{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Use British English|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox football biography |name=Albert Tomkin |image= |fullname=Albert Henry Tomkin |birth_date= {{birth date|1915|12|23|df=y}} |birth_place = Barrow-in-Furness, England |death_date= {{death date and age|1989|9|3|1915|12|23|df=y}} |death_place = Barrow-in-Furness, England |position= Outside left |youthyears1= |youthclubs1= | years1 = 1935–1937 | years2 = 1937 | years3 = 1937 | years4 =1937–1939 | years5 =1940 | clubs1 = Formby | clubs2 = Tottenham Hotspur | clubs3 = Northfleet United | clubs4 = Tottenham Hotspur | clubs5 = → Southport (wartime) | clubs6 = → Cardiff City (wartime) | clubs7 = → Swansea Town (wartime) | clubs8 = → Luton Town (wartime). | caps1 = ? | goals1 = ? | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | caps3 = ? | goals3 = ? | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 0 | caps5 = ? | goals5 = ? | caps6 = ? | goals6 = ? | caps7 = ? | goals7 = ? | caps8 = ? | goals8 = ? | nationalyears1= | nationalteam1= | nationalcaps1= | nationalgoals1 = }} '''Albert Henry Tomkin''' (23 December 1915 – 3 September 1989) was an English professional footballer who played for Formby, Tottenham Hotspur and Northfleet United,<ref name=Joyce>{{cite book |title= Football League Players' Records 1888-1939|last=Joyce |first= Michael |year=2004 |publisher=soccerdata |isbn= 1-899468-63-3|page= 260}}</ref> and wartime matches for Southport, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Luton Town.
== Football career == Tomkin began his career at non-League club Formby. He signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 1937 but moved to the club's "nursery" team Northfleet United <ref>[http://www.soccer-history.co.uk/arsenaltottenhamnursery.pdf Kent's nursery clubs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006144450/http://www.soccer-history.co.uk/arsenaltottenhamnursery.pdf |date=6 October 2011 }} Retrieved 12 August 2009</ref> before making a first team appearance.
The outside left signed professional forms for Tottenham in December 1937 and was a regular in the 'A' team, graduating to the reserves the following season. He made his breakthrough later the same term with a debut for the first team on 4 February 1939 in a 2–1 home win against Norwich City.<ref name="fact file">[http://archive.mehstg.com/fact_tomkin.htm Albert Tomkin - fact file] Retrieved 20 January 2014</ref> It was the first of two league matches he played for Spurs.<ref>[http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/history/history_azofplayers.html Tottenham Hotspur F.C A-Z of players] Retrieved 30 November 2012 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415215517/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/history/history_azofplayers.html |date=15 April 2009 }}</ref>
When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, the Football League was suspended. Tomkin played one further game for Tottenham before returning to his home town of Southport and enlisting for military service.<ref name="fact file" /> Whilst there in 1940 he played nine games for Southport. With the Wartime League established, Tomkin enrolled as a guest player for competitors Cardiff City and Swansea Town, as well as Luton Town.<ref name="fact file" />
He died in Leyland, Lancashire on 3 September 1989.<ref name="fact file" />
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomkin, Albert}} Category:1915 births Category:1989 deaths Category:Footballers from Barrow-in-Furness Category:Men's association football outside forwards Category:English men's footballers Category:Formby F.C. players Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players Category:Northfleet United F.C. players Category:Southport F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Cardiff City F.C. wartime guest players Category:Swansea Town A.F.C. wartime guest players Category:Luton Town F.C. wartime guest players Category:20th-century English sportsmen