Zephaniah Thomas

Zephaniah Thomas
Personal information
Full name Zephaniah Joseph Thomas[1]
Date of birth (1989-11-14) 14 November 1989
Place of birth Bradford, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Frickley Athletic
Youth career
0000–2008 Rotherham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 Ilkeston Town
2009 Emley
2009–2010 Harrogate Town
2009 → Harrogate Railway Athletic (loan)
2010 Garden City Broncbusters
2010 Parkgate
2010–2011 Rossington Main
2011 Stocksbridge Park Steels
2011–2012 Rossington Main
2012 Montegnée
2012–2013 Cowdenbeath 5 (0)
2013 Thunder Bay Chill 12 (1)
2013–2014 Sheffield
2014 Mickleover Sports
2014 Scarborough Athletic
2014 Matlock Town
2014 Goole
2014–2015 Boston United
2014–2015 → Sheffield (dual registration)
2015 Frickley Athletic
2015–2016 Mickleover Sports
2016 Rossington Main
2016–2017 Mickleover Sports
2017 Shaw Lane
2017 Stafford Rangers
2017– Frickley Athletic
National team‡
2012– Saint Kitts and Nevis 17 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 02:00, 20 November 2014 (UTC)[1][3].
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:39, 7 October 2016 (UTC)[4]

Zephaniah Joseph Thomas (born 14 November 1989) is a footballer who currently plays as a forward for Frickley Athletic and the Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team.

He is a former Rotherham United youth player who has also played non-league football with several clubs including Harrogate Town and Rossington Main, while also having an intermediate spell in the United States. Before he turned professional joining Belgian club Montegnée followed by a spell in Scottish First Division with Cowdenbeath. He then moved to North America for a second time playing for Canadian side Thunder Bay Chill before returning to English football.

Club career

Early career

Thomas who was born in Bradford started his career as a youth player at Rotherham United but left the club in 2008 having not appeared for the senior team.[5] Following his release he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Ilkeston Town.[6] After spending a few months with them he moved on to Emley before joining Harrogate Town.[7] While at the Conference North side he was loaned out to local club Harrogate Railway Athletic.[8] He then moved to the United States with fellow Englishman Jason Stokes to study at Garden City Community College while playing for their soccer team.[9] However things didn't work out and he returned to England.[10] Thomas then played for Parkgate before leaving them to join Rossington Main in November 2010.[11] At the start 2011–12 season he joined Stocksbridge Park Steels for a short period before rejoining Rossington Main who he went on to make twenty appearances for, scoring ten goals.[10][12] In December 2012, he signed a full-time professional contract with Belgian side Montegnée having been spotted by scout Simon O'Neill.[5] He played his last game for Northern Counties East Football League side Rossington on 2 January 2012 against Appleby Frodingham before moving to Belgium.[13] After six months with the Belgian Promotion D team, Thomas returned to England and was again looking for a new club while playing Sunday league football with Swinton WMC.[14]

Cowdenbeath

On 22 August 2012, Thomas joined Scottish First Division side Cowdenbeath.[15] He signed a one-year contract with the recently promoted side following a trial.[15] He made his first appearance for the club just three days later at home to Hamilton Academical, coming off the bench as a substitute.[16] After just a month with the club having made just three substitute appearances, he was selected by the Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team.[17] His only start came against league leaders Partick Thistle at Firhill Stadium, with Cowdenbeath suffering a 2–1 defeat.[18] Cowdenbeath boss Colin Cameron placed Thomas on the transfer list in early January 2013 and only a matter of days later he was released by club.[19][20] After leaving Cowdenbeath, Thomas started working in a call centre.[21]

Thunder Bay Chill

In March 2013, it was announced Thomas had agreed to join Canadian side Thunder Bay Chill.[21] Thomas linked up with his new club in May 2013 but was ruled out of pre-season due to a groin injury.[22] He also missed the opening games of the season against WSA Winnipeg.[23] On 1 June, he made his début for Thunder Bay in 2–0 victory over Des Moines Menace at Fort William Stadium.[24] In the next match versus St. Louis Lions which Thunder Bay won 3–0, Thomas provided an assist for teammate Sunny Omoregie to score.[25] He set up a further two goals for his colleagues against Springfield Demize and Kansas City Brass.[26][27] Thomas got his only goal for Thunder Bay in the penultimate game of the regular season.[28]

Sheffield

Thomas returned to England following the expiration of his contract with Thunder Bay Chill and trained with Tranmere Rovers.[29] His international clearance was delayed and therefore missed out on the chance to play for their reserve side.[29] Ian Whitehorne, manager of Sheffield who play in the Northern Premier League Division One South, invited him for a trial.[29] Thomas scored in his trial match and ultimately signed for the club at the beginning of September 2013.[30]

Boston United

In October 2014, Thomas was offered a trial with Boston United having scored twice for his national side in September.[31] In the trial he played for the Pilgrims' under-21 side against Horncastle Town, scoring a hat-trick.[31][32] He joined the Conference North side on non-contract terms days later.[32]

Mickleover Sports

In October 2016 he re-signed for Rossington Main from Mickleover Sports,[33] having been with the latter since 2015.[34] He scored on his third debut, against Grimsby Borough in the Northern Counties East Football League on 15 October 2016, but the spell with The Colliery was short-lived as he returned to Mickleover Sports in time for the FA Trophy game at Leamington on 29 October 2016.[35] He transferred to Shaw Lane in February 2017,[36] Stafford Rangers in March 2017 and Frickley Athletic later that same month.[37]

International career

"I've gone from playing for Rossington Main to playing for Swinton WMC on Sundays then to Belgium then this pre-season struggling for a club but thankfully Cowdenbeath FC showed faith in me and now I am going on international duty respect everyone for the nice comments."

