Jerome Thomas
Encyclopedia
Jerome William Thomas is an English footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion
predominantly as a left winger, but can also operate centrally. He has made more than 100 appearances in the Premier League and Football League
, playing for Queens Park Rangers
, Charlton Athletic
and Portsmouth
.
, London
, Thomas played for Luton Town
as a schoolboy, before joining Arsenal
. Despite winning the FA Youth Cup
twice, in 2000 and 2001, he found it difficult to break into the first team due to the consistency of Robert Pirès
and Fredrik Ljungberg
. He was soon loaned out to Queens Park Rangers
in the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons. He performed well at QPR – scoring a couple of long distance goals – and made his last appearance on 29 October 2002 in an away draw with Wigan Athletic
. However, upon his return to Highbury
his fortunes were little better, making just three appearances in the 2003–04 season – all in the League Cup
. After the Gunners signed José Antonio Reyes
on 28 January 2004, following an alleged row with club legend Thierry Henry, Thomas turned down a new one-year contract with Arsenal and decided it was best to pursue a career elsewhere.
on 2 February 2004, for a transfer fee
of £100,000. He made his Premier League and Charlton debut on 1 May in a home draw with Leicester City
, a result that relegated the East Midlands
club. He quickly fitted into the team, making a total of fifty-nine appearances and scoring four goals over the following two seasons; his first goal came in a 3–2 away win against Tottenham on 6 November. As a result of this success, he signed a new three-year contract on 18 August 2006, although he found himself absent for the beginning of the 2006–07 due to a break of his right fifth metatarsal
. Upon his return to fitness, he resumed his major role in Charlton's season, making a further 57 appearances and scoring three goals in the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons. Following Charlton's relegation from the top flight, his good form attracted the attention of Portsmouth
manager Harry Redknapp
in January 2008, although the Pompey boss was doubtful he would be available on loan, seeing as Charlton manager Alan Pardew
preferred a permanent deal.
season, but on 15 August 2008 he joined Premier League club (and FA Cup
holders) Portsmouth on a season-long loan. He made his league debut for Portsmouth just two days later in a 4–0 away defeat to Chelsea
, and on 21 August he signed a one-year contract with Portsmouth to make his loan deal permanent after only six days. Charlton were to be paid a "small fee" should he play a certain number of matches during the 2008–09 season. However, in late August he suffered a stress fracture of the spine and was sidelined for about a month, eventually making his comeback in a reserve team
win over Tottenham Hotspur on 6 October. He completed his return to full fitness in a win over Aston Villa reserves
on 20 October, when he won a penalty and scored a solo goal.
Thomas did not return to Portsmouth's first team however until the final game of the season (a 1–0 defeat at Wigan
). On 1 July 2009 he was released by Portsmouth, having made only three first team appearances (including one during his initial loan spell).
During the summer of 2009 he had trials with two Premier League teams, Hull City
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
. He scored for Hull in a 6–0 victory over North Ferriby United
, but was not offered a contract by either Hull or Wolves.
team West Bromwich Albion
as a free agent. He made his league debut for West Brom five days later, as a substitute in a 3–2 win at Peterborough United
, and scored his first goal for them (in his seventh appearance) in their 5–0 win away at Middlesbrough
on 19 September 2009. Three days later, Thomas was sent off in a League Cup tie against his former club Arsenal. He was penalized for using his elbow in a challenge on Jack Wilshere
, after which he offered Wilshere his hand to apologize and to help the Arsenal player back onto his feet, but Wilshere refused the offer and allegedly made a comment. Thomas reacted by pushing Wilshire away (his hand being high on Wilshere's chest) and was shown a red card. On 25 September 2010 he returned to the Emirates Stadium
and scored West Bromwich Albion's third goal in a surprise 3–2 win over the Gunners.
In his first game back from the resulting three-match suspension, on 17 October 2009, Thomas was named as man of the match after scoring two goals in West Brom's 3–1 win over Reading
. Thomas went on to have an effective first term with the Baggies, scoring seven goals in twenty nine appearances; however, his season was cut short due to a recurrence of a back injury which he suffered in the previous season. In a bid to regain fitness for the following Thomas has returned to pre-season training ahead of the rest of the first team squad.
