Thomas Pank (January 1853 – ?) was an English footballer. He played in Aston Villa's first ever FA Cup tie.
Birmingham Excelsior Football Club emerged from the Phœnix Cricket Club; the club's claimed foundation date is 1874 and the earliest record of fixtures for the football club are from October 1876. In 1877, after a dispute over a three-mile run, a number of club members - including Excelsior player/secretary Thomas Pank, who would soon join Aston Villa.
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.🟨 13 Dec 1879, Villa 1-1 Stafford Road, Half-Way House Ground 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. 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. Although playing before shirt numbers were introduced in 1926, Goalkeeper John Ball received Legacy Number 1.John Ball (2) Half-back Pank received Legacy Number #12, Andy Hunter #4https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/player/andy-hunter officially became Villa's first goal-scorer in the 1–1 draw.
The 29-year-old Pank played his final game on 21 January 1882 In Villa's 4th Round away defeat to Wednesbury Old Athletic. He subsequently retired.
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