Thomas Bruce Niblo (24 September 1878 – 30 June 1933) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside forward and forward.[3] He played the majority of his career in the Football League for Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.[3][4][5] He also played in the Scottish and Southern Leagues and was capped once by Scotland at international level.[6][7][8]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Bruce Niblo | ||
| Date of birth | 24 September 1878[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Dunfermline, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 30 June 1933 (aged 54)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1895 | Cadzow Oak | ||
| 1895–1896 | Hamilton Academical | 3 | (1) |
| 1896–1898 | Linthouse | 13 | (2) |
| 1898–1902 | Newcastle United | 60 | (5) |
| 1899 | → Middlesbrough (loan) | 3 | (2) |
| 1902–1904 | Aston Villa | 45 | (9) |
| 1904–1906 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | (10) |
| 1906–1907 | Watford | 30 | (8) |
| 1907–1908 | Newcastle United | 0 | (0) |
| 1908 | Hebburn Argyle | ||
| 1908–1909 | Aberdeen | 15 | (2) |
| 1909–1910 | Raith Rovers | 18 | (2) |
| 1910–1911 | Cardiff City | 4 | (0) |
| Blyth Spartans | |||
| International career | |||
| 1904 | Scotland | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1908 | Hebburn Argyle (player-manager) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
After leaving Raith Rovers in 1910, Niblo was one of three signings announced by Southern Football League Second Division side Cardiff City in November of the same year. Having trained with Newcastle United to maintain fitness,[9] he was immediately named in the first team for his debut against Aberdare Athletic. He played three further games for the club before departing shortly after .[10]
Personal life
Niblo worked as a boilermaker on Tyneside when his football career came to an end.[1] He served as a bombardier in the Royal Field Artillery and the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War.[11]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hamilton Academical | 1895–96[12] | Scottish Alliance | 3 | 1 | ― | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Linthouse | 1896–97[6] | Scottish League Division Two | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| Newcastle United | 1897–98[13] | Second Division | 1 | 0 | ― | ― | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1898–99[13] | First Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ― | 10 | 0 | ||
| 1899–1900[13] | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ― | 11 | 2 | |||
| 1900–01[13] | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ― | 26 | 2 | |||
| 1901–02[13] | 12 | 1 | ― | ― | 12 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 60 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ― | 60 | 5 | |||
| Middlesbrough (loan) | 1899–1900[13] | Second Division | 3 | 2 | ― | ― | 3 | 2 | ||
| Aston Villa | 1901–02[13] | First Division | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ― | 12 | 2 | |
| 1902–03[13] | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ― | 21 | 1 | |||
| 1903–04[13] | 16 | 6 | 2 | 0 | ― | 18 | 6 | |||
| Total | 45 | 9 | 6 | 0 | ― | 51 | 9 | |||
| Nottingham Forest | 1904–05[14] | First Division | 29 | 7 | 2 | 0 | ― | 31 | 7 | |
| 1905–06[14] | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ― | 17 | 3 | |||
| Total | 46 | 10 | 2 | 0 | ― | 48 | 10 | |||
| Watford | 1906–07[15] | Southern League First Division | 30 | 8 | 2 | 0 | ― | 32 | 8 | |
| Aberdeen | 1908–09[16] | Scottish League Division One | 15 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5[b] | 5 | 22 | 8 |
| Raith Rovers | 1909–10[6] | Scottish League Division Two | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ― | 18 | 2 | |
| Cardiff City | 1910–11[10] | Southern League Second Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Career total | 237 | 41 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 259 | 47 | ||