{{Short description|English rugby league player (1905–1976)}} {{Use British English|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Tom Askin |fullname = Thomas C. Askin |image = |imagesize = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1905|6|24}} |birth_place = Knottingley, Wakefield, England |death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1976|1|14|1905|6|24}} |death_place = |height = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="Athletic News - 15 August 1927"/> |weight = {{convert|11|st|2|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="Athletic News - 15 August 1927"/> |position = {{rlp|WG|CE}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Featherstone Rovers}} |year1start = 1925 |year1end = 29 |appearances1 = 130 |tries1 = 45 |goals1 = 1 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 137 |club2 = Leeds |year2start = 1929 |year2end = 30 |appearances2 = 42 |tries2 = 17 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 51 |club3 = Castleford<ref name="castleford"/> |year3start = 1930 |year3end = 39 |appearances3 = 196 |tries3 = 64 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 192 |club4 = {{nowrap|→ Newcastle RLFC {{small|(loan)}}}} |year4start = 1937 |year4end = |appearances4 = 1 |tries4 = 0 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 0 |club5 = {{nowrap|→ Featherstone Rovers {{small|(loan)}}}} |year5start = 1938 |year5end = 39 |appearances5 = 12 |tries5 = 0 |goals5 = 0 |fieldgoals5 = 0 |points5 = 0 |teamA = Yorkshire |yearAstart = 1927 |yearAend = 29 |appearancesA = ≥4 |triesA = |goalsA = |fieldgoalsA = |pointsA = |teamB = Great Britain<ref name="rugbyleagueproject.org"/> |yearBstart = 1928 |yearBend = |appearancesB = 6 |triesB = 1 |goalsB = 0 |fieldgoalsB = 0 |pointsB = 3 |retired = yes |source = <ref>{{Rugby league records |id=8719 |title=Tommy Askin |access-date=8 December 2025}}</ref> | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | father = | mother = | spouse = | education = | alma_mater = | relatives = Ambrose Askin (brother) }} }}
'''Thomas C. Askin'''<ref name="castleford"/> (24 June 1905 – 14 January 1976) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, Leeds, Castleford and Newcastle. He usually played as a {{rlp|wg}} or {{rlp|ce}}.
==Background== Tom Askin was born in Knottingley, Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.<ref name="Athletic News - 15 August 1927">{{cite news |title=Featherstone Rovers |newspaper= Athletic News |date= 15 August 1927 }}</ref>
==Playing career== ===Club career=== Tom Askin, who came from Knottingley,<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=19 November 1936 |page=9 |title=£200 Asked for Askin}}</ref> made his début for Featherstone Rovers on 21 March 1925,<ref>{{cite web |title=Askin, Tommy |url=https://www.fevarchive.co.uk/players/tommy-askin/40/ |website=fevarchive.co.uk |access-date=15 October 2024}}</ref> after the club had spotted him playing for Knottingley Rovers.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=14 February 1925 |page=8 |title=A Featherstone Recruit}}</ref> He was suspended from playing for three matches in early 1927 following an ill-tempered December game against Wakefield Trinity in which he and three other players were sent off.<ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=28 December 1926 |page=4 |title=Keen Match at Belle Vue}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=13 January 1927 |page=8 |title=Players Suspended}}</ref> He played at {{rlp|ce}} in Featherstone Rovers' 0-5 defeat by Leeds in the 1928 Yorkshire Cup final at Belle Vue, Wakefield, on 24 November 1928.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
Soon after this, and hours before the midnight, 1 February 1929 cut-off time for players to be registered for the Rugby League Cup, Askin was transferred to Leeds. This was despite both clubs only days earlier scotching rumours of such a transfer, and despite rumoured interest in him from other clubs such as Oldham, Salford and Halifax.<ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=24 January 1929 |page=10 |title=Leeds Team Changes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=17 January 1929 |page=17 |title=Askin Rumour Denied}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=1 February 1929 |page=14 |title=Leeds F.C. Capture}}</ref> Although he had recovered from a leg injury,{{efn|Askin had twisted his knee at the start of October in his first match for Featherstone after returning from the 1928 Great Britain tour of Australasia.<ref>{{cite news |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=8 October 1928 |page=2 |title=Reconstructed Side}}</ref> He then injured himself again in a County match against Lancashire, without having played for Featherstone in the intervening period.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=3 November 1928 |page=11 |title=Attractive Club Games}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=15 November 1928 |page=11 |title=Tall Forward for Transfer}}</ref>}} the 12-stone, 22-year-old Askin had not played for Featherstone for a few weeks due to a disagreement with the club's board, and they now felt that they had no option but to list him.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=30 January 1929 |page=9 |title=Askin on Transfer}}</ref> Featherstone had wanted £1000 for the player but accepted Leeds' offer of £800.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=7 February 1929 |page=9 |title=Askin's Transfer Fee}}</ref>
Askin played for his new club against Hull F.C. on 2 February and then injured his leg during Leeds' defeat by Warrington in the first round of the Cup a week later. He had to have an operation in Liverpool and was out of the team for almost all that remained of the 1928–29 season. Although signed by Leeds to strengthen their left wing, he returned to his more familiar position in the centre for the 1929–30 season and scored 15 tries before being put on the transfer market with an asking price of £500.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=28 October 1930 |page=11 |title=Big Transfer Surprise: Leeds Ready to Part With Askin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=22 February 1929 |title=Sporting Items |page=11}}</ref>
