Thomas Waring (12 October 1906 – 20 December 1980) was an English professional association footballer. Nicknamed "Pongo" after a famous cartoon of the time, Waring is one of Aston Villa's all-time great centre forwards. In his career, he scored 243 league goals in 363 matches over 12 seasons for 5 different clubs. Career He signed for Tranmere Rovers in 1926 and scored 6 goals in an 11-1 victory against Durham City in January 1928. He moved to Aston Villa for £4,700 in 1928. As well as playing football, Waring also worked for The Hercules Motor and Cycle Company in Aston. Aston Villa A crowd of 23,000 saw him play on his Villa debut in a reserve game against local rivals Birmingham City, in which he scored a hat-trick. His 226 appearances for Villa yielded 167 goals, including 10 hat-tricks and a club record 49 league goals in the 1930–31 season, 50 goals in all competitions. He is considered an Aston Villa legend, a reputation buoyed by his likeable personality as discussed by Villa's captain of the day, Billy Walker. In Walker's autobiography, he wrote: Later clubs In November 1935, Waring went to Barnsley, angering many Villa fans and prompting 5,000 of them to call for his return to the club. After a spell at Barnsley, Waring also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers (for a second time), Accrington Stanley, Bath City, Ellesmere Port Town, Graysons, Birkenhead Docks and Harrowby. He guested for New Brighton in 1939–40, and after the war he returned for a second spell with Ellesmere Port Town. International career Waring was also capped five times by England, scoring four goals between 1931-32. Death He died in December 1980 at the age of 74. His ashes were scattered in the Holte End goal mouth before a game against Stoke City. References External links Aston Villa career details at Aston Villa Players Database 1906 births 1980 deaths People from Birkenhead Association football forwards English footballers England international footballers Tranmere Rovers F.C. players Aston Villa F.C. players Barnsley F.C. players Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891) players Bath City F.C. players Ellesmere Port Town F.C. players Harrowby F.C. players New Brighton A.F.C. players English Football League players First Division/Premier League top scorers Everton F.C. wartime guest players