Scottish-born Tom Drain appeared in Exeter City’s first-ever professional sason in the Southern League in 1908/09. Having previously played for Kilmarnock, he left St James’ Park for Woolwich Arsenal. 

Brought up in the Ayrshire mining village of Drongan, Tom played for the local team and, after a fine display in an Ayrshire Junior Cup final, attracted the attention of Celtic, Kilmarnock and Sheffield United. Signing for Celtic he was soon on the move to Ayr United ahead of joining Bradford City (9 league outings, 3 goals). Switching to Leeds City (12 goals in 32 league matches), Tom was back in Ayrshire with Kilmarnock in 1907 ahead of a short spell with Carlisle United.

Tom linked up with Exeter City in 1908 and on signing was described as ‘unsurpassed as a dribbler on his day, being speedy, quick and alert.’ He made his debut in the second match of the season against Bristol Rovers but, apart from one run of eight matches, was never a regular first-team member and was released at the end of 1908/09 season.

He went on to play for Woolwich Arsenal in 1909/10 (making two league appearances) before returning home to appear for Nithsdale Wanderers and Galston. After football he worked as a fire fighter in Fife and died in Edinburgh on 19 September 1952.

The Grecian Archive received the following Information from a descendent of Tom Drain in 2023:

"Tom's son William moved to Australia in 1928, so we are Australian branch of the Drain lineage.  Tom set the family on a strong football dynasty. William played for a division club here called Victoria Park. They won the cup six years running and he is now in the hall of fame. Tom's grandson Ted followed into football playing for Australia and also in the hall of fame." - Neil Flanders July 2023

It is understood that Ted Drain played for various clubs in New South Wales and was capped once for the Australian national team in 1955.

Futher information was received from a great-grandson of Thomas Drain in 2026 which questioned whether Ted Drain was a direct descendent of Tom Drain. This informant also suggested that Ross Greer, a well-known Western Australian footballer of the 1980s and 1990s who briefly played for Chester City and was capped by Hong Kong, was also a great-grandson of Tom Drain.