As a fourteen-year-old, Tommy Sale worked in a pottery factory. In conjunction with his work, he played football for Stoke St Peter's. His performances attracted the attention of Tom Mather, Stoke City's manager. In August 1929, at the age of 19, he signed with Stoke City on amateur terms.
Playing career
Stoke City
In May 1930, Sale signed a professional contract with Stoke City. On Christmas Day, of the same year, Sale made his senior début in a match against Bradford City. By the 1932–33 season, Sale had established himself as a prominent member of the team, helping Stoke win the Second Division with 11 goals in 21 appearances. In the following two seasons, Sale was the club's top scorer. He scored 17 times in the 1933–34 season, in which Stoke finished 12th in the First Division. In the subsequent season, 1934–35, Sale scored 21 goals, helping Stoke to a 10th-place finish in the First Division.
, Mather's successor as Stoke manager, sold Tommy Sale to Blackburn Rovers in March 1936, for the sum of £6,000. This surprised supporters at the time, however McGory had confidence in Freddie Steele, who he had earmarked as a potential replacement for Sale. Sale spent two years at Blackburn before departing. Blackburn were relegated from the First Division in his first season at the club, 1935–36, finishing bottom of the table. He left the club halfway through the subsequent season, 1936–37, in which Blackburn finished 12th in the Second Division.
Second spell at Stoke City
Bob McGrory, Stoke's manager, re-signed Sale for Stoke in March 1938, initially as cover for Steele, who was injured at the time. Following his return, Sale scored five goals in three games, as he set about regaining his place in the team. He re-established his place in the side, as he scored 18 further goals in the remainder of the 1938–39 season. The 1939–40 season was suspended due to the outbreak of World War II, however Sale continued his goalscoring exploits with 56 goals in 1941–42 and then 64 goals over the course of two seasons: 1943–44 and 1944–45. In the latter of these two seasons, Sale netted six times in an 8–0 win over Walsall. Despite most of his goals coming from open play, Sale was a penalty specialist; it is reported Sale only missed one penalty in his entire professional career. Sale's last appearance for Stoke came on 8 April 1946, at the age of 35, in a War League game against Sheffield United at Stoke's home ground, the Victoria Ground. Following his departure from Stoke, Sale had two spells at Northwich Victoria and Hednesford Town before announcing his retirement in 1949, at the age of 39.
