Tom Gracie

He was born at 40 Edmund Street in Dennistoun, Glasgow, the son of Robert Gracie (1848-1911), flesher, and his wife, Harriet Bell (1854-1921). Gracie studied bookkeeping upon leaving school before finding work as a meat salesman. He played Junior football for Shawfield, then Strathclyde, but in 1907 he was offered the chance to move into League football when approached by Airdrieonians, third-placed finishers the previous season. After short spells with Hamilton Academical and Arthurlie, he joined Morton in 1910. In 1911, Gracie was selected as a reserve for Scotland's game against England at Goodison Park. Although he was not required to play, and would never gain an international cap, the journey proved profitable for him as he was signed by Everton at the game's conclusion. A season later he switched to the red half of Merseyside, signing for Liverpool in an exchange deal which saw Harold Uren move to Everton in exchange for Gracie and Bill Lacey. Unlike Lacey, however, Gracie was unable to establish himself in the Liverpool first team, making only sporadic appearances in his two and a half seasons at Anfield. When the opportunity arose to return to Scotland in 1914, he was glad to take it, admitting to feeling "unappreciated" in the south. Gracie's destination was Hearts, manager John McCartney paying £400 for him as a replacement for the recently sold Percy Dawson. The Maroons were a rapidly emerging side and started the 1914–15 season with eight straight victories,…