Thomas Joseph Reid played in a number of different positions for Liverpool but was predominantly used in the forward-line. By no means speedy or graceful, he was the archetypal old-fashioned centre-forward who happened to be a goalscoring machine! Reid made his Liverpool debut on the final day of the 1925/26 season in a home fixture with Sheffield United, scoring after only eight minutes and added another goal to help his team secure a point from a 2-2 draw. Reid often scored in 'pairs'; the next season he repeated that two-goal debut performance on no less than five separate occasions. Reid was Liverpool's second-highest scorer in the League behind goalscoring legend Gordon Hodgson in 1927/28 with 15 from 25 fixtures. He was only called on six times the following season, scoring in his first two but not adding to his impressive scoring record, 30 goals in 55 games, in his last four appearances.

Only 24-years-old when he left Liverpool in February 1929 Reid went on a scoring spree for Manchester United, netting 14 in 17 first division games for the rest of the 1928/29 season, but 22 goals in 43 games in the next two campaigns couldn't prevent United being relegated into the Second Division. Reid added 27 goals in 36 games in two seasons in Second Division being described in their match programme as "somewhat cumbersome in his methods, but he is an opportunist of the first water." He was loaned to neighbours and fellow second division team, Oldham Athletic, in March 1933 where he scored nine in 13 games in the remainder of the 1932/33 season. His loan was made permanent when the Latics' supporters club donated the £400 needed. Reid was Oldham's top-scorer the following season with 16 League goals. In total Reid scored 145 goals in 245 Football League appearances.