Thombs was "Tiny" Terror
A.E."Tiny" THOMBES - Born in Henley, England, Tiny as he was always known, was a star in Hamilton soccer during the early years of the century. While still in England he received some flattering offers from so many of the professional clubs, but chose to come to Canada where he played most of his career with with the great Westinghoulse team. For many years Thombs was without equal in Canada as a outside left and for two decades was sellected on every all-star team to represent this city. Ge also played for Ontario on numerous occasions and in 1921 for a Canadian All0-Star team against the touring Scottish professional team. Tiny was a member of teh Westinghouse team that won the Ontario championship in 1911, 1912 and 1920 and the national championship also in 1920. In 1924 the city showed its appreciation by staging a testimonial game in his honour.
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"Whitey" was world class
ROBERT "Whitey" McDONALD - Undoubtedly one of the most famous sportsmen this city has ever produced, Whitey McDonald won local national and international honours and in the process brought great credit to this city and to Canada. Born in Omagh in Northern Ireland, he came to Hamilton as an infant and learned his soccer in the Thistles orgainization. One of ten childrebn, he played for the Thistles in the Spectator Cup finals of 1921 and 1922 and later for Toronto Ulster United before moving to the YUnited States where he won national honours with the great Bethlehem Steel team. When the world famous Scottish team Glasgow Rangers toured North America in 1928 they saw him play and before the next Scottish season began he was on his way across the Atlantic to join them. From 1928 to the start of World War II he played for Rangers winning just about every honour the game has to offer, including four Scottish League Championship medals and four Scottish Cup medals. During this time he also played internationally for Northern Ireland. He returned to Canada with Rangers in 1930, when the team played in Hamilton he captained Rangers against his old club, the Thistles, who were captained by his brother. McDonald was a world-class player who was highly regarded for his skill and sportsmanship.
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Hamilton's loss proved a big gain for Britain
JIMMY TENNANT - Like McDonald, Jimmy Tennant learned his soccer in Hamilton but made his name overseas at the highest levels of the game. Also like McDonald, Tennant grew up in the Thistles orgainization and helped the club win the Spectator Cups in 1930 and 1931. Soon after, he left for Britain where he played briefly in Wales and Cardiff City before heading north to Scotland for a brief spell with Kilwinning Rangers before signing with the famous Perth club St. Johnstone. A winger, Jimmy played for the Saints from 1933 to 1940 appearing in 187 games and scoring 34 goals. On January 25th 1936 he scored a hat trick against Raith Rovers in a Scottish Cup game and was at one time selected as a reserve for the Scottish League team.
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Kevin grabbed Olympic stardom in Montreal
KEVIN GRANT - Kevin Grant first attracted attention as a member of the national Olympic team in 1971, having grown up playing his minor soccer in Burlington and then graduating to East Hamilton Cougars and then East Hamilton Legion. His display in the Olympic team quickly won him a place in the full national team and he played in all four of Canada's World Cup qualifying games in 1972 at centre back. One of the greatest thrills of his young career at that time was playing for Canada against Mexico in the famous Azteca Stadium. He eventually went on to play in 15 full internationals and eight amateur internationals for his courtry including two appearances in the 1976 Olympic Games. His playing career over , he turned to coaching and was coach of the Hamilton Steelers that won a national championship in 1986.
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NASL was his playground
JOHN McGRANE - John McGrane made his International amateur debut for Canada against the Soviet Union at Olympic Stadium in Montreal during the 1976 Olympics and one year later signed pro for the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League. A winger during the early yeears of his career, the Aztecs quickly converted him into a first-class defender and it was a full back that he made his full international debut for Canada in October of 1977 against El Salvador. After five seasons in California he signed for the Montreal Manic in 1982 and finished his NASL career with Minnesota Strikers in 1984. John grew up in Hamilton. As a member of the Ontario youth team, he attracted the attention of John Buchanan, coach a Simon Fraser University, who offered him a scholarship. His play for Clansmen led to his Olympic appearance. His playing days over, he turned to coaching in the Canadian soccer League with Kitchener Spirit and later with Hamilton Steelers.
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The Roaring Twenties
The years between 1920 and the outbreak of World War II in 1939 are often referred to as the "Golden Years" of soccer in North America. In both Canada and the United States the game blossomed as never before or since. With the end of the first World War, immigratns from Britain poured into Canada bringing with them their love of the game. Teams sprang up everywhere, some formed by returning soldiers who had fought in the famous battleso fo Vimy Ridge on the Somme and at Ypres.
The decade of the 1920's started off with a bang as a team comprised of some of the most famous players in Scotland toured Canada from coasst to coasst and then ended up playing in the United States. Hamilton, as was the custom, was one of the stopping off points on the tour. On May 26, 1921 the touring Scots easily defeated a team made up of the best players in Hamilton 6-0, with the great Andy Wilson scoring four goals for the Scots as 8,0000 Hamiltonians looked on.
Later that year the Inter-Cities league, made up of teams from Hamilton and Toronto, was formed and began play in 1922. Westinghouse, Independent Labour Pary, Thistles and Tigers were the teams from Hamilton admitted to the league. Soon after the Independent Labout Party team changed its name to Hamilton City.
As time went by the Inter-Cities admitted two teasms form Montreal and the name of the league was changed to Inter-Provincial. By that time only thistles and Hamilton City remained in the loop. When the National League came into being in 1926. Thistles were admitted and City were not.
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Click to See - 1920 Westinghouse National Champions
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