[4] Tom played for quite a few junior teams in the Tranmere area before catching the eye of the legendary Rovers scout Jack Lee.

Tom would sell cigarettes and chocolate to the fans in the stands as well as help in preparing the ground for matches before he was handed a professional contract.

[5] A crowd of 23,000 saw him play on his Villa debut in a reserve game against local rivals Birmingham City, in which he scored a first half hat-trick.

The Birmingham Daily Gazette described Pongo in his heyday at Villa:[5] Over 6ft tall and tough as teak, his goal dashes were electrifying and if he could not get adequate service from his wings he went out and got the ball himself.

He would streak his way through opposing defences, and then turn around grinning all over his face!During the time of Eric Cantona's altercation with a fan, an Olton pensioner stated that Waring - "Picked the ball up then he jumped into the crowd and gave him a thump"[6] Whilst playing football, Waring also worked for The Hercules Motor and Cycle Company in Aston.

After a spell at Barnsley, Waring also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tranmere Rovers (for a second time), Accrington Stanley, Bath City, Ellesmere Port Town, Graysons, Birkenhead Docks and Harrowby.