| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | January 1853 | ||
| Place of birth | Aston, Birmingham, England | ||
| Date of death | Unknown | ||
| Position | Half back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1879–1882 | Aston Villa | 11 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Thomas Pank (b. Jan 1853, Aston) was an English footballer. He played in Aston Villa's first ever FA Cup tie. [1]
The 1879–80 English football season saw Aston Villa's entry into top flight competitive association football with their first tie in the FA Cup. [2] The start of the official record was Saturday 13 December 1879 when Villa faced Stafford Road F.C., of the Stafford Road railway works, Wolverhampton. The match was played before a crowd of 2,000 at Stafford's Half-Way House Ground. [2] In 2024, celebrating the club's 150th anniversary, Aston Villa Legacy Numbers were introduced indexing every first-team player who had represented the club in a competitive fixture. [3] Although playing before shirt numbers were introduced in 1926, Goalkeeper John Ball received Legacy Number 1. [4] Half-back Pank received Legacy Number #12, [1] Andy Hunter #4 [5] officially became Villa's first goal-scorer in the 1–1 draw. [2]
The 29-year-old Pank played his final game on 21 January 1882 In Villa's 4th Round away defeat to Wednesbury Old Athletic. [6] He subsequently retired. [1]