Tom Whittington was amongst a group of young sportsmen who founded Neath RFC in 1871. Two years later, whilst a medical student at Edinburgh University, he also found fame by playing rugby for Scotland against England. Just for good measure a couple of months later, he caught WG Grace whilst keeping wicket in a match at Neath against the United South of England.
Born during August 1848, Thomas was the youngest son of Matthew Whittington, a wealthy farmer and landowner who lived at Tonna House to the north-west of the town of Neath. Educated at Merchiston Castle School, he read Medicine at Edinburgh University and and, during late February 1873, was chosen by the Scottish selectors to play as a forward in the international against England at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow. The match on 3 March was a dour 0-0 draw, played out in front of a crowd, estimated at a shade over 5,000. The date, if not the game itself, has a special place in Scottish sporting history as later that day, on the other side of the city, a meeting was held at which the Scottish RFU was formed.
In 1873 Thomas played for Edinburgh against Glasgow at Hamilton Crescent, in addition to appearing in an Eighteen of Edinburgh which met at Raeburn Place the United South of England XI whose line-up included both WG and GF Grace, as well as Ted Pooley and James Lillywhite for the two-day encounter. The English side batted first with WG making 36 before being caught by Thomas off the bowling of John Todd, a young Edinburgh solicitor. WG gained revenge by bowling Thomas for a duck when the local side batted. This was one of seven wickets which the Doctor claimed, followed by eight second time around, including Thomas who was stumped by Pooley, but not before the left-hander had clubbed six runs.
Thomas’ success in Scotland, as well as for Cadoxton CC, led to his selection during August 1875 for the Glamorganshire side against Breconshire at the Arms Park. This time Thomas opened the batting and also had a bowl, but he was dismissed for 1 and 6 as Breconshire won by eight wickets. The following month, Thomas was also chosen by JTD Llewelyn in his team called the Gentlemen of West Glamorgan which met their counterparts from the East in a two-day match at Merthyr Mawr .
Thomas later served as Medical Officer to Neath Rural District Council, besides being the brother of WP Whittington and the father of Tal Whittington who in 1921 helped to secure first-class status for Glamorgan in 1921.
WHITTINGTON, Dr. Thomas Price
Born: Llantwit-juxta-Neath, 12 August 1848.
Died: Neath, 7 October 1919.