Edmonton born, Jack Chisholm became a teenage star of the war-time Spurs side, being thrust into the team at centre half.
Jack played alongside old-timers such as Jackie Gibbons, Willie Hall and Bill Whatley and subsequently was known as “The Boy”. His move into the first team did not worry him and he scored on debut and became a regular in the side in 1942-43.
Joining the Army, he was named in our programmes as Corporal Chisholm, although in August 1944, he was moved to Scotland and could no longer feature for Spurs. In 1945, he was hospitalised with a knee injury, but returned to White Hart Lane after the war, becoming a regular once more in 1946-47, after under-studying Bill Nicholson.
The injury had slowed Jack from his younger days, he had to rely on his size and his tough tackling to see him through. Although he was first choice in 1947-48, his place was then taken by Horace Woodward.
As he was too good for
reserve team football, Spurs allowed him to join
Brentford in December 1947. A year later he moved
on to Sheffield United and then to Plymouth Argyle in
1949-50 and Jack became a highly popular character at
Home Park, always feted on his return there. He
has a hospitality suite at the ground named after him
and he was inducted into the Plymouth Argyle Hall of
Fame in 2004. He was awarded a testimonial against
a combined Spurs/WBA side in May 1955 and Plymouth won
3-2.
When he had completed his playing days in 1954, he took
to management with Helston, Romford and Finchley.
Jack was a handy cricketer being a fast bowler and he played for the MCC as a youngster and appeared once for Middlesex in 1947 alongside former Spur Bill Edrich. After retiring he played Minor Counties cricket for Bedfordshire and Devon, then played locally for St. Just in Cornwall.
In Plymouth he had managed
the "Harvest Home" pub and then worked as a manager at a
bookies in Edmonton on his return to London.
Jack Chisholm died in Leytonstone, East London on 24th
August 1977.