John Thomas (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John William Thomas is an English former professional footballer who scored 123 goals from 364 appearances in the Football League
playing for Tranmere Rovers
, Halifax Town
, Bolton Wanderers
, Chester City
, Lincoln City
, Preston North End
, Bolton Wanderers
and Hartlepool United
.
, Staffordshire
, upon leaving school in 1974 Thomas signed for Everton
as a trainee but in six years with the club failed to make a single appearance although two loan spells with Tranmere Rovers
(11 games 2 goals) in 1978-79 and also with Halifax Town
(5 games 0 goals) the following season showed that John was no doubt capable of playing in the lower reaches of the league.
hoping to cement a regular place in the starting line-up and thus kick starting his career.His two years at Burnden Park
were however rather stop-start with John struggling to hold a regular place down in the team.He did though in his time at the club manage to play 22 league games scoring 6 goals.
. In his only season at Sealand Road John became a real favourite with the fans, comfortably finishing as the club's top scorer with 20 goals in 44 league games. He was also unsurprisingly voted Chester's player of the season. It was however a shock to the club's fans when the cash strapped club were forced to sell their prize asset to Division Three side Lincoln City
for £22,000 after just one season.
His time with The Imps was however a mixed affair with John struggling to find the net with any great regularity and although in his two seasons with the club he netted 18 times in 67 games it therefore came as no surprise when at the end 1984-85 they decided to cash in by selling him to recently relegated Preston North End
for £15,000. In his last game for Lincoln he was to witness a nightmare when 56 spectators were killed in a horrendous stand fire while playing Bradford City.
, the team as a whole were performing woefully badly finishing the 1985-86 season
in 91st position, therefore having to apply for re-election. John however did on a personal note finish the season successfully by picking up the clubs official player of the year
award for 1985-86.
The following season was however a different story. With a new artificial pitch laid and John McGrath at the helm Preston stormed to promotion with John finishing the season as the clubs leading scorer. The rumour however of a fall out with manager McGrath only increased with Thomas being dropped several times during the season to be replaced by the likes of Nigel Jemson
, Frank Worthington
and Steve Taylor
. He did though every time regain his place in the team, ending the season with an excellent 28 goals. At the end of his contract in July 1987 he was sold much to the fans dismay to Bolton Wanderers for a bargain £30,000 after finding the net 38 times in just 78 games.
Thomas enjoyed his second successive Division Four promotion, before a comfortable mid-table finish in Division Three the following season. He was club top-scorer in both seasons, scoring 31 times in 73 games before deciding in July 1989 to sign for his boyhood heroes West Bromwich Albion
on a free transfer.
John however spent the majority of his short stay at The Hawthorns
on the bench managing just 1 goal in 19 games although he did score a hat-trick
in a 5-3 victory for the Baggies
in a Football League Cup
tie against Bradford City
at Valley Parade
. Soon after however the call came from struggling Preston in February 1990.
Despite recovering from his injury John to struggle to reach the same level again and after just 27 more games and another six goals, he was transferred to fellow Division Three side Hartlepool United
in March 1992. One goal in seven games was all John could manage at United before they in turn released him in the summer. John managed one final spell at Halifax Town
(12 games 0 goals) in 1992-93 where he teamed up again with John McGrath, with the club destined for relegation out of the Football League.
This also marked the end of John's professional playing days, as he went on to join non-league sides Bamber Bridge
.In a career spanning 17 years, John Thomas played 365 league games scoring 123 goals. He is still held in high regard by fans of Preston, Bolton and Chester, the three clubs who benefited most from his predatory goalscoring ability. He now lives in Lostock, Bolton and works as a sports equipment sales executive.
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 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
.
Everton
Born in WednesburyWednesbury
Wednesbury is a market town in England's Black Country, part of the Sandwell metropolitan borough in West Midlands, near the source of the River Tame. Similarly to the word Wednesday, it is pronounced .-Pre-Medieval and Medieval times:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, upon leaving school in 1974 Thomas signed for 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...
as a trainee but in six years with the club failed to make a single appearance although two loan spells with Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
(11 games 2 goals) in 1978-79 and also with Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
(5 games 0 goals) the following season showed that John was no doubt capable of playing in the lower reaches of the league.
