James Thomas (footballer)
Encyclopedia
James Thomas is a Welsh
former professional footballer
who last played for Dandenong Thunder
in the Victorian Premier League
which is one tier below Australia's national competition. He represented Wales
at Under-21
level.
Thomas began his career as a trainee with Blackburn Rovers
, turning professional in August 1997. He struggled to establish himself at Ewood Park
and was loaned to a number of clubs before being released at the end of the 2001–02 season. In May 2002 he joined Swansea City
and quickly established himself in the first team. He is fondly remembered for the hat-trick he scored in a 4–2 victory over Hull
on the last day of the 2002–03 season to save his hometown club from relegation to the Football Conference
. With Swansea he became Wales' most capped player at Under-21 level and was called up to the full squad for the match away to Azerbaijan
in November 2002, but did not get to play.
He later suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the game for two years. He joined Llanelli
in August 2006. After a short time playing in Australia, he returned to Wales where he now works as an ambulance driver.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who last played for Dandenong Thunder
Dandenong Thunder
Dandenong Thunder SC is a football club from Dandenong, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They are an Albanian Australian-backed club. From the 2009 season they compete in the Victorian Premier League, which is one tier below the A-League...
in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
which is one tier below Australia's national competition. He represented Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
at Under-21
Wales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
level.
Thomas began his career as a trainee with Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, turning professional in August 1997. He struggled to establish himself at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
and was loaned to a number of clubs before being released at the end of the 2001–02 season. In May 2002 he joined Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
and quickly established himself in the first team. He is fondly remembered for the hat-trick he scored in a 4–2 victory over Hull
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...
on the last day of the 2002–03 season to save his hometown club from relegation to the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
. With Swansea he became Wales' most capped player at Under-21 level and was called up to the full squad for the match away to Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan national football team
The Azerbaijan national football team is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...
in November 2002, but did not get to play.
He later suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the game for two years. He joined Llanelli
Llanelli A.F.C.
Llanelli Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club that plays in the Welsh Premier League for the 2010–11 season. The team has been based at Stebonheath Park since 1920, and as of 2009 is managed by Andy Legg....
in August 2006. After a short time playing in Australia, he returned to Wales where he now works as an ambulance driver.