Leonard Thompson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Leonard Thompson was an English professional footballer. He was born in Sheffield as the next to youngest child of Arthur William Thompson and Annie Willy. Too young to go to war, Thompson was encouraged to play for Sheffield school.
in 1917 as a 16-year-old amateur, he was on a trial and he managed to play in the afternoon match after the inside left was unable to; he scored a hat trick. He turned professional upon moving to Birmingham
in 1918, a move he regretted later, as Manchester United and Liverpool FC were both looking to sign him. After this brief spell he moved to Swansea Town
in 1922. In six seasons with Swansea he played nearly 200 league games scoring almost 100 goals as an inside forward
, asgot part of the so called "great little team" (being lower than average height), winning a Third Division South
winners' medal in 1924–25, scoring the final goal to take them into the second division.
In Swansea's first season in the Second Division
, his 19 goals helped Swansea finish in fifth place in the league. He also featured prominently in Swansea's 1925–26 FA Cup
run in which they reached the semi-final
, where they were beaten 3–0 by the eventual winners, Bolton Wanderers
. During the cup run, Thompson scored four goals, including the opening goal against Arsenal
in a 2–1 victory in round 6 (quarter finals).
The following season, Thompson was the club's leading goalscorer with 26 league and four cup goals, including a hat-trick on 8 January 1927 in a 4–1 FA Cup victory against Bury
.
On 17 March 1928 he was signed by Arsenal
for £4,000 but his career at Arsenal was plagued by a knee injury. He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat by Portsmouth
on 28 March 1928 and at first shared the inside left position with Harold Peel, playing 17 times in 1928–29, scoring five goals as the side's penalty expert. However with his injury restricting him, despite many operations, he only made nine more appearances in four seasons for Arsenal, and spent most of his time there regularly coaching the reserve team and under him they were the London Combination Champions from 1928–1931, and they won the London FA Challenge cup in 1930-1. After not making any appearances at all in 1932–33 he left Arsenal for Crystal Palace
, having made 27 appearances and having scored six goals in total. He retired from professional football the following season.
After Thompson retired, he reinstated as an amateur briefly at Islington Corinthians
and later coached Tottenham Hotspur
's reserve team, as well as a spell as a scout with Arsenal. Between 1947 and 1956 he was Arsenal's so called 'man in black' who watched the team arsenal was to play the next week, he featured in advertisements for Sandeman's Port, but no one ever discovered his identity, even when the daily express got a picture of him. On 26 August 1968 Len Thompson died of a heart attack aged 67.
Playing career
Thompson first joined BarnsleyBarnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in 1917 as a 16-year-old amateur, he was on a trial and he managed to play in the afternoon match after the inside left was unable to; he scored a hat trick. He turned professional upon moving to Birmingham
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...
in 1918, a move he regretted later, as Manchester United and Liverpool FC were both looking to sign him. After this brief spell he moved to Swansea Town
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...
in 1922. In six seasons with Swansea he played nearly 200 league games scoring almost 100 goals as an inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
, asgot part of the so called "great little team" (being lower than average height), winning a Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
winners' medal in 1924–25, scoring the final goal to take them into the second division.
In Swansea's first season in the 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...
, his 19 goals helped Swansea finish in fifth place in the league. He also featured prominently in Swansea's 1925–26 FA Cup
FA Cup 1925–26
The FA Cup 1925–26 was the 51st staging of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup...
run in which they reached the semi-final
FA Cup Semi-finals
The FA Cup Semi-finals are played to determine which teams will contest the FA Cup Final. They are the penultimate phase of the FA Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world.- Location :...
, where they were beaten 3–0 by the eventual winners, 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....
. During the cup run, Thompson scored four goals, including the opening goal against 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...
in a 2–1 victory in round 6 (quarter finals).
The following season, Thompson was the club's leading goalscorer with 26 league and four cup goals, including a hat-trick on 8 January 1927 in a 4–1 FA Cup victory against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
.
On 17 March 1928 he was signed by 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...
for £4,000 but his career at Arsenal was plagued by a knee injury. He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat by 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...
on 28 March 1928 and at first shared the inside left position with Harold Peel, playing 17 times in 1928–29, scoring five goals as the side's penalty expert. However with his injury restricting him, despite many operations, he only made nine more appearances in four seasons for Arsenal, and spent most of his time there regularly coaching the reserve team and under him they were the London Combination Champions from 1928–1931, and they won the London FA Challenge cup in 1930-1. After not making any appearances at all in 1932–33 he left Arsenal for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, having made 27 appearances and having scored six goals in total. He retired from professional football the following season.
After Thompson retired, he reinstated as an amateur briefly at Islington Corinthians
Islington Corinthians
The Islington Corinthians Football Club were an English association football club, now defunct.Islington Corinthians were founded in 1932 by Tom Smith, formerly of Tufnell Park, in order to raise money for local charities...
and later coached 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....
's reserve team, as well as a spell as a scout with Arsenal. Between 1947 and 1956 he was Arsenal's so called 'man in black' who watched the team arsenal was to play the next week, he featured in advertisements for Sandeman's Port, but no one ever discovered his identity, even when the daily express got a picture of him. On 26 August 1968 Len Thompson died of a heart attack aged 67.
Honours
Swansea Town- Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
winners: 1926–27