Career
Thornber, a midfielder, began his career as a junior with Halifax Town in 1983. He remained with the Shaymen for five years, making 104 league appearances and scoring four goals. In 1988, he moved to Swansea City in a £10,000 deal.
In three years at the Welsh club he made 117 appearances, scoring six goals.
His next move, in 1992, was to Blackpool, then managed by Billy Ayre, a former teammate and manager of Thornber during his time at Halifax. After a year and just under a quarter-century of appearances at Bloomfield Road, he joined Scunthorpe United on a free transfer.