Bolton Wanderers
After Everton released him at the end of the 1979-80 season John signed for newly relegated Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
hoping to cement a regular place in the starting line-up and thus kick starting his career.His two years at Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
were however rather stop-start with John struggling to hold a regular place down in the team.He did though in his time at the club manage to play 22 league games scoring 6 goals.
Chester City and Lincoln City
After Bolton gave John a free transfer he signed in July 1982 for fourth division Chester CityChester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
. In his only season at Sealand Road John became a real favourite with the fans, comfortably finishing as the club's top scorer with 20 goals in 44 league games. He was also unsurprisingly voted Chester's player of the season. It was however a shock to the club's fans when the cash strapped club were forced to sell their prize asset to Division Three side Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
for £22,000 after just one season.
His time with The Imps was however a mixed affair with John struggling to find the net with any great regularity and although in his two seasons with the club he netted 18 times in 67 games it therefore came as no surprise when at the end 1984-85 they decided to cash in by selling him to recently relegated Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
for £15,000. In his last game for Lincoln he was to witness a nightmare when 56 spectators were killed in a horrendous stand fire while playing Bradford City.
Preston North End
John's stay at Preston started badly, for although John was scoring regularly and forming a potent strike partnership with Gary BrazilGary Brazil
Gary Nicholas Brazil is a former professional footballer and football manager in the English football league....
, the team as a whole were performing woefully badly finishing the 1985-86 season
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
in 91st position, therefore having to apply for re-election. John however did on a personal note finish the season successfully by picking up the clubs official player of the year
Preston North End Player of the Year Award Winners
Winners of the official Preston North End F.C. Player of the Year Award since its inception in 1967–68:...
award for 1985-86.
The following season was however a different story. With a new artificial pitch laid and John McGrath at the helm Preston stormed to promotion with John finishing the season as the clubs leading scorer. The rumour however of a fall out with manager McGrath only increased with Thomas being dropped several times during the season to be replaced by the likes of Nigel Jemson
Nigel Jemson
Nigel Jemson is an English footballer, who represented his country at the Under-21 level and was the manager of Ilkeston Town, until May 2008...
, Frank Worthington
Frank Worthington
Frank Stewart Worthington is a former English footballer. Frank was born into a footballing family in Shelf near Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire. Both of his parents had played the game and his two older brothers, Dave and Bob, became professional footballers, both began their careers with...
and Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
. He did though every time regain his place in the team, ending the season with an excellent 28 goals. At the end of his contract in July 1987 he was sold much to the fans dismay to Bolton Wanderers for a bargain £30,000 after finding the net 38 times in just 78 games.
Return to Bolton Wanderers
His second spell at Bolton was far more successful than his first. In 1987-881987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
Thomas enjoyed his second successive Division Four promotion, before a comfortable mid-table finish in Division Three the following season. He was club top-scorer in both seasons, scoring 31 times in 73 games before deciding in July 1989 to sign for his boyhood heroes 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...
on a free transfer.
John however spent the majority of his short stay at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
on the bench managing just 1 goal in 19 games although he did score a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 5-3 victory for the Baggies
Baggies
Baggies may refer to:* Baggies, made by Pactiv Corporation, were the first brand of food storage bags. Twist-tie-sealed bags that keep food fresh, they are available in quart , gallon and 2-gallon bags...
in a Football 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...
tie against Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
at Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
. Soon after however the call came from struggling Preston in February 1990.
Return to Preston North End
After signing for £50,000 and helping North End to beat the drop, hopes for the following season were high. But a broken leg on his return to Bolton Wanderers scuppered these hopes.Despite recovering from his injury John to struggle to reach the same level again and after just 27 more games and another six goals, he was transferred to fellow Division Three side Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in March 1992. One goal in seven games was all John could manage at United before they in turn released him in the summer. John managed one final spell at Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
(12 games 0 goals) in 1992-93 where he teamed up again with John McGrath, with the club destined for relegation out of the Football League.
This also marked the end of John's professional playing days, as he went on to join non-league sides Bamber Bridge
Bamber Bridge F.C.
Bamber Bridge F.C. are an English football club based in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. They currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One North and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association. They play their home games at the QED Stadium in Bamber Bridge...
.In a career spanning 17 years, John Thomas played 365 league games scoring 123 goals. He is still held in high regard by fans of Preston, Bolton and Chester, the three clubs who benefited most from his predatory goalscoring ability. He now lives in Lostock, Bolton and works as a sports equipment sales executive.