Paton: Thomas Gracie (Tommy)

WW2 Guest: 1943-1944 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Centre Half

Born: Saltcoats, Ayrshire: 22-12-1918

Debut: v Sunderland (h): 04-09-1943

Height & Weight: Unknown

Paton started his career with Ardeer Thistle as an Inside Forward and joined First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers in June 1937. He did not make a senior appearance for them and moved to Second Division Swansea Town in October 1938 where he made six League appearances before moving to Third Division South Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic in February 1939. He had scored twice in seventeen games before the Second World War saw the Football League fixtures suspended. It was in the War Years that he guested for Leeds United making just one appearance for them in the second game of the 1943-44 Football League Northern Section (First Championship). It was at Centre Half in a 1-5 defeat by Sunderland at Elland Road on 4th September 1943. He returned to Bournemouth after the War and scored another six goals in twenty-nine League appearances as well as two goals in four F.A. Cup ties. He moved to Watford in January 1948 and stayed for almost five seasons, playing almost exclusively at Right Half, and scoring one goal in one hundred and forty-one League games and also playing eight F.A. Cup ties. He was there until 1952 when he left to play out his career with Non-League Folkestone. He died in 1991.