John Thomas (footballer)

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Born Wednesbury, West Midlands, August 8, 1958 John Thomas was an English professional footballer who plied his trade in the lower reaches of the English Football League.

Contents 1 Starting at Everton 2 Bolton Wanderers 3 Chester and Lincoln 4 Preston North End 5 Bolton again 6 Back at Preston

[edit] Starting at Everton

Upon leaving school in 1976 Thomas signed for Everton as a trainee but in four years with the club failed to make a single appearance although two loan spells with Tranmere Rovers (11 games 2 goals) in 1978-79 and also with Halifax Town (5 games 0 goals) the following season showed just how capable John was of playing in the lower reaches of the league.

[edit] Bolton Wanderers

After Everton released him at the end of the 1970-80 season John signed for newly relegated Bolton Wanderers hoping to cement a regular place in the starting line-up and thus kick starting his career.His two years at Burnden Park were however rather stop-start with John struggling to hold a regular place down in the team.He did though in his time at the club manage to play 22 league games scoring 6 goals.

[edit] Chester and Lincoln

After Bolton gave John a free transfer he signed in July 1982 for fourth division Chester City.In his only season at Sealand Road John became a real favourite with the fans finishing as the clubs top scorer with 20 goals in 44 league games.It was however a shock to the clubs fans when the cash strapped club were forced to sell there prize asset to Lincoln City for £22,000 after just one season.

His time with The Imps was however a mixed affair with John struggling to find the net with any great regularity and although in his two seasons with the club he netted 18 times in 67 games it therefore came as no surprise when at the end 1984-85 they decided to cash in by selling him to recently relegated Preston North End for £15,000.

[edit] Preston North End

His stay at Preston started badly though for although John was scoring regularly and forming a potent strike partnership with Gary Brazil the team as a whole were performing woefully badly finishing the 1985-86 season in 91st position,therefore having to apply for re-election. John however did on a personal note finish the season successfully by picking up the clubs official player of the year award for 1985-86.

The following season was however a different story.With a new artificial pitch laid and John McGrath at the helm Preston stormed to promotion with John finishing the season as the clubs leading scorer.The rumour however of a fall out with manager McGrath only increased with Thomas being dropped several times during the season to be replaced by the likes of Nigel Jemson, Frank Worthington and Steve Taylor.He did though every time regain his place in the team ending the season with an excellent 28 goals.He was though at the end of his contract sold much to the fans dismay to Bolton Wanderers for a bargain £30,000 after finding the net 38 times in just 78 games.

[edit] Bolton again

His second spell at Bolton was far more successful than his first with the club gaining promotion in his first season and then finishing comfortably in mid table the following campaign with John ending both seasons as the clubs top scorer.Indeed John found the net 31 times in 73 games before deciding in July 1989 to sign for his boyhood heroes West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer.John however spent the majority of his short stay at The Hawthorns on the bench managing just 1 goal in 19 games before the call came from struggling Preston in February 1990.

[edit] Back at Preston

After signing for £50,000 and helping North End to beat the drop hopes for the following season were high but a serious injury at Bolton Wanderers when John badly broke his leg scuppered these hopes.Despite recovering from his injury John was never the same again and after just 27 more games for Preston in which he scored another 6 goals he was transferred to Hartlepool United in March 1992.One goal in seven games was all John could manage at United before they in turn released him.John managed one final spell at Halifax Town(12 games 0 goals) in 1992-93 before deciding to hang up his boots.John ended his playing days at non-league Bamber Bridge.In a career spanning 17 years John Thomas played 365 league games scoring 123 goals and is still held in high regard by fans of Preston, Bolton and Chester the three clubs who benefited most from his predatory goalscoring ability.