providing scoring opportunities for his fellow forwards. Described as "a great utility player", he was able to take over from an injured player anywhere on the pitch.

Later career During World War I, Bartley enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers. He later worked as a wood machinist in a railway wagon works. He remained associated with the Earlestown club for the rest of his life, spending some time on the club committee.

He died on 24 December 1951, aged 77.

Honours Flint Welsh Amateur Cup finalists: 1891

Glossop North End Football League Second Division runners-up: 1898–99