Tommy Astbury

Thomas Astbury (9 February 1920 – 19 October 1993) was a Welsh professional footballer. Born in Buckley, Flintshire, he spent his entire professional career with Chester from 1938 to 1955. He is one of the club's top 10 Football League appearance holders with 303 such appearances to his name, with a high number of wartime league appearances having also been made.

Playing career Astbury, a wing half who also played as a forward, The outbreak of the Second World War the following year put his league career on hold but quickly shot Astbury into the first-team ranks, playing in the first wartime match against Liverpool. He went on to play regularly throughout the war years and was rewarded with two wartime Welsh caps against England in 1945. and Manchester United, playing for the latter in the northern final of the Football League War Cup.

One of Astbury's finest hours came against Hull City on 6 November 1948 when he performed superbly against the great Raich Carter despite being on the losing side. While at Chester, Astbury had enjoyed a benefit match against Bolton Wanderers on 6 April 1949.

After leaving football, Astbury worked for a building supplies firm and was an ex-captain and lifelong vice-president of Hawarden Golf Club.

Honours Chester

1945–46: Football League Third Division North Cup runners-up 1946–47: Welsh Cup winners 1952–53: Welsh Cup runners-up 1953–54: Welsh Cup runners-up 1948–49: Benefit Match

Manchester United

1944–45: Football League War Cup runners-up (guest player)