Career
An extremely skilful and fast player, for much of his career his trademark was playing without shin pads. Something that would never be tolerated in today"s game due to the change of the laws of the game. He made his senior debut in Burnley"s 8-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the 1966/67 season.
He had a long and successful playing career, playing for almost 20 years and totalling over 450 league appearances whilst playing for Burnley, QPR, Everton, Vancouver Whitecaps, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He set up the first goal in the game. In 1981, he played a single summer season with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the North American Soccer League.
Thomas"s most successful season was undoubtedly 1975-1976 while playing for QPR. QPR led the First Division for much of the season, narrowly missing out by one point to Liverpool after the final game of the season. Thomas was a pivotal figure in the team, providing Stan Bowles, Gerry Francis and others with outstanding service from the wing.
Following his transfer to Everton, Thomas continued to enjoy success in the 1977-1978 season while playing for Everton.
Everton"s top marksman Bob Latchford scored 30 goals in the league that season, Thomas providing more of his goals than anybody else with some more accurate crosses. His transfer in October 1972 from Burnley to QPR was then a record fee for a Second Division Club: £165,000.
