Player #243 for Aston Villa, Thomas Barber, known as Tommy Barber played as a midfielder for the club in the position then known as a wing half.

Tommy played for Villa between 1912-13 and 1914-15 making 69 appearances.

Tommy was born in West Stanley, County Durham on the 20th February 1880 and he made his Villa debut already a veteran on the 28th December 1912 aged 32.

Villa had signed Tommy from Bolton Wanderers for a then club record of £1,950 despite him being at the tail end of his career, however he was to have a major impact on Villa almost immediately.

In his first season Tommy, a precious commodity of a midfielder with a handy knack for scoring, made 5 appearances in the run to the FA Cup win over Sunderland and not only played in the Final in front of a crowd of 121,919 at Crystal Palace, London in April 1913, but also scored the winner on 78 minutes from a Charlie Wallace cross.

Tommy also helped Villa to another Semi Final the following season in a campaign in which he was an ever present and helped the club finish 2nd in the league in both of his first 2 seasons.

Like many players of the era however his career was interrupted by the Great War during which he was wounded in action with leg injuries sustained at Guillemont.

Although Tommy was still on Villa’s books he would never again represent the club.

When peace came, he turned out for a succession of much smaller teams including Stalybridge Celtic who he joined after leaving Villa, whilst five games for Villa’s neighbours Walsall would be the highest level of football he would subsequently achieve.

Tommy’s final game had come aged 32 on the 18th April 1915.

Tommy had played under the George Ramsay led Management Committee.

Tommy passed away from tuberculosis in Nuneaton on the 18th September 1925 aged just 45 having spent the previous season still playing football with Barwell United and despite previously having suffered from pleurisy following his wartime injuries.