Background
Thompson was born in Treeton, near Rotherham, Yorkshire and trained as a joiner.
Thompson was born in Treeton, near Rotherham, Yorkshire and trained as a joiner.
After playing for his local village team, he started his professional career with York City, then playing in the Midland League. In August 1927, he moved to the south coast to join Southampton of the Football League Second Division. He made his debut on 10 September, when he replaced the injured Tommy Allen away to N ottinghamshire County.
He kept a clean sheet on his debut (0–0) and retained his place in goal for a further seven matches before Allen"s return to fitness in November.
After that his appearances were only sporadic, providing cover for Allen or his replacement, Willie White. In the 1929-1930 Round 3 match at Bradford City, Thompson allowed a shot to crawl under his body after an awful defensive mix-up for Bradford"s first goal, with Saints going on to lose the match 4–1.
Thompson spent most of his "Saints" career in the reserves, where he made 159 appearances. In the summer of 1930, with Bert Scriven now promoted to second-choice "keeper behind White, Thompson was placed on the transfer list for a fee of £250.
With no offers being received, Thompson was eventually released, and returned to his native Yorkshire to resume his career as a joiner, in the Dinnington coalmines.
Thompson had two sons, both of whom became professional goalkeepers – George Jnr.