Peter Thompson (Northern Irish footballer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Thompson is a footballer from Northern Ireland currently playing as a striker
for IFA Premiership
champions Linfield
. He has also been capped
by Northern Ireland
.
With his career seemingly going nowhere in 2004–05, Thompson managed to force his way into the team, hitting 27 goals in 43 starts, inspiring Linfield onto an outstanding 'Clean Sweep' of 4 domestic trophies.
He was the Irish League
's top goalscorer in 2005–06, scoring 48 goals in 58 games.
2006–07 season was equally fruitful with 31 goals in 51 games and in his final season with the Irish Champions, he hit a very impressive 44 goals in 48 starts.
2008–09 season he only appeared in 1 competitive match, whem Linfield lost 2–0 to an excellent Dinamo Zagreb side. He did however score 2 goals in 2 friendly games at the start of the season.
On 17 July 2008, Linfield gave Thompson permission to negotiate terms with Stockport County after agreeing a fee for the striker believed to be in the region of £100,000 plus add-ons. Norwich City
were also keen to sign Thompson but could not reach an agreement with Linfield.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Blackburn-news-Pre-season-tour-India-in-doubt-after-deadly-terror-bombs-Mumbai-article768767.html
Thompson left Linfield as a Goalscoring Legend with 152 goals in 235 games, including 33 sub appearances, averaging 1 goal every 1.45 games. Fans bade Thompson an emotional farewell in a flood of messages published on the Linfield website, in which the club branded him one of their greatest players and an exemplary sportsman.
and Luke Beckett
.
Thompson made his début against Liverpool reserves
on 26 July. He did not manage to get on to the scoresheet however he did impress and had one shot cleared off the line and hit the post on another occasion, as Stockport drew 1–1. He did however manage to get on the score sheet in the 86th minute to put Stockport 2–1 up against Manchester City
, before City equalised in stoppage time.
Thompson was dubbed "A Player To Watch" in League 1 by the leading newspapers in the UK and bagged his first competitive Stockport goal in their 2-2 draw at Cheltenham on 27 September 2008.
Despite the promising start, Thompson struggled to adapt to Stockport's tactics, with their point-striker style of play not complementing his attributes. He was forced out of the first team by loan signings better suited to Stockport's tactics, and was hit with a further setback when a chest infection turned serious causing Thompson a collapsed lung. He was unable to return to first-team action until April 2009.
announced on 6 January 2010 that the player had rejoined them on loan from Stockport, because Andrew Cairns wanted him back, until the end of the 2009-10 season. Thompson stated he was honoured to be given the number 9 jersey for his loan at Linfield. Various reports suggest Stockport would owe Linfield more payments for reaching 50 games and the deal was financially amicable for both parties.
On 1 July 2010, Linfield announced that Peter had re-joined the team permanently, on a 3 year deal.
In the 2010–11 season, his first full season back at Linfield, he finished the top goal scorer in the league, with 23 league goals in 34 appearances.
debut against Portugal
in 2005 and has made 8 appearances to date, scoring 1 goal against Georgia
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for IFA Premiership
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
champions Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
. He has also been capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
by Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
.
Linfield
Thompson made his debut for Linfield in the 2001–02 season as a substitute, however the following season, he started 6 games and appeared as a sub on a further 9 occasions, scoring twice . The 2003–04 season was equally un-inspiring with only nine games, all as a sub, and no goals.With his career seemingly going nowhere in 2004–05, Thompson managed to force his way into the team, hitting 27 goals in 43 starts, inspiring Linfield onto an outstanding 'Clean Sweep' of 4 domestic trophies.
He was the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
's top goalscorer in 2005–06, scoring 48 goals in 58 games.
2006–07 season was equally fruitful with 31 goals in 51 games and in his final season with the Irish Champions, he hit a very impressive 44 goals in 48 starts.
2008–09 season he only appeared in 1 competitive match, whem Linfield lost 2–0 to an excellent Dinamo Zagreb side. He did however score 2 goals in 2 friendly games at the start of the season.
On 17 July 2008, Linfield gave Thompson permission to negotiate terms with Stockport County after agreeing a fee for the striker believed to be in the region of £100,000 plus add-ons. Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
were also keen to sign Thompson but could not reach an agreement with Linfield.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Blackburn-news-Pre-season-tour-India-in-doubt-after-deadly-terror-bombs-Mumbai-article768767.html
Thompson left Linfield as a Goalscoring Legend with 152 goals in 235 games, including 33 sub appearances, averaging 1 goal every 1.45 games. Fans bade Thompson an emotional farewell in a flood of messages published on the Linfield website, in which the club branded him one of their greatest players and an exemplary sportsman.
Stockport County
He officially signed for the Cheshire club the following day and was handed the number nine shirt, worn previously by Stockport strikers Kevin Francis, Brett AngellBrett Angell
Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally....
and Luke Beckett
Luke Beckett
Luke John Beckett is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker and is currently without a club. Beckett played in the Football League for ten years notably appearing for Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Oldham Athletic, having also played for Chester City, Chesterfield,...
.
Thompson made his début against Liverpool reserves
Liverpool F.C. Reserves
Liverpool F.C. Reserves are the reserve team of Liverpool.-Reserve team:Liverpool Reserves play in the FA Premier Reserve League. In their division, the reserves became Champions in 2000. They competed in the Lancashire Combination from 1896 to 1911, with the exception of the 1898–99 season, in...
on 26 July. He did not manage to get on to the scoresheet however he did impress and had one shot cleared off the line and hit the post on another occasion, as Stockport drew 1–1. He did however manage to get on the score sheet in the 86th minute to put Stockport 2–1 up against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, before City equalised in stoppage time.
Thompson was dubbed "A Player To Watch" in League 1 by the leading newspapers in the UK and bagged his first competitive Stockport goal in their 2-2 draw at Cheltenham on 27 September 2008.
Despite the promising start, Thompson struggled to adapt to Stockport's tactics, with their point-striker style of play not complementing his attributes. He was forced out of the first team by loan signings better suited to Stockport's tactics, and was hit with a further setback when a chest infection turned serious causing Thompson a collapsed lung. He was unable to return to first-team action until April 2009.
Back to Linfield
LinfieldLinfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
announced on 6 January 2010 that the player had rejoined them on loan from Stockport, because Andrew Cairns wanted him back, until the end of the 2009-10 season. Thompson stated he was honoured to be given the number 9 jersey for his loan at Linfield. Various reports suggest Stockport would owe Linfield more payments for reaching 50 games and the deal was financially amicable for both parties.
On 1 July 2010, Linfield announced that Peter had re-joined the team permanently, on a 3 year deal.
In the 2010–11 season, his first full season back at Linfield, he finished the top goal scorer in the league, with 23 league goals in 34 appearances.
International career
With his prolific goalscoring at club level, he made his Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
debut against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
in 2005 and has made 8 appearances to date, scoring 1 goal against Georgia
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
.
International goals
Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 March 2008 | Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... |
4-1 | 4-1 | Friendly |