Thomas since has helped West Brom secure another season in the Barclays Premier League and has scored 3 goals one being against his former club Arsenal.
Kano
's song London Town, from the 2007 album
of the same name, Thomas is not Kano's cousin. Thomas denied the relationship in a Coca-Cola Football League podcast posted 21 October 2009. http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/PodcastsDetail/0,,10794~1492457,00.html Said Thomas, "I get asked this all the time. Apparently it's on Wikipedia." Thomas went on to state that former teammate and friend Jon Fortune
is Kano's cousin.
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
predominantly as a left winger, but can also operate centrally. He has made more than 100 appearances in the Premier League and Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, playing for Queens Park Rangers
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...
, Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and 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...
.
Arsenal
Born in BrentBrent
Brent is Old English, place name and surname. The place name can be from Celtic words meaning "holy one" , or "high place," literally, "from a steep hill"...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Thomas played for Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
as a schoolboy, before joining Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Despite winning the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
twice, in 2000 and 2001, he found it difficult to break into the first team due to the consistency of Robert Pirès
Robert Pirès
Robert Emmanuel Pirès is a former French international footballer. He is perhaps best known for his time with Arsenal, with whom he won three FA Cups and two FA Premier League titles including the club's famous unbeaten season of 2003–04...
and Fredrik Ljungberg
Fredrik Ljungberg
Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg is a Swedish footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan. Ljungberg was captain of the Swedish national team until he announced his international retirement after UEFA Euro 2008.Ljungberg was a model for Calvin Klein underwear...
. He was soon loaned out to Queens Park Rangers
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...
in the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons. He performed well at QPR – scoring a couple of long distance goals – and made his last appearance on 29 October 2002 in an away draw with Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. However, upon his return to Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
his fortunes were little better, making just three appearances in the 2003–04 season – all in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. After the Gunners signed José Antonio Reyes
José Antonio Reyes
José Antonio Reyes Calderón is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid.Mainly a left winger but also a forward, he made his professional debuts for hometown's Sevilla at only 16, signing with England's Arsenal aged 20.After a relatively successful career abroad, Reyes...
on 28 January 2004, following an alleged row with club legend Thierry Henry, Thomas turned down a new one-year contract with Arsenal and decided it was best to pursue a career elsewhere.
Charlton Athletic
Thomas signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Charlton AthleticCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 2 February 2004, for a transfer fee
Fee
A fee is the price one pays as remuneration for services. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs, and markup.Traditionally, professionals in Great Britain received a fee in contradistinction to a payment, salary, or wage, and would often use guineas rather than pounds as units of account...
of £100,000. He made his Premier League and Charlton debut on 1 May in a home draw with Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, a result that relegated the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
club. He quickly fitted into the team, making a total of fifty-nine appearances and scoring four goals over the following two seasons; his first goal came in a 3–2 away win against Tottenham on 6 November. As a result of this success, he signed a new three-year contract on 18 August 2006, although he found himself absent for the beginning of the 2006–07 due to a break of his right fifth metatarsal
Fifth metatarsal bone
The fifth metatarsal bone is recognized by a rough eminence, the tuberosity, on the lateral side of its base.The base articulates behind, by a triangular surface cut obliquely in a transverse direction, with the cuboid; and medially, with the fourth metatarsal.On the medial part of its dorsal...
. Upon his return to fitness, he resumed his major role in Charlton's season, making a further 57 appearances and scoring three goals in the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons. Following Charlton's relegation from the top flight, his good form attracted the attention of 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...
manager Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
in January 2008, although the Pompey boss was doubtful he would be available on loan, seeing as Charlton manager Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew
Alan Scott Pardew is an English football manager and former player, currently the manager of Newcastle United....
preferred a permanent deal.
