Thomas Lilley (13 December 1899 – 1964) was a professional footballer who played as a full back. He made 85 appearances in the Football League playing for Huddersfield Town, Nelson, Hartlepool United, Sunderland and Fulham, and spent two seasons in the Scottish League with St Mirren. He also played non-League football for Methley Perseverance, Annfield Plain, Herrington Colliery Welfare, Shiney Row Swifts and the Sunderland District Omnibus Company works team. Life and career Lilley was born in 1899 in Newbottle, County Durham, a son of John Lilley, a coal miner, and his wife Sarah. Having acquired a reputation as "one of the best backs in the West Riding League" while playing for Methley Perseverance, and attracted offers from Third Division North clubs Chesterfield and Hartlepools United, the 22-year-old Lilley joined FA Cup-holders Huddersfield Town on a month's trial in late November 1922. To the disappointment of Third Division North clubs Chesterfield and Hartlepools United, who had made "good offers" for his services, the trial proved successful. Lilley made his Football League debut on Christmas Day 1922, standing in for right-back Ned Barkas for a First Division match against Birmingham that finished goalless. He played twice more during March, and was retained for the next season, but made no more first-team appearances. Lilley joined Second Division club Nelson in mid-November. His hopes of regular football were raised when he displaced player-manager Dave Wilson from the team for the next match, a visit to Coventry City. The match ended as a 4–4 draw, and Lilley did not make another appearance until the new year, when he stood in for the injured Clem Rigg and, according to the Lancashire Daily Post, showed himself to be a "full back of great steadiness and resource". He played regularly from mid-January to April 1924 when, after an unexpected defeat at home to Port Vale put Nelson in increased danger of relegation, he lost his place to his namesake Bob Lilley. Nelson were relegated, and Lilley moved on again, to Hartlepools United of the Third Division North. He began the season at left-back, but broke a collarbone in collision with an opponent in his seventh match and was out for a couple of months. After three weeks back in the team, he fell heavily and broke it again. He returned to the side, completed the last six matches of the season without incident, signed on for another