Dave Thomas (footballer born 1950)
Encyclopedia
Dave Thomas, born October 5, 1950 in Kirkby-in-Ashfield
, England
is a former professional footballer and England
international who played as a midfielder. An extremely skillful and fast player, for much of his career his trademark was playing without shin pads; something that would never be tolerated in today's game due to the change of the laws of the game.
He made his senior debut in Burnley 8-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the 1966/67 season
He had a long and successful playing career, playing for almost 20 years and totalling over 450 league appearances whilst playing for Burnley
, QPR
, Everton
, Vancouver Whitecaps
, Middlesbrough
, Portsmouth
and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He won 8 England caps overall whilst at Queens Park Rangers. His first England cap was given to him by manager Don Revie
on October 30, 1974 in a 3–0 win against Czechoslovakia
. He set up the first goal in the game. In 1981, he played a single summer season with the Vancouver Whitecaps
in the North American Soccer League
.
Thomas's most successful season was undoubtedly 1975–76 while playing for QPR. QPR led the First Division for much of the season, narrowly missing out by one point to Liverpool after the final game of the season. Thomas was a pivotal figure in the team, providing Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis and others with outstanding service from the wing. Following his transfer to Everton, Thomas continued to enjoy success in the 1977–78 season while playing for Everton. Everton's top marksman Bob Latchford
scored 30 goals in the league that season, Thomas providing more of his goals than anybody else with some more accurate crosses.
His transfer in October 1972 from Burnley to QPR was then a record fee for a Second Division Club: £165,000.
He worked as a PE
teacher at the Bishop Luffa School
in Chichester
, but has now retired.
Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Kirkby-in-Ashfield is a market town in Nottinghamshire, England, with a population of 25,265 . It is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area. The Head Offices of Ashfield District Council are located there....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is a former professional footballer and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international who played as a midfielder. An extremely skillful and fast player, for much of his career his trademark was playing without shin pads; something that would never be tolerated in today's game due to the change of the laws of the game.
He made his senior debut in Burnley 8-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the 1966/67 season
He had a long and successful playing career, playing for almost 20 years and totalling over 450 league appearances whilst playing for Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He won 8 England caps overall whilst at Queens Park Rangers. His first England cap was given to him by manager Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
on October 30, 1974 in a 3–0 win against Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
. He set up the first goal in the game. In 1981, he played a single summer season with the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
.
Thomas's most successful season was undoubtedly 1975–76 while playing for QPR. QPR led the First Division for much of the season, narrowly missing out by one point to Liverpool after the final game of the season. Thomas was a pivotal figure in the team, providing Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis and others with outstanding service from the wing. Following his transfer to Everton, Thomas continued to enjoy success in the 1977–78 season while playing for Everton. Everton's top marksman Bob Latchford
Bob Latchford
Robert Dennis "Bob" Latchford is an English former association footballer who played as a centre forward. He made more than 500 appearances in the Football League, playing for Birmingham City, Everton, Swansea and Coventry City in the First Division, and won 12 full caps for England.Latchford was...
scored 30 goals in the league that season, Thomas providing more of his goals than anybody else with some more accurate crosses.
His transfer in October 1972 from Burnley to QPR was then a record fee for a Second Division Club: £165,000.
He worked as a PE
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
teacher at the Bishop Luffa School
Bishop Luffa School
Bishop Luffa, named after a former Bishop of Chichester, Ralph de Luffa, is a coeducational Church of England secondary school in the City of Chichester, West Sussex, England. The number of enrolled students was around 1,400 in 2010, in eight 'Year' house-forms and the sixth form...
in Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
, but has now retired.