Askin transferred to Castleford on 13 November 1930,<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=14 November 1930 |page=9 |title=Askin Goes To Castleford}}</ref> with ''The Leeds Mercury'' commenting that he had "rarely touched his best form in Leeds colours and it may be that now he is nearer the district in which he learned his football he will display the ability which gained him a place in the last tour team".<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=15 November 1930 |page=9 |title=Askin at Castleford}}</ref> He played for the club from then until the 1936–37 season,<ref name="castleford">{{cite web|url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=319|title=Thomas C. Askin|publisher=thecastlefordtigers.co.uk|date=31 December 2014|accessdate=1 January 2015|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216084416/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=319|archive-date=16 February 2012}}</ref> scoring his first try for the club in the 22-3 victory over Bramley in very bad conditions on 29 November 1930.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=1 December 1930 |page=11 |title=Great Goal Kicking}}</ref> He was joined at Castleford by his brother, Ambrose, who made his début against Hull F.C. on 26 March 1932, a match in which Tom was unable to play due to injury.<ref>{{cite news |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=28 March 1932 |page=8 |title=Boulevard Thrills}}</ref>
Tom Askin was listed for transfer by Castleford at a fee of £250 in July 1932.<ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=29 July 1932 |page=15 |title=Askin For Transfer}}</ref> However, he was a part of the Castleford team that won the Yorkshire County League during the 1932–33 season. He played on the {{rlp|wg}} and scored a try in Castleford's 11-8 victory over Huddersfield in the 1935 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium, London, on 4 May 1935, in front of a crowd of 39,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewreport.php?page=report&id=1206|title=Sat 4th May 1935 - Challenge Cup - Neutral Ground - 39,000|publisher=thecastlefordtigers|date=31 December 2014|accessdate=1 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216084420/http://www.thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewreport.php?page=report&id=1206|archive-date=16 February 2012}}</ref> Later that year, in November, he broke his leg in the last minutes of a match against the same club.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=11 November 1935 |page=11 |title=A Cup Final}}</ref> Although there were fears that the injury might signal the end of his career, he appeared to be training well in the subsequent close season.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=29 July 1936 |page=9 |title=Tuning Up Time for Football}}</ref>
In March 1937, an exchange deal between Castleford and Newcastle saw Askin move to North East England while G. L. Taylor travelled in the opposite direction.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=18 March 1937 |page=9 |title=Castleford's Deal}}</ref> Newcastle were at that time attempting to establish the sport in the Tyneside region and the ''Yorkshire Evening Post'' commented that his loyalty and experience could be of much benefit in that regard.<ref>{{cite news |work= Yorkshire Evening Post |date=19 March 1937 |page=6 |title=Askin for Newcastle}}</ref>
In September 1938, Askin returned to Featherstone on loan from Castleford.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 September 1938 |newspaper=The Leeds Mercury |page=9 |title=TOMMY ASKIN Returns on Loan to Play for Featherstone}}</ref>
===International and County honours=== Askin won caps for Great Britain in 1928, when he played three matches against Australia and a further three against New Zealand.<ref name="rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/NDgtLS0tLS0tLTYxNDQtLS0tLXktLS0tLS0tLQ==|title=Custom Match List |publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012}}</ref>
Askin won caps for Yorkshire during the 1927–28 season against Cumberland,<ref>{{cite news |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=30 November 1927 |page=10 |title=Cumberland Win Rugby League Title}}</ref> Lancashire,{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} and Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.<ref name="lm10270927">{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=27 September 1927 |title=Fletcher's Four For Yorkshire |page=11}}</ref>{{efn|Askin suffered an eye injury during the September 1927 match against Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. This resulted in him being hospitalised after playing about a quarter of the game.<ref name="lm10270927" />}} He played again for the county during the 1928–29 season against Lancashire.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=7 November 1928 |page=9 |title=Featherstone's Absentee}}</ref> In September 1930, he played once more for Yorkshire against Cumberland at Whitehaven when George Whittaker of Swinton was moved from the wing to cover for the injured Castleford international Arthur Atkinson, thus opening up a spot for Askin. However, he was dropped from the squad in favour of George Bateman of Hull for the October match against Lancashire at Belle Vue, Wakefield.<ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=22 September 1930 |page=14 |title=Yorkshire Start Well}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=30 September 1930 |page=15 |title=Yorkshire Side Selected for "Roses" Battle}}</ref>
In 1971, Askin, then involved with Doncaster, was appointed as a replacement for Brian Snape on the RFL selection panel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Still two points for drop goal |last=Mather |first=Harold |work=The Guardian |date=10 June 1971 |page=20}}</ref>
==Personal life== Askin married Aubuary Stephenson of Whitley Bridge at Kellington Parish Church on 16 August 1933.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Leeds Mercury |date=17 August 1933 |page=7 |title=Footballer's Bride}}</ref> He was elected to Knottingley council as an Independent Municipal Association candidate in May 1954.<ref>{{cite news |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=17 May 1954 |page=10 |title=former rugby league footballer elected}}</ref>
==See also== *List of Featherstone Rovers players
==References== '''Notes''' {{notelist}} '''Citations''' {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://archive.castigersheritage.com/?s=true&c=Thomas%20Askin Thomas Askin Memory Box Search at archive.castigersheritage.com] *[http://archive.castigersheritage.com/?s=true&c=Tommy%20Askin Tommy Askin Memory Box Search at archive.castigersheritage.com]
{{Castleford - 1935 Challenge Cup Final winners}} {{Great Britain squad - 1928 Australia & New Zealand Tourists}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Askin, Thomas}} Category:1905 births Category:1976 deaths Category:20th-century English sportsmen Category:Castleford Tigers players Category:English rugby league players Category:Featherstone Rovers players Category:Great Britain national rugby league team players Category:Leeds Rhinos players Category:Newcastle RLFC players Category:Rugby league centres Category:Rugby league wingers Category:Rugby league players from Wakefield Category:Sportspeople from Knottingley Category:Yorkshire rugby league team players