Portsmouth
Thomas appeared in both of Charlton's first two games of the 2008–092008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season, but on 15 August 2008 he joined Premier League club (and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
holders) Portsmouth on a season-long loan. He made his league debut for Portsmouth just two days later in a 4–0 away defeat to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, and on 21 August he signed a one-year contract with Portsmouth to make his loan deal permanent after only six days. Charlton were to be paid a "small fee" should he play a certain number of matches during the 2008–09 season. However, in late August he suffered a stress fracture of the spine and was sidelined for about a month, eventually making his comeback in a reserve team
Portsmouth F.C. Reserves and Academy
Portsmouth F.C. Reserves and Academy consist of the reserve and academy footballers of Portsmouth F.C..- The Reserves :The Portsmouth Reserves consist of mainly young players under the age of 21 who are no longer eligible for the academy but are still trying to make the step up to the senior team...
win over Tottenham Hotspur on 6 October. He completed his return to full fitness in a win over Aston Villa reserves
Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
on 20 October, when he won a penalty and scored a solo goal.
Thomas did not return to Portsmouth's first team however until the final game of the season (a 1–0 defeat at Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
). On 1 July 2009 he was released by Portsmouth, having made only three first team appearances (including one during his initial loan spell).
During the summer of 2009 he had trials with two Premier League teams, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. He scored for Hull in a 6–0 victory over North Ferriby United
North Ferriby United A.F.C.
North Ferriby United Association Football Club is an English football club based in North Ferriby, near Kingston upon Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. They were formed in 1934. They reached the Northern Premier League Premier Division for the first time in 2005...
, but was not offered a contract by either Hull or Wolves.
West Bromwich Albion
On 13 August 2009, Thomas signed for ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
team West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
as a free agent. He made his league debut for West Brom five days later, as a substitute in a 3–2 win at Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, and scored his first goal for them (in his seventh appearance) in their 5–0 win away at 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...
on 19 September 2009. Three days later, Thomas was sent off in a League Cup tie against his former club Arsenal. He was penalized for using his elbow in a challenge on Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arsenal and the England national team....
, after which he offered Wilshere his hand to apologize and to help the Arsenal player back onto his feet, but Wilshere refused the offer and allegedly made a comment. Thomas reacted by pushing Wilshire away (his hand being high on Wilshere's chest) and was shown a red card. On 25 September 2010 he returned to the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
and scored West Bromwich Albion's third goal in a surprise 3–2 win over the Gunners.
In his first game back from the resulting three-match suspension, on 17 October 2009, Thomas was named as man of the match after scoring two goals in West Brom's 3–1 win over Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. Thomas went on to have an effective first term with the Baggies, scoring seven goals in twenty nine appearances; however, his season was cut short due to a recurrence of a back injury which he suffered in the previous season. In a bid to regain fitness for the following Thomas has returned to pre-season training ahead of the rest of the first team squad.
Thomas since has helped West Brom secure another season in the Barclays Premier League and has scored 3 goals one being against his former club Arsenal.
Personal life
Despite being mentioned in rapperRapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Kano
Kano (rapper)
Kane Brett Robinson , better known as Kano and also known as Kane O, is an English rapper and actor. His grandparents came to England as immigrants from Jamaica. He was formerly a key member of east London’s N.A.S.T.Y...
's song London Town, from the 2007 album
London Town (Kano album)
London Town is the second studio album by Kano, released September 10, 2007. The first single, featuring Craig David, "This Is the Girl" was released on August 27, 2007, the second being "Feel Free", featuring Damon Albarn. Guests include, other than David and Albarn, Vybz Kartel, Kate Nash and Leo...
of the same name, Thomas is not Kano's cousin. Thomas denied the relationship in a Coca-Cola Football League podcast posted 21 October 2009. http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/PodcastsDetail/0,,10794~1492457,00.html Said Thomas, "I get asked this all the time. Apparently it's on Wikipedia." Thomas went on to state that former teammate and friend Jon Fortune
Jonathan Fortune
Jonathan Jay Fortune is a professional footballer.-Charlton Athletic:After coming through the Charlton youth ranks and two loan spells at Mansfield Town, Fortune made his Charlton début during the 2001–02 season and became a regular figure in the Charlton first team...
is Kano's cousin.
External links
- Jerome Thomas player profile at Premier League
- Jerome Thomas player profile at BBC Sport