Tom Clark first appeared in a Dell trial in August 1907 but did not become a Saint until 1909.

A dogged and persistent 90-minute player,

he scored freely for the Reserves and, quickly progressing from amateur terms to a pro contract, he duly made his Southern League debut on the right-wing. He’d have preferred to be at inside-right, but Frank Jefferis was in possession there. After getting only five Southern League starts in two seasons, most of them out of position, Tom opted to play local football, but as a part-timer only, as he followed his engine-driver father into the employ of the London & South Western Railway – in Tom’s case, as a fireman. But after only half a season, he returned to The Dell. He again had to settle, however, for Reserves football, save for a solitary appearance in the Southern Alliance. He turned out for Harland & Wolff during the War, after which he returned to the local game while continuing to keep the coal-fires burning for the L&SWR.