Steve Thompson (footballer born 1964)
Encyclopedia
Steven James "Steve" Thompson (born 2 November 1964) is a retired English
footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently the assistant manager at Blackpool
.
before signing his first contract in 1982, and was at the club until 1991 playing in a total of 410 games, and scoring 57 goals in all competitions. On 13 August 1991 he signed for Luton Town
for £180,000. However, his stay with the Hatters was short-lived, he made just five league appearances before moving to Leicester City
two months later on 22 October where he played in 121 league games scoring six goals. He won the Player of the Season award twice while with the Foxes and would later describe his time with the club as probably the best three years as a footballer there.
On 24 February 1995 he moved to Burnley
for a £200,000 transfer fee where he made 49 league appearances, scoring one goal before leaving at the end of the 1996–97 season
. On 1 August 1997 he signed for Rotherham United
where he made 106 league appearances, and scored fourteen goals. In the 2000–01 season
he joined Halifax Town
where he spent one season, playing 36 games and scoring two goals. He then spent a season with Leigh RMI before retiring from football.
as Blackpool's manager Thompson was promoted to first team coach in 2006, and he coached the team in the 2006–07 season as the Seasiders were promoted to the Championship
, making their first return to the second tier of English football for 29 years. In March 2008 he signed a new two year extension to his contract at Bloomfield Road
. He also manages the Blackpool reserve team.
In December 2008 following the departure of the Seasiders manager Simon Grayson
to Leeds United
, Thompson became the assistant manager on a caretaker basis, with Tony Parkes
as the caretaker manager
. After Parkes' first game in charge, a 1–1 Boxing Day
draw against Sheffield Wednesday
at Hillsborough, Parkes revealed that the Blackpool board was willing to give him the job full-time, with Thompson as his assistant, if the team continue to perform as they did under Grayson. Speaking of his role as assistant manager at what he considers to be his hometown club, Thompson said, "I am enjoying the responsibility and myself and Tony have been bouncing ideas off each other. Tony will probably make the major decisions but I am enjoying it because it is the club that I love. I am a local lad and I am just as excited doing what I'm doing now as Simon Grayson probably is at Leeds." When Ian Holloway
became Blackpool manager in summer 2009, Thompson stayed on as his assistant.
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...
footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently the assistant manager at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
Playing career
Thompson started his playing career as an apprentice at 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....
before signing his first contract in 1982, and was at the club until 1991 playing in a total of 410 games, and scoring 57 goals in all competitions. On 13 August 1991 he signed for 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...
for £180,000. However, his stay with the Hatters was short-lived, he made just five league appearances before moving to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
two months later on 22 October where he played in 121 league games scoring six goals. He won the Player of the Season award twice while with the Foxes and would later describe his time with the club as probably the best three years as a footballer there.
On 24 February 1995 he moved to 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 a £200,000 transfer fee where he made 49 league appearances, scoring one goal before leaving at the end of the 1996–97 season
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
. On 1 August 1997 he signed for Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
where he made 106 league appearances, and scored fourteen goals. In the 2000–01 season
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
he joined 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...
where he spent one season, playing 36 games and scoring two goals. He then spent a season with Leigh RMI before retiring from football.
Coaching career
Thompson started coaching with the Centre of Excellence at Blackpool before becoming Head of the Youth Department in 2005. Following the appointment of Simon GraysonSimon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
as Blackpool's manager Thompson was promoted to first team coach in 2006, and he coached the team in the 2006–07 season as the Seasiders were promoted to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, making their first return to the second tier of English football for 29 years. In March 2008 he signed a new two year extension to his contract at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
. He also manages the Blackpool reserve team.
In December 2008 following the departure of the Seasiders manager Simon Grayson
Simon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Thompson became the assistant manager on a caretaker basis, with Tony Parkes
Tony Parkes
Anthony "Tony" Parkes is an English former professional footballer. After retiring, he became a coach. He was most recently caretaker manager at Blackpool. It was the seventh such role of his coaching career, having performed the role on six occasions for...
as the caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
. After Parkes' first game in charge, a 1–1 Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
draw against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
at Hillsborough, Parkes revealed that the Blackpool board was willing to give him the job full-time, with Thompson as his assistant, if the team continue to perform as they did under Grayson. Speaking of his role as assistant manager at what he considers to be his hometown club, Thompson said, "I am enjoying the responsibility and myself and Tony have been bouncing ideas off each other. Tony will probably make the major decisions but I am enjoying it because it is the club that I love. I am a local lad and I am just as excited doing what I'm doing now as Simon Grayson probably is at Leeds." When Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway
Ian Scott Holloway is an English football manager and former player. He became the manager of Blackpool in May 2009. Holloway is well-known amongst football fans for his off-the-wall interviews, with a wide selection of quotes and soundbites being printed. Holloway's playing career spanned 18...
became Blackpool manager in summer 2009, Thompson stayed on as his assistant.