Background
Thorpe was born in Hayfield, Derbyshire and started his football career with Stalybridge Rovers, before a brief spell on the books of Newton Heath, where he failed to break into the first-team
Thorpe was born in Hayfield, Derbyshire and started his football career with Stalybridge Rovers, before a brief spell on the books of Newton Heath, where he failed to break into the first-team
In the league, Bury finished seventh in the First Division in 1901-1902 and eighth in the following season.
In June 1901, he joined, where he was re-united with his former Stalybridge team-mate, wing-half John Johnston. Thorpe soon became a fixture at centre-half, between Johnston on the right and the veteran George Ross on the left. also equalled another record, winning the Cup without conceding a goal in any round. In the final itself, Thorpe"s through ball in the 48th minute was slid past Derby County"s injured goalkeeper Jack Fryer by Charlie Sagar for the second goal, following which Fryer was replaced in goal by Charlie Morris who conceded a further four goals in the next half-hour.
Thorpe continued at the centre of "s defence for the next two seasons, missing only one game in 1903-1904 and three in the following season, but in 1905-1906 he lost his place to Jack Dewhurst, who had recently arrived from Blackburn Rovers.
Thorpe spent the 1906-1907 season with Plymouth Argyle of the Southern League, before moving along the south coast in April 1907 to join fellow Southern league team, Southampton. Thorpe made his debut in a 4–2 victory at Northampton Town on 6 April 1907, taking over at centre-half from James Bowden, who was moved to fill the left-half position, which had been not been filled satisfactorily since Bill Gray had been injured in March.
Foreign the 1907-1908 season, Thorpe was re-united with his former Stalybridge and team-mate, John Johnston. After finishing 11th in the league in 1908, when Thorpe missed only three matches, Southampton started the 1908-1909 season with seven consecutive victories, in which Thorpe scored three goals.
The Saints continued this good form until Thorpe was injured in late December, to be replaced by Sam Jepp.
With other key players such as Arthur Hughes and Frank Jefferis also suffering with injuries, Saints fell away until Thorpe"s return at the end of March. In the summer of 1909, Thorpe returned to to as a player-coach, working with the second eleven. As a player.