Although born in Southampton, Tom Jaques was raised in Rushden, Northants and then employed as a shoe-riveter. Spotted playing for Rushden Windmills, Tom was invited for a trial at The Dell and was almost immediately plunged into Southern League action.

The local press doubted the wisdom of his hasty inclusion at centre-forward. Those reservations were well-founded: Tom was out of his depth.

He was given a further chance, two days later, in the Western League, but that would be the full extent of his first-team appearances. At the end of the season, he returned to Rushden. In the Great War he served with the Royal Sussex Regiment, the Middlesex Regiment and the Royal Defence Corps.