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
TOM PARNABY
Full Name: Thomas W Parnaby
Born: 06 January 1922
Came from: Sunderland Went to: Oldham Athletic
First game: 30 December 1939 Last game: 13 May 1940
Appearances: 8 (8/0) Goals: 0
On Sunday 3rd September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Restrictions on travel and a ban on the assembly of crowds were immediately imposed, forcing the Football League to bring the 1939-40 season to an end. A few weeks later, seven regional competitions were introduced, including the South West Regional League. It was a time of great uncertainty for the players, with their wages reduced to a standard flat-rate allowance of 30 shillings a week (equivalent to £75 in 2011), and many found themselves unable to provide for their families. They were forced to find work elsewhere, and because employers were not always prepared to release them, League clubs across the country found it difficult to find a starting eleven for each match. As a result, clubs were permitted to use guest players, often amateurs in local leagues and sometimes professionals who, by then, had joined one of the Armed Services and were stationed in the area.
Parnaby was one of six players who made no conventional Football League appearances for Argyle, but did play for the first team in the South West Regional League. The outside-left was born in South Shields and served his apprenticeship with Sunderland, although he failed to make a League appearance. What brought him to Plymouth is unclear – family or war service – but his eight appearances for Argyle all came in the 1939-40 season when he made his debut at just 17 years old. He was then called up for active duty with the Royal Marines. He did however enjoy a brief career in the Football League after the war, making seven appearances for Oldham Athletic in 1947, and later drifted into non-league football with Winsford United, Witton Albion and Congleton Town. Like so many players, he returned to live in Devon in later life.
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. I have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material used on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of each page.