Bill Toms was one of a number of players who had brief spells guesting with Leeds City during the First World War.

A centre-forward, Toms had featured for Altrincham and Eccles Borough before joining Southport Central. After joining the Army upon the declaration of war, Toms worked his way up to the rank of Corporal.

He was brought into the Leeds City team on 4 November 1916 to replace the missing Jack Peart for the game at Hull which ended 1-1. Peart was back the following week against Nottingham Forest but Toms returned on 18 November at inside-left at Barnsley. City lost 4-1 and that was the end of Toms' time at Elland Road.

Toms signed for First Division Manchester United in 1919. He scored four times in fourteen appareances for United before moving to Plymouth Argyle in September 1920 in a £500 deal. He continued to wander, spending time at Oldham Athletic, Coventry City, Stockport County, Wrexham and Crewe Alexandra without ever really making a mark, drifting into the non-League game with time at Great Harwood, Winsford United and CWS Margarine Works in Manchester.