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Tom Griffin

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
24-08-1909
N/A
07-01-1933
Irish RU
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
24-12-1932 v Oldham
Hull K.R.
1934- Warrington
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1932-1933
34 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
7
0
0
21

Biography of Tom Griffin



HERITAGE NO : 402
This Irish born loose forward was a tough durable player in the 1930s. Tom emanated from Garyowen, Limerick. He made his debut against Oldham on Christmas Eve 1932 and scored his first try for the Saints against St Helens Recs on the following day. In all he scored seven tries from 34 matches covering two seasons. Tom moved to Warrington in 1934 where he played in almost twenty matches for the Wire.

Tom came over initially looking for work. He was a master joiner. It was stated in the local press that he was an Irish international, though this was later rectified. Tom made a good impression early on and adapted well to the new code. According to the Players` Registers, Tom signed for Saints on the 23rd of December 1932. It should be noted that Saints were the reigning Rugby League Champions then. He lived in a house at 33 Oxford Street, just outside the town centre in St. Helens, which was owned by the club until he was transferred to Warrington on the 7th of March, 1934. The Saints were in desperate need of cash by this time and Tom was one of a number of quality players who had to be sold to facilitate the club`s survival.

The intricacies surrounding Tom`s recruitment provide a fascinating insight into life and times of players and clubs in the 1930s. It must be remembered that the following negtiations, masterfully researched by Alex Service, happened during depression years in both Ireland and England. In September 1932 two directors from the Saints set sail for the Emerald Isle to sign the Irish International hooker, Terence Casey, who was a fellow Limerick man like Tom Griffin. Casey was offered a £150 signing on fee and £3.10.0 per week all year round. Despite the generous offer, Casey turned down the offer. Two months later, the club received a letter from a Gerrard Noonan asking the Saints to give a trial to Tom Griffin. We can assume that Noonan was the equivalent of a player`s agent and possibly had represented Terence Casey previously.

Noonan`s requested was agreed and Tom Griffin was interviewed and given trials with the A team. Furthermore on Christmas Eve, 1932 he played for the first team against Oldham and was listed on the teamsheet as A Newman. Following that match Tom was offered terms but he declined. He wanted a £180 signing on fee, £4.10.0 for a win and £3.10.0 for a loss but these amounts exceeded the Saints ordinary club terms. Also, as Tom was out of work he requested £2.10.0 a week whilst he remained unemployed. Further wranglings ensued and on January 17th, 1933 Tom finally agreed to sign on for £100, accept ordinary club terms and £2.10.0 per week for board and lodgings. The amounts involved clearly indicate that Tom was highly regarded by the club.

Tom`s great nephew, Marc O`Malley, informs us that Tom had six brothers who played Rugby Union for Munster. He believes that a broken leg, probably sustained in his stint with Warrington, ended Tom`s rugby league career. Later Tom emigrated to the USA where he became heavily involved with the famous Notre Dame University. Tom died in the Bronx, New York City in August 1973, aged 63.

If you can supply the SHS with a photograph or any other playing or personal details please contact info@saints.org.uk

Dave Dooley and Alex Service with thanks to Marc O`Malley

PLAYER HONOURS

SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1932~333 0 0 15
1933~34 4 0 0 19
TOTALS:7 0 0 34
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
TOTALS:

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
24th Dec 1932 1
L
 13 Oldham L A 8 12 VIEW
25th Dec 1932 2
W
 13 St. Helens Recs L H 8 3 1 VIEW
7th Jan 1933 3
W
 13 Salford L H 12 5 VIEW
14th Jan 1933 4
L
 13 York L A 5 11 VIEW
28th Jan 1933 5
L
 13 Barrow L A 17 18 VIEW
4th Feb 1933 6
W
 13 Halifax L H 5 3 VIEW
18th Feb 1933 7
W
 13 Oldham L H 23 0 VIEW
4th Mar 1933 8
D
 13 Broughton Rangers L A 8 8 VIEW
11th Mar 1933 9
W
 13 Halifax CC3 H 18 6 VIEW
13th Mar 1933 10
W
 13 York L H 9 8 VIEW
18th Mar 1933 11
L
 13 Huddersfield L A 4 27 VIEW
1st Apr 1933 12
L
 11 Huddersfield L H 8 31 VIEW
14th Apr 1933 13
L
 13 Wigan L A 12 23 VIEW
15th Apr 1933 14
L
 13 Warrington L A 17 24 1 VIEW
17th Apr 1933 15
W
 13 Broughton Rangers L H 26 0 1 VIEW
23rd Sep 1933 16
L
 13 Huddersfield L A 0 10 VIEW
30th Sep 1933 17
W
 13 Salford LC1 H 12 8 VIEW
7th Oct 1933 18
L
 13 Keighley L A 8 16 VIEW
14th Oct 1933 19
W
 13 Leigh L H 20 13 VIEW
16th Oct 1933 20
W
 13 Rochdale Hornets LC2 H 52 14 1 VIEW
21st Oct 1933 21
W
 13 Dewsbury L A 11 0 VIEW
28th Oct 1933 22
L
 13 Salford L H 2 17 VIEW
2nd Nov 1933 23
L
 13 St. Helens Recs LCSF A 2 9 VIEW
4th Nov 1933 24
L
 13 Rochdale Hornets L A 17 20 VIEW
11th Nov 1933 25
W
 13 Dewsbury L H 30 13 1 VIEW
25th Nov 1933 26
W
 13 Bradford Northern L H 28 0 1 VIEW
2nd Dec 1933 27
L
 13 Australia Tour H 11 20 VIEW
9th Dec 1933 28
W
 13 Broughton Rangers L A 11 9 VIEW
16th Dec 1933 29
W
 13 Broughton Rangers L H 36 5 1 VIEW
23rd Dec 1933 30
L
 13 Salford L A 10 17 VIEW
25th Dec 1933 31
L
 3 St. Helens Recs L A 9 11 VIEW
26th Dec 1933 32
L
 13 Wigan L H 8 21 VIEW
30th Dec 1933 33
L
 13 Leeds L A 5 20 VIEW
27th Jan 1934 34
L
 13 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 8 23 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 15 | LOSSES : 18 | DRAWS : 1




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