Tom Dewhurst	Blackburn Olympic FC uncapped 1884
Timeline
	Thomas Dewhurst
Birth	Wednesday, 20 December 1862 in Samlesbury, Lancashire [registered in Blackburn, March 1863]
	According to the 1871 census, Thomas, an eight year-old scholar, is the second of four children to Thomas and Ellen, the only son. They live at 3 Ward Street in Blackburn. His father is a cotton spinner.
	According to the 1881 census, 18 year old Thomas, a cotton weaver, has two more younger sisters, making him the third of seven children living at home with their parents at 26 Carr Street in Blackburn.
Marriage	to Mary Alice Neville, on 21 October 1884 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Blackburn [registered in Blackburn, December 1884]. Stated as being a weaver, and living at 38 Carr Street in Blackburn. His father stated as being Thomas, a spinning master.
	According to the 1891 census, Thomas, an overlooker, now married to Mary A, a weaver. with one daughter, Bertha (b.28 December 1884), living at 12 Wards Row in Farington.
	According to the 1901 census, Thomas, now a cotton weaver overlooker, still married to Mary, still a weaver, and still with one daughter, living in Prospect View in Farington.
	According to the 1911 census Thomas, still married, is a manager, and two of them live at 2 Princess Street in Lostock Hall, Walton-le-Dale.
	According to the 1939 register, widower Thomas, a retired publican, is living at 4 Dove Avenue in Preston. He lives with James Borland and James Moore.
Death	Saturday, 20 January 1940, after a short illness, at 4 Dove Avenue, in Penwortham area of Preston, aged 77 years 31 days [registered in Amounderness, Lancashire, March 1940]. Mary A. died two years before [registered in Amounderness, Lancashire, September & December 1937]. (A newspaper report on Tom in 1939 said he had been a widow for two years).
Obituary
"Death of Mr. T. Dewhurst, Penwortham. "The F.A. Cup Final of 1883—when Blackburn Olympic became the first team from the provinces to win the trophy—is recalled by the death at Penwortham, Preston, on Saturday, of Mr. Tom Dewhurst, who was the last surviving member of the winning team. He was 77, and died at 4, dove-avenue, Penwortham, after a short illness. He had been a widower for two years." - Monday, 22 January 1940, Lancashire Evening Post
Source
Playing Career
Club(s)	Began with a Blackburn local team, The Black Prince FC, before Blackburn Olympic FC scouts spotted him and signed him. He remained with the Olympic side for six seasons, despite an offer from Preston North End FC in 1883. Although he did say he would assist Burnley FC in early 1884-85 season, but remained at the Hole-i'th'-Wall and assisted Bolton Wanderers FC instead. He left Olympic when the side folded and played with Halliwell FC (Bolton) and then Nelson FC in September 1888 before leaving the game. However, he did assist Higher Walton FC in 1891-92.
Club honours	FA Cup winners 1882-83 (set-up the winning goal)
"DEWHURST'S MEDAL.—How the Famous Player Recaptured it. "Some years ago a curious request was laid before the Football Association. It was on behalf of Tom Dewhurst, a member of the celebrated Blackburn Olympic team—a side of little working men, the rivals of the Rovers many years ago. The Olympic won an historic victory in the Cup, for they gained it against the Old Etonians in a Final which was the last in which the Old Boys' team figured. That was in 1883, and Tom Dewhurst lost the medal he gained then. His application to the F.A. was that he should be allowed to replace the medal. Before the matter had been settled, however, the late Councillor T. Houghton, of Preston North End, announced that he had Dewhurst's medal. He had obtained it by purchase in some way, and under the circumstances he generously gave it to Dewhurst." - Saturday, 11 January 1913, Star Green 'Un
Individual honours	Lancashire FA (February 1886)
Height/Weight
England Career
Position(s)	Outside-right
Major tournaments	British Championship 1883-84
Distinctions	Could well be the first England player to be dropped because of his misconduct. "Just before ends were changed Parker sent in a shot, which bounded off one of the Northwich backs, and apparently went through, but one of the same side kicked it back. The point was claimed by the Olympians, and a fierce dispute arose, Dewhurst and Hughes using their fists, but they were soon parted, and the game progressed, the goal being allowed." - Saturday, 16 February 1884, Bell's Life in London. "The English Eleven to meet Ireland...has had to undergo more than one alteration, in consequence of the behaviour of T. Dewhurst in the cup tie between Blackburn Olympic and Northwich Victoria, the committee deemed it advisable to fill up his place." - Thursday, 21 February 1884, Sporting Life
"The composition of the English team which faced Ireland at Belfast on Saturday has given rise to warm discussion in the north, as Tom Dewhurst, of the Blackburn Olympic, was chosen, and afterwards received notice that his services were not wanted, 'through disgraceful conduct,' whilst playing against Northwich Victoria, in the English Cup tie, a fortnight ago. It seems that whilst the game was proceeding a discussion arose as to the legitimacy of a point, and in the midst of this Dewhurst threw some mud at Hughes's face. All through there appears to have been some unmanly conduct displayed by the Olympic men, who, seeing that they had to meet a weaker team on a muddy field, in which they appeared all at sea, played pranks with them to the amusement of the spectators; and, once over, the Northwich umpire was knocked on his back in a pool of mud about half a foot deep. The complaint about the state of the ground was made to the English Committee, as we stated last week, and, together with this, a statement was also forwarded as to Dewhurst's assault, and the Committee very unwisely, without hearing any of Dewhurst's friends in his defence, decided not to play him in the international team." - Monday, 25 February 1884, The Liverpool Mercury
Beyond England
After giving up football, Thomas was a mill overlooker, unemployable since 1913 because of a leg injury - but became a publican.

Tournament Record

Match History

Age 21
20	23 February 1884 - Ireland 1 England 8, Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast	BC	AW	withdrew misconduct

Notes

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CG