Career
He played in the Football League for Brentford and Oxford United and later dropped into non-league football, making over 200 appearances in a four-year spell with Chelmsford City. Gravesend & Northfleet A left winger, Thornley began his career at hometown Southern League Division One club Gravesend & Northfleet. He made 18 appearances and scored three goals during the 1964/65 season, before departing in October 1965.
Brentford In October 1965, Thornley moved to the Football League to sign for Division Three strugglers Brentford.
He initially played for the reserve team and was the first substitute to be utilised for the side, replacing Philosophy Basey in a Combination Cup tie against Bristol City that month. He managed just seven first team appearances for the financially stricken club and was released in 1967.
Thornley failed to make a first team appearance at all during the 1966/67 season and instead played for the reserves, experiencing some joy by winning the London Challenge Cup with the side. Oxford United Thornley joined Division Three side Oxford United in the middle of 1967.
He made something of a breakthrough into the first team, making 19 appearances and scoring three goals and picking up more silverware, with the Us securing promotion to Division Two by winning the Division Three title.
Playing in the second-tier for the first time, Thornley made just four appearances in the 1968/69 season and departed the club at the end of the campaign. Thornley made 26 appearances and scored four goals during his time at the Manor Ground. Chelmsford City Thornley dropped into non-league football in 1969 and signed for Southern League Premier Division side Chelmsford City.
He had a good first season, making 39 appearances, scoring seven goals and winning the club"s award, in addition to the Essex Professional Cup.
He finally tasted league title success in the 1971/72 season, though the Clarets would be denied election to the Football League. Thornley played on until the end of the 1972/73 season, making only 20 appearances, but winning the Essex Professional Floodlight Cup.
He departed the New Writtle Street Stadium having made 212 appearances and scored 31 goals in his four years with Chelmsford. = Ramsgate (loan) Thornley joined Southern League Premier Division side Ramsgate on loan towards the end of the 1972/73 season and made eight appearances without scoring.
Dover Thornley signed for Southern League Premier Division side Dover in the middle of 1973 in a £1000 deal.
He scored 13 goals in his two seasons with the club Margate Thornley joined Southern League Premier Division side Margate in the middle of 1975. Despite the team"s indifferent form in the league, he had a good first season playing at left back, making 61 appearances, scoring two goals and winning the Kent Floodlight Trophy.
The Gate had a disastrous 1976/77 season, culminating in relegation to the Southern League Division One South.
Thornley elected to retire in the middle of 1977. In later life, Thornley worked for Liverpool Victoria.
As a player Brentford London Challenge Cup (1): 1964/65 Oxford United Football League Division Three (1): 1967/68 Chelmsford City Southern League Premier Division (1): 1971/72 Essex Professional Cup (2): 1969/70, 1970/71 Essex Professional Floodlight Cup (1): 1972/73 Margate Kent Floodlight Trophy (1): 1975/76 As an individual.
