Thomas Ernest Powell (12 April 1925 – 7 September 1998)[1] was an English professional footballer who played 406 career games as a winger and inside forward for Derby County.
Powell first played for Derby County on Christmas Day 1941 as a wartime guest player aged 16 whist still a pupil at Bemrose School, he featured alongside future Derby County teammate Chick Musson and Jackie Parr, Derby lost the match 3–1 to a Royal Air Force Football Association XI but the 16-year did impress the over 10,000 spectators at the Baseball Ground with the Derby Evening Telegraph "Tom... a big lad with a long stride, need not feel too downhearted if he felt out of it before the course was run... he did at least get one chance to show that he had a fine shot in his gun", Powell became a regular part of Derby's wartime XIs during the World War II conflict.
[2] In the Third Division North, Powell's skills were rare to see in third tier of English football and during the clubs second season at this level Powell built a great understanding with Ray Straw by helping to play ball in to correct positions which helped Straw on to his way to score 37 league goals in the 1956–57 season which allowed Derby to secure promotion to the Second Division as champions.
[1] Powell was described by Derby historian and journalist Gerald Mortimer as a player who lacked strength physically but made up for it with immaculate ball control and who built up good understanding with centre-forwards of where to play the ball to given them the best opportunities to score.
[1] Powell after retirement would coach and manage several amateur clubs as well as running soccer schools in Derby.