GoS: Player Details

You have Javascript disabled in your browser, so not all features of this site will function correctly. Consider changing your browser's security settings
to allow javascript, or include www.greensonscreen.co.uk as a trusted site. Feel free to contact me if I can help (steve@greensonscreen.co.uk).

To get in touch, please write to [email protected]

Greens on Screen started its life in 1999 before many of the football sites that we are familiar with today, including Plymouth Argyle's own official site. Greens on Screen is dedicated to the sights, sounds and history of Plymouth Argyle Football club. It is owned and run by the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive, a charity dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and display of the heritage of our great football club.

The site owes its existence to Steve Dean. Without Steve's dedication and commitment for over 25 years, GoS would not exist and be the valued and loved resource for all football fans that it is today. The site is truly the envy of many clubs, and we owe a huge debt to Steve for his tireless work, and continued support behind the scenes.

Greens on Screen's first page was published in January 1999. Its early purpose was to bring Plymouth Argyle a little closer to those unable to see their team, and whilst it has changed a great deal over the years, its core themes - sights and sounds for Westcountry exiles - still stand. The site was very lucky to take on the content of Trevor Scallan's Semper Viridis in the summer of 2007, and in 2009 launched GoS-DB, a wealth of facts and figures from PAFC's history. A year later, we embarked on a complete history of Argyle, with much-valued contributions from chapter authors. Greens on Screen was taken over by its new custodians, The Argyle Archive, in 2024.

Greens on Screen is an amateur website and proud of it. It is run by a team of volunteers from the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive (Argyle Archive). Without the hard work and much-valued contributions of these volunteers, running the site would not be possible. Greens on Screen is self-taught and as a result, a little bit quirky.

Greens on Screen remains advertisement free, which means we are grateful for the generous support of our donors and the work of our volunteers to help keep it free of promotions. If you would like to support the work of Greens on Screen, please consider donating to the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive.

GoS's sole aim is to be a service to fellow supporters, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate Argyle'ss history for many years to come.

Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive.
April 2024

Can you help? This page is the result of the best endeavours of all concerned. If you spot a mistake or know of facts to add, or have a better photo, please get in touch using 'Contact Us' (top, right).

Back to GoS-DB Hub Find Another Player

TOMMY BLACK

Born: 01 December 1906

Came from: Arsenal Went to: Southend United

First game: 08 April 1933 Last game: 06 May 1939

Appearances: 168 (168/0) Goals: 0

Black was born in Holytown, just north of Motherwell in North Lanarkshire, on 1st December 1906, although some sources mistakenly cite his birth as 1st December 1908.

He joined Arsenal from Strathclyde in July 1931 and became a regular left-back for their reserve side in the Football Combination while the first team enjoyed success in the early 1930s.

Black eventually made his first-team debut, deputising for regular left-back and future England international Eddie Hapgood. The match, however, proved infamous, coming in Arsenal's shock 1933 FA Cup defeat at Walsall in January 1933 - often described as one of the greatest upsets in the competition's history. Herbert Chapman's all-conquering side lost 2-0 to the Third Division North club and Black endured a difficult afternoon, kicking an opponent with Arsenal already a goal behind before conceding the penalty that sealed Walsall's victory.

It was his first appearance for the club and proved to be his last. Chapman was furious with Black's performance and perceived lack of commitment, believing he had tarnished Arsenal's reputation. On the train journey back to London, Chapman reportedly told Black he would never play for the club again, banned him from Highbury and, a week later, had his boots and transfer papers sent to him before sanctioning his move to Argyle under Bob Jack later that month.

He spent the next seven seasons at Home Park, establishing himself as a dependable defender and making 168 appearances, predominantly at left-half, usually in front of Jimmy Rae.

He joined Southend United in 1939 but played only three times for the Essex club in the first three Football League matches of the 1939-40 season before it was abandoned following the outbreak of the Second World War. In December 1939 he moved to Third Lanark, making three appearances in the wartime Emergency League West while also featuring in the Southern League until 1942, after which the continuation of the war effectively brought his playing career to a close.

Little is known of Black's post-football or post-war life, but he returned to his native Scotland, where he passed away in Bellshill in 1993, aged 86.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

If you can add to this profile, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, please contribute here.

APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]

The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.

I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.

The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.

Greens on Screen is run as a service to fellow supporters, in all good faith, without commercial or private gain. We have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of the page.