Mitchell Thomas
Encyclopedia
Mitchell Thomas is a retired English
football defender. Whilst at Tottenham Hotspur
he started in the 1987 FA Cup Final
.
brought Mitchell Thomas into the Luton Town
side from Limbury
boys club in 1982.
In 1985 Mitchell played in the home game against Millwall infamous for the Kenilworth Road riot
.
In 1985/86 Mitchell played three games for England U21s in the European U21 championships. He played in a qualifier and one leg each of the quarter and semi finals, with two of his Luton Town colleagues Tim Breacker
and Mike Newell
.
Mitchell Thomas was sold to Tottenham in July 1986 for a fee of £275,000, following same movement of manager David Pleat
. After his spell at Tottenham during which he played in the 1987 FA Cup Final
. Mitchell moved to West Ham Utd
in August 1991 for £500,000 joining former Luton team mate Tim Breacker
.
On transfer deadline day in March 1994, he returned to Luton Town on a free transfer,and he stayed there until the club went into receivership over the summer of 1999 and were forced to sell many players. Stan Ternent
signed Mitchell, for Burnley
, for the start of the 1999-2000 season
, which they ended by winning promotion. He remained at Turf Moor
until retiring as a player in 2002.
to Tottenham Hotspur
and Shaun Wright-Phillips
to Chelsea
.
Mitchell himself was also embroiled in a controversy of this type when he, himself, transferred to Tottenham Hotspur
.
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...
football defender. Whilst at Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
he started in the 1987 FA Cup Final
1987 FA Cup Final
The 1987 FA Cup Final took place on 16 May 1987 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs were appearing in their third final in seven seasons, having won the trophy in 1981 and 1982 and were strong favourites, while unfancied Coventry were appearing...
.
Playing career
David PleatDavid Pleat
David John Pleat is an English football player turned manager and sports commentator.He is remembered by his contemporaries primarily for his career as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town football clubs, and for an oft-televised clip of him running onto the pitch in 1983 to celebrate after...
brought Mitchell Thomas into the 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...
side from Limbury
Limbury
Limbury, or using the full name Limbury-cum-Biscot, was a civil parish in Bedfordshire before becoming part of Luton and has a long history dating back before the Norman conquest of England....
boys club in 1982.
In 1985 Mitchell played in the home game against Millwall infamous for the Kenilworth Road riot
1985 Kenilworth Road riot
The 1985 Kenilworth Road riot occurred at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road ground before, during and after an FA Cup sixth-round match between Luton Town and Millwall on 13 March 1985. It was one of the worst incidents of football hooliganism during the 1980s, and led to a ban on away supporters by...
.
In 1985/86 Mitchell played three games for England U21s in the European U21 championships. He played in a qualifier and one leg each of the quarter and semi finals, with two of his Luton Town colleagues Tim Breacker
Tim Breacker
Tim Breacker is an ex-footballer and now football coach with a UEFA Pro A licence.Tim started his career as an apprentice at Luton Town. He eventually graduated to the first team where he had a long and successful spell accumulating 210 appearances...
and Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
.
Mitchell Thomas was sold to Tottenham in July 1986 for a fee of £275,000, following same movement of manager David Pleat
David Pleat
David John Pleat is an English football player turned manager and sports commentator.He is remembered by his contemporaries primarily for his career as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town football clubs, and for an oft-televised clip of him running onto the pitch in 1983 to celebrate after...
. After his spell at Tottenham during which he played in the 1987 FA Cup Final
1987 FA Cup Final
The 1987 FA Cup Final took place on 16 May 1987 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs were appearing in their third final in seven seasons, having won the trophy in 1981 and 1982 and were strong favourites, while unfancied Coventry were appearing...
. Mitchell moved to West Ham Utd
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in August 1991 for £500,000 joining former Luton team mate Tim Breacker
Tim Breacker
Tim Breacker is an ex-footballer and now football coach with a UEFA Pro A licence.Tim started his career as an apprentice at Luton Town. He eventually graduated to the first team where he had a long and successful spell accumulating 210 appearances...
.
On transfer deadline day in March 1994, he returned to Luton Town on a free transfer,and he stayed there until the club went into receivership over the summer of 1999 and were forced to sell many players. Stan Ternent
Stan Ternent
Francis Stanley "Stan" Ternent is an English former footballer and manager. He managed Blackpool, Hull City, Bury, Burnley, Gillingham and Huddersfield Town. He is currently a scout for Sunderland.-Career:...
signed Mitchell, 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...
, for the start of the 1999-2000 season
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
, which they ended by winning promotion. He remained at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
until retiring as a player in 2002.
Since Retirement
Since retirement from playing, Mitchell has played a part in the transfer of several players. His role has been somewhat controversial resulting in investigations into the transfers of Jermain DefoeJermain Defoe
Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....
to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and Shaun Wright-Phillips
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Shaun Cameron Wright-Phillips is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers and the England national team. He is the adopted son of former England international, Ian Wright and the half-brother of fellow professional football player Bradley Wright-Phillips...
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...
.
Mitchell himself was also embroiled in a controversy of this type when he, himself, transferred to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
External sources
- http://www.lutonfc.com/greatestever.asp Luton sell Mitchell.
- http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/feat/ed94/goodbye_to_mitchell_48548/index.shtml "Goodbye to Mitchell" from Clarets-Mad.
- http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/feat/ed35/mitchell_thomas_312348/index.shtml Mitchell Thomas at Clarets-Mad.
- http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=7884 Mitchel at soccerbase.