Thomas Hindle
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Thomas Hindle |
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Born in Darwen on the 25th May 1855
Thomas Hindle was one of Darwen football club's greatest stalwarts for over fifty
years.
Thomas played with Darwen F.C. almost from
the offset of the club, but an accident terminated his playing days. After hanging
up his boots he then began to join in the running of the club first as Secretary
then President in their football league days. It was whilst he was secretary of
the club that the rumours of Darwen paying Fergie Suter and James love for playing
in 1879 first arose, Tom always strongly denied that Love and Suter were paid
to play football and there was never any evidence produced to contradict him.
He never denied however that the posts which the two occupied in Darwen were far
more remunerative than those they had held in Scotland and were a reward for their
services to the club.
A meeting of the football clubs of Lancashire called
by Thomas Hindle acting on behalf of Darwen Football club, was held on the 28th
September 1878 at the Cooperative Hall, School Street, Darwen. The meeting was
to consider the formation of a Lancashire Football Association.
(LFA) Some weeks later another meeting was arranged, held at the Volunteer Inn,
Bromley Cross Bolton, by the end of this meeting the new Association was born
with Thomas Hindle the Secretary of the Association. Thomas held the position
untill 1882, when he became the honourable Treasurer, a position he held untill
1909, He was elected a life member of the Association until he retired in 1919
(a total of 41 years service) Thomas died on the 26th May 1927 aged 72, he had
been a active member of Darwen football club right up until his death.