—Thomas speaking after receiving an international call-up.[17]

Thomas got in touch with the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association to make them aware of his eligibility through contact Des Hazel, a former St. Kitts international.[29] The FA reviewed some footage of Thomas and in September 2012, Thomas received an international call-up from Saint Kitts and Nevis to represent them in the Caribbean Cup.[29][38] Despite having been born in England, he was eligible for Saint Kitts and Nevis due to his grandfather.[15] He made his international début in a 2–0 victory over Anguilla.[39] He started again in the following match against group favourites Trinidad and Tobago with the match ending in a 1–0 defeat.[40]

Career statistics

International

Saint Kitts and Nevis goal tally first.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Z. Thomas". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Zephaniah Thomas". scottishfootballleague.com. Scottish Football League. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "2013 Statistics". United Soccer Leagues. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Zeph Thomas". CaribbeanFootballDatabase.com. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Main Duo Head for Belgium". albionsports.co.uk. Albion Sports A.F.C. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Howell's late show sees Ilkeston through". Ilkeston Advertiser. Ilkeston. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "Weaver makes late signings". Non League Daily. 10 August 2009. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Rail' eye upset against Aspin and the Shaymen". Harrogate Advertiser. Harrogate. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Kessinger, Mike (6 May 2012). "GCCC men's soccer signs 12 players". The Garden City Telegram. Kansas. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Moving on from Main". ncefl.org.uk. Northern Counties East Football League. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  11. ↑ Murden, Pete (26 November 2010). "Saturday 20th November, 2010". Rossington Main F.C. Pitchero. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "Marrow signs two". Non League Daily. 31 July 2011. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  13. ↑ Lodge, Daniel (3 January 2012). "Away win against App Frodd". Rossington Main F.C. Pitchero. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  14. ↑ "Former Main Striker Gets International Call-Up". ncefl.org.uk. Northern Counties East Football League. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  15. 1 2 3 "Cowden Sign Striker". cowdenbeathfc.com. Cowdenbeath F.C. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  16. ↑ "Cowdenbeath FC 1 Hamilton Academical FC 0". cowdenbeathfc.com. Cowdenbeath F.C. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  17. 1 2 Murden, Pete (21 September 2012). "Former Colliery Man in International Call-Up". Rossington Main F.C. Pitchero. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "League leaders made to work for win". Central Fife Times. Fife. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  19. ↑ "Thomas to leave Central Park". ClubCall. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Ruben Departs". cowdenbeathfc.com. Cowdenbeath F.C. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  21. 1 2 Crossman, Steve (23 March 2013). "Zeph Thomas: International football to call centre in five months". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  22. ↑ Villagracia, Reuben (18 May 2013). "Chill hoping for Silva lining". The Chronicle-Journal. Thunder Bay. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "Chill on the Road to Start Season". Thunder Bay Chill. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  24. ↑ "Official Match Information : Des Moines Menace at Thunder Bay Chill 0:2". United Soccer Leagues. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "Chill Push Past Lions". United Soccer Leagues. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  26. ↑ "Springfield Demize at Thunder Bay Chill 2:5". United Soccer Leagues. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  27. ↑ "Thunder Bay Chill at Kansas City Brass 3:0". United Soccer Leagues. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  28. ↑ Vis, Matt (20 July 2013). "Chill hoping for Silva lining". The Chronicle-Journal. Thunder Bay. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sugar Boy Zeph adds international flavour at club". sheffieldfc.com. Sheffield F.C. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  30. ↑ "Club's international signings". sheffieldfc.com. Sheffield F.C. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  31. 1 2 Singleton, Craig (31 October 2014). "Loan extensions supplemented by new signing". bostonunited.co.uk. Boston United F.C. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  32. 1 2 "Boston United sign St Kitts and Nevis international striker". Boston Standard. Boston. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  33. ↑ Grayson, James (14 October 2016). "Rossington sign striker Thomas". Non League Yorkshire. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  34. ↑ "Thomas Commits to Mickleovers". Pitchero Non-League. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  35. ↑ "Sports Beat Leamington FC To Progress In The FA Trophy". Mickleover Sports FC. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  36. ↑ "Transfer News: Draper In, Thomas Out". Mickleover Sports FC. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  37. ↑ "Thomas Is On The Move Again". Pitch Hero Non League. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  38. ↑ "Zeph Thomas – International Callup". cowdenbeathfc.com. Cowdenbeath F.C. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  39. ↑ "Saint Kitts and Nevis 2 – 0 Anguilla". CaribbeanFootballDatabase.com. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  40. ↑ Fuentes, Shaun (13 October 2012). "Carter's winner pushes T&T through to Caribbean Cup semi-finals". Socawarriors.net. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
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