Mickey Thomas (footballer)

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For other people with the same name, see Mickey Thomas (disambiguation).

Personal information
Mickey Thomas
Full name	Michael Reginald Thomas
Date of birth	7 July 1954
Place of birth	Mochdre, Wales
Playing position	Winger
Club information
Current club	Retired
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1972-1978 1978-1981 1981 1981-1982 1982-1984 1984-1985 1985-1986 1986 1986-1988 1988-1989 1989-1990 1990-1991 1991-1993	Wrexham Manchester United Everton Brighton & Hove Albion Stoke City Chelsea West Bromwich Albion Derby County (loan) Wichita Wings Shrewsbury Town Leeds United Stoke City Wrexham	230 (33) 90 (11) 10 (0) 20 (0) 57 (14) 44 (9) 20 (0) 9 (0) n/a 40 (1) 3 (0) 46 (7) 34 (2)
National team
1976-1986	Wales	51 (4)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Mickey Thomas (born July 7, 1954 in Mochdre, Wales), is a former football player. As a Welsh international, he made 51 appearances and scored four goals

[edit] Biography

Mickey Thomas was among a group of notable footballers to come out of North West Wales during the 1980s. Local factory Quinton Hazell bought him a pair of boots, and at the age of 13 Thomas was a success as left wing on the factory's Conwy League men's team. By 15, he and friend Joey Jones were taken on by Wrexham A.F.C. Though the first two years were spent cleaning boots, the changing rooms and the whole stadium, by 17 Thomas was chosen to play in the first XI. Under manager John Neal he helped Wrexham establish their giant-killing reputation by reaching the quarter finals of the FA Cup in 1974 and the quarter finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1976, when they lost to the eventual champions, Anderlecht.

After helping Wrexham storm to the Third Division Championship, Thomas crossed the border to England and joined Manchester United. He played 110 games and scored 15 goals for the Red Devils before moving on to Everton (who he supported as a boy), Brighton, Stoke City and Chelsea. There he helped the London Blues become second division champions before playing for various teams in the English League, finally returning to Wrexham in 1991, where in the memorable FA cup defeat of Arsenal in January 1992, Thomas scored the equalising goal from a free kick. Mickey Thomas also gained 51 caps for Wales, and counts scoring a goal in Wales' s 4-1 defeat of England as one of the most memorable moments of his career.

In 1993 Thomas was jailed for 18 months for his part in a counterfeit currency scam. ^[1]

On his release from prison he played for both Porthmadog F.C. and Amlwch Town F.C. before finally retiring, apart from the occasional appearances at Masters tournaments held for retired footballers.

Thomas currently hosts a radio talk show. He has also made several television appearances, and is a popular speaker on the after-dinner circuit.