Professional Football Player. He was an English football player, trainer and manager, chiefly associated with Arsenal Football. Born at the East Cavalry Barracks in Aldershot, but raised in Newcastle upon Tyne from the age of three weeks, he was trained as a marine engineer. During the World War I, he served in the Royal Garrison Artillery, but transferred to the Royal Navy. After leaving the Service in 1919, he abandoned his engineering career and joined Arsenal Football Club; first as a center forward, then as a wing half. He made seventy appearances for the club and scored two goals. In 1925, during an F.A. tour of Australia, he broke his kneecap whilst playing in a match in Woolongong and had to retire from playing. Instead, he trained as a physiotherapist and, in 1927, he became Arsenal's first team trainer; a role he replicated for the national side. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he served as an A.R.P. (Air Raid Precaution) Warden, but then joined the Royal Air Force, where he reached the rank of Squadron Leader and, in recognition of his services on D-Day, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. In 1947, he replaced George Allison as the manager of Arsenal, and the club won the F.A. Cup in 1950 and the League in 1948 and 1953; but he died at the University College Hospital in London of a heart attack, at the age of only 58.
Professional Football Player. He was an English football player, trainer and manager, chiefly associated with Arsenal Football. Born at the East Cavalry Barracks in Aldershot, but raised in Newcastle upon Tyne from the age of three weeks, he was trained as a marine engineer. During the World War I, he served in the Royal Garrison Artillery, but transferred to the Royal Navy. After leaving the Service in 1919, he abandoned his engineering career and joined Arsenal Football Club; first as a center forward, then as a wing half. He made seventy appearances for the club and scored two goals. In 1925, during an F.A. tour of Australia, he broke his kneecap whilst playing in a match in Woolongong and had to retire from playing. Instead, he trained as a physiotherapist and, in 1927, he became Arsenal's first team trainer; a role he replicated for the national side. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he served as an A.R.P. (Air Raid Precaution) Warden, but then joined the Royal Air Force, where he reached the rank of Squadron Leader and, in recognition of his services on D-Day, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. In 1947, he replaced George Allison as the manager of Arsenal, and the club won the F.A. Cup in 1950 and the League in 1948 and 1953; but he died at the University College Hospital in London of a heart attack, at the age of only 58.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
Inscription
In loving memory of
Thomas James Whittaker, M.B.E.
Died 24th. October 1956
aged 58 years
and also
his beloved wife
Elsie Bollen Whittaker
who died 13th. June 1963
R.I.P.
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