Eddie Thomas (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Edwin Henry Charles "Eddie" Thomas (born 9 November 1931) is a retired English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton
in the early 1950s.
, Wiltshire
where he became an apprentice engineer with British Rail
at the Swindon Works
. Whilst playing for the works team, he caught the eye of a scout
from Southampton
of the Football League Second Division
, joining them as an amateur in 1949.
He made his reserve-team debut on 17 December 1949, displacing Len Stansbridge
, and over the next year, he and Stansbridge vied for the role of second choice 'keeper behind Scottish international Ian Black
. Black moved to Fulham
in July 1950, with Northern Irish
international Hugh Kelly
joining the Saints in exchange. On 7 October 1950, Kelly was called into the Northern Irish team for a match against England
and manager Sid Cann
promoted Thomas to the first-team for a match against Birmingham City
. At a month before his 18th birthday, Thomas thus became Southampton's youngest-ever first-team goalkeeper, until the debut of Bob Charles in 1959. Although the match was lost 2–0, Thomas was not deemed to be at fault for either of the goals.
Thomas briefly became the second-choice 'keeper for the first eleven, making four further appearances before Christmas, but the signing of John Christie
in January 1951 relegated him back to the reserves. Thomas was signed as a professional in May 1951, having gained three England Youth
caps.
In September 1951, Thomas was recalled to the first-team following a poor match by Christie, but after three matches Stansbridge took over until the arrival of Fred Kiernan
in October. By November, Thomas has also lost his place in the reserves to Stansbridge and, unable to regain his place, he was released in the summer of 1953.
in 1956, Thomas was unable to continue his professional career. He later represented Wiltshire at water polo
.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the early 1950s.
Football career
Thomas was born in SwindonSwindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
where he became an apprentice engineer with British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
at the Swindon Works
Swindon Works
Swindon railway works were built by the Great Western Railway in 1841 in Swindon in the English county of Wiltshire.-History:In 1835 Parliament approved the construction of a railway between London and Bristol. Its Chief Engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel.From 1836, Brunel had been buying...
. Whilst playing for the works team, he caught the eye of a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, joining them as an amateur in 1949.
He made his reserve-team debut on 17 December 1949, displacing Len Stansbridge
Len Stansbridge
Leonard Edward Charles Stansbridge was an English footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton in the period either side of the Second World War.-Football career:...
, and over the next year, he and Stansbridge vied for the role of second choice 'keeper behind Scottish international Ian Black
Ian Black (footballer born 1924)
Ian Henderson Black is a former Scottish football goalkeeper. Black played for Aberdeen, Southampton and Fulham, and also played one game for Scotland....
. Black moved to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in July 1950, with Northern Irish
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international Hugh Kelly
Hugh Kelly (goalkeeper)
Hugh Redmond Kelly was an Irish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in Northern Ireland and England, making four international appearances for Ireland.-Northern Ireland:...
joining the Saints in exchange. On 7 October 1950, Kelly was called into the Northern Irish team for a match against 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...
and manager Sid Cann
Sid Cann
Sydney Thomas Cann was an English professional football defender and football manager. He was capped twice by England at Schools level.-Playing career:...
promoted Thomas to the first-team for a match against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. At a month before his 18th birthday, Thomas thus became Southampton's youngest-ever first-team goalkeeper, until the debut of Bob Charles in 1959. Although the match was lost 2–0, Thomas was not deemed to be at fault for either of the goals.
Thomas briefly became the second-choice 'keeper for the first eleven, making four further appearances before Christmas, but the signing of John Christie
John Christie (footballer born 1929)
John Alexander Christie is a retired football goalkeeper who played for Southampton F.C. for most of the 1950s.-Playing career:...
in January 1951 relegated him back to the reserves. Thomas was signed as a professional in May 1951, having gained three England Youth
England national youth football team
England national youth football team can refer to the following age group teams:* England national under-23 football team* England national under-22 football team* England national under-21 football team* England national under-20 football team...
caps.
In September 1951, Thomas was recalled to the first-team following a poor match by Christie, but after three matches Stansbridge took over until the arrival of Fred Kiernan
Fred Kiernan
Frederick William Kiernan was an Irish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the 1940s and 1950s.-Playing career:...
in October. By November, Thomas has also lost his place in the reserves to Stansbridge and, unable to regain his place, he was released in the summer of 1953.
Later career
Although he turned out for Salisbury CitySalisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
in 1956, Thomas was unable to continue his professional career. He later represented Wiltshire at water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
.