Tommy Thompson (footballer born 1938)
Encyclopedia
Thomas William "Tommy" Thompson (born 9 March 1938) is an English former professional footballer. He spent nine years at Blackpool
in the 1960s, making over 150 Football League
appearances for the club. He played as a defender
, specifically at full-back. He also played briefly for York City
.
's Blackpool, in August of the 1961–62 season, from Stockton
, making his debut on 14 October in a 2–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers
at Bloomfield Road
. He went on to make a further five league appearances for the club that season. He also made two appearances in their FA Cup
campaign, as they reached the semi-finals stage.
The following season, 1962–63, Thompson made three league starts, his only appearances of the campaign.
In 1963–64, with his chances again limited, he made eight league appearances.
It was in 1964–65, however, that he made his breakthrough as a first-team regular. He replaced the departed Barrie Martin
at left-back, and went on to appear in 43 of Blackpool's 45 league and cup games.
Thompson scored his only goal for the club in 1965–66, in a 5–3 home League victory over Arsenal
on 16 October, en route to making 36 appearances.
He switched between the left- and right-back berths throughout 1966–67, deputising in the latter position when Jimmy Armfield
was unavailable. He made 36 league, one FA Cup and four League Cup
appearances.
1967–68 was Stan Mortensen
's first full season in charge of Blackpool, after replacing Ron Suart two-thirds of the way through the previous term, and he gave twelve starts to Thompson, plus one appearance as substitute. Thompson did, however, appear in both of the club's FA Cup ties and one of their three League Cup fixtures.
Thompson's final season at Blackpool, 1968–69, saw his make sixteen league appearances, the final one being in a 3–2 defeat at home to Charlton Athletic
on 11 January. He spent the 1969–70 season playing in the reserves. He joined York City
, who were then in the Fourth Division
, in July 1970 and played four games for the team, with these appearances coming after an injury to Chris Topping
after the opening day of the 1970–71 season.
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...
in the 1960s, making over 150 Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
appearances for the club. He played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, specifically at full-back. He also played briefly for York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
.
Career
Thompson signed for Ron SuartRon Suart
Ronald Suart is an English former football player and manager.-Playing days:Suart was a full-back at Blackpool, playing alongside fellow defenders George Farrow and Harry Johnston in a team which also included Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen. Blackpool reached the 1948 FA Cup Final, but Suart...
's Blackpool, in August of the 1961–62 season, from Stockton
Stockton F.C.
Stockton F.C. was an English football club based in Stockton-on-Tees. The club were known as 'The Ancients' because of their long-standing presence in the town. Their traditional colours were red and black quartered shirts with white shorts.-History:...
, making his debut on 14 October in a 2–1 victory over 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....
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 went on to make a further five league appearances for the club that season. He also made two appearances in their FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
campaign, as they reached the semi-finals stage.
The following season, 1962–63, Thompson made three league starts, his only appearances of the campaign.
In 1963–64, with his chances again limited, he made eight league appearances.
It was in 1964–65, however, that he made his breakthrough as a first-team regular. He replaced the departed Barrie Martin
Barrie Martin
Barrie Martin was an English professional footballer. He spent seven years at Blackpool in the 1950s and 1960s, making almost 200 Football League appearances for the club.-Blackpool:...
at left-back, and went on to appear in 43 of Blackpool's 45 league and cup games.
Thompson scored his only goal for the club in 1965–66, in a 5–3 home League victory over 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...
on 16 October, en route to making 36 appearances.
He switched between the left- and right-back berths throughout 1966–67, deputising in the latter position when Jimmy Armfield
Jimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
was unavailable. He made 36 league, one FA Cup and four League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
appearances.
1967–68 was Stan Mortensen
Stan Mortensen
Stanley Harding "Stan" Mortensen was an English professional footballer, most famous for his part in the 1953 FA Cup Final , in which he became the only player ever to score a hat-trick in a Wembley FA Cup Final...
's first full season in charge of Blackpool, after replacing Ron Suart two-thirds of the way through the previous term, and he gave twelve starts to Thompson, plus one appearance as substitute. Thompson did, however, appear in both of the club's FA Cup ties and one of their three League Cup fixtures.
Thompson's final season at Blackpool, 1968–69, saw his make sixteen league appearances, the final one being in a 3–2 defeat at home to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 11 January. He spent the 1969–70 season playing in the reserves. He joined York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, who were then in the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
, in July 1970 and played four games for the team, with these appearances coming after an injury to Chris Topping
Chris Topping
Christopher "Chris" Topping is an English former footballer.-Career:Born in Bubwith, East Riding of Yorkshire, Topping became York City's first ever apprentice professional in 1967. He made his league debut for York in a home game against Newport County on 28 December 1968, aged 17 years old...
after the opening day of the 1970–71 season.