Players - Tom Gracie

Tom Gracie
Birthdate: 12 June 1889
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death: 23 October 1915
Other clubs: Wellwood Star, Strathclyde (1906-07), Airdrieonians (1907-08), Hamilton Academical (1908-09), Airdrieonians (2 / 1909), Arthurlie (1909-10), Morton (1910-11), Everton (1911-12), Hearts (1914-15)
Signed from: Everton
Signed for LFC: £150, 22.02.1912
Liverpool debut: 24.02.1912
Last appearance: 28.02.1914
Debut goal: 24.02.1912
Last goal: 25.12.1913
Contract expiry: 13.05.1914
Win ratio: 35.29% W:12 D:7 L:15
Games/goals ratio: 6.8
League games / goals: 33 / 5
Total games / goals: 34 / 5

Player Profile

Forward Gracie had been highly rated in Scotland before his transfer to Everton where he struggled for two seasons with only a solitary goal to show for in 13 league appearances. Gracie and Bill Lacey were transferred to Liverpool from the Blues for a combined fee of £300 and Harold Uren went as well the opposite way in February 1912. Gracie made a scoring debut at Bury on 24 February 1912 but that was his only goal from six matches that season. When Gracie had only scored once in the first five games in the following season he was dropped from the first team and the Daily Express concluded that "it has been proved over and over again that the Scottish style of play is much slower than the English game, and a player who is regarded as a star artist over the border may not shine in England. A case in point is that of Tom Gracie, the present Liverpool forward. When he joined Everton there was a great flourish of trumpets, for Gracie was regarded as almost the best centre in Scotland at the time. He never rose to the same height with Everton, however, the pace being too fast, and he was transferred to Liverpool last season. The Anfield club have persevered with him in their first five matches, but it is evident that the English style does not suit him." For the rest of his Liverpool career Gracie only managed three goals from 23 games.

Gracie returned to Scotland with Hearts in 1914 and was the joint-leading scorer in the Scottish League in the 1914/15 season with 29 goals in 37 games. As well as playing with Hearts at the time he served as Corporal with the 16th Royal Scots combining military training with his football duties. He was promoted to Sergeant in May 1915. Sadly, Gracie was diagnosed with leukemia in March 1915 but continued to play for Hearts showing great bravery. His coach at Hearts was apparently the only one who knew about the severity of his illness. Tom Gracie passed away at Stobhill Hospital in his hometown Glasgow only 26 years of age on 23 October 1915. Tom's brother had died three and a half weeks earlier in the great offensive at Loos in France.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 33 1 0 0 0 34
1911-1912 6 0 0 0 0 6
1912-1913 13 1 0 0 0 14
1913-1914 14 0 0 0 0 14
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
4 360 Oldham Athletic
3 270 Manchester City
3 270 Blackburn Rovers
2 180 Everton
2 180 Sheffield United
2 180 Middlesbrough
2 180 Derby
2 180 Sunderland
2 180 Bradford City
2 180 Chelsea
1 90 Notts County
1 90 Aston Villa
1 90 Newcastle United
1 90 Bury
1 90 Preston North End
1 90 Bolton Wanderers
1 90 WBA
1 90 Arsenal
1 90 Sheffield Wednesday
1 90 Tottenham
Total Venue
18 Home
16 Away
Total Competition
33 League
1 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
34 12 7 15 35.3% Tom Watson
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 5 0 0 0 0 5
1911-1912 1 0 0 0 0 1
1912-1913 1 0 0 0 0 1
1913-1914 3 0 0 0 0 3
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Competition
5 League
Total Goal minute period
1 31-45 minutes
4 76-90 minutes
Total Goal origin
5 Open play
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 24.02.1912 Bury Gigg Lane League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 80 24.02.1912 Bury Gigg Lane League
Related Articles
Gracie transferred to Liverpool

An article from the Liverpool Echo on Liverpool's capture of Gracie from Everton.

Swopping players

The Liverpool Echo on February 27 1912.

Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Wellwood Star N/A N/A N/A N/A
Strathclyde 1906-1907 Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Airdrieonians 1906-1907 Scotland Division 1 5 2 5 2
Airdrieonians 1907-1908 Scotland Division 1 7 1 7 1
Hamilton Academical 1908-1909 Scotland Division 1 5 1 5 1
Arthurlie 1909-1910 Scotland Division 2 16 11 16 11
Morton 1910-1911 Scotland Division 1 28 22 28 22
Everton 1910-1911 England First Division 7 1 7 1
Everton 1911-1912 England First Division 16 2 17 2
Hearts 1914-1915 Scotland Division 1 37 29 37 29
Total 121 69 122 69