Wayne Thomas (footballer)

Stoke City

Thomas was born in Gloucester and began his career playing for Torquay United. He would go on to make over one hundred league appearances for them, and one season managed to be ever-present, starting all forty-four league games. His performances soon brought attention from larger clubs, with Stoke City, then in the Second Division, winning the race for his signature in the summer of 2001, paying a transfer fee of £200,000. He soon became a regular in the side and made 43 appearances during the 2000–01 season as Stoke lost to Walsall in the play-offs.

In the 2001–02 season Thomas helped Stoke achieve promotion through the play-offs with a 2–0 win against Brentford at the Millennium Stadium in the final. Despite the promotion, Thordarson was sacked and replaced by Steve Cotterill. Cotterill was manager for just six months before he resigned amidst much controversy to become assistant manager at Sunderland.

After a short spell under the caretaker manager Dave Kevan, Tony Pulis would become the new manager of Stoke. Thomas' career would flourish under Pulis and so, with his contract running out in the summer of 2005, several Championship clubs were looking to sign Thomas on a free transfer after he stated that unhappy with Stoke taking too long to offer him a new contract.

Burnley

The race was eventually won by Cotterill, then managing Burnley after Cotterill flew out to Thomas' holiday home in Florida to persuade him. His first season as a Burnley player was an unsuccessful one, as he was hit with two serious injuries; first tearing his knee ligaments and then, after a surprisingly quick recovery, breaking his second metatarsal bone. This second injury ended his season. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for Burnley against Coventry City on 13 August 2005. Thomas was made club captain when the 2006–07 season kicked off.

Thomas had a difficult start to the season, being deemed at least partially at fault for some goals conceded and being sent off twice before the end of September, however Cotterill showed faith in Thomas by retaining him as captain on his return from suspension. Although his form improved, he was replaced as captain in February 2007 by recent signing Steven Caldwell.

Southampton

In July 2007, The News of the World reported that Coventry City manager Iain Dowie was to make an improved bid for the defender after having an initial £200,000 offer turned down by Burnley. Then in August 2007, Thomas signed for Southampton in a £1.2 million deal. He made his debut in Southampton's 2–1 away defeat to Norwich City. He scored his first goal for Southampton against Charlton in the Football League Trophy on 11 November 2009. That was his first goal in over four years. He then scored with a 20-yard half-volley in a 2–1 FA Cup victory over Ipswich Town.

On 15 May 2010, Thomas was named in a list of 13 players to be released from Southampton before the start of the 2010–11 season.

Doncaster Rovers

Following his release from Southampton Thomas joined his old club Stoke City for pre-season training and scored in a reserve friendly against Albion Rovers (Newport), Stoke won the match 9–0. Thomas signed for Doncaster Rovers on 10 August on an initial one-year contract after a successful trial. Rovers released him in May 2011.

Spell in Greek football

On 8 July 2011 Thomas signed for FC Atromitos Athens, team of Super League Greece. Thomas made his unofficial FC Atromitos debut in a friendly game against Panathinaikos in Peristeri, which ended 0–0. He was replaced in the 55th minute by Limnios. After this match, he played against Panetolikos Agrinio in a friendly game in Peristeri. This match ended also 0–0, but in this game, Thomas played the whole match. After the match with Panetolikos, he had to defend his team against Asteras. He managed to do it brilliantly, as when his team conceded the goal he had been substituted. He played 45 minutes, and Atromitos lost 0–1. On 2 September 2011, Atromitos was playing against AEL in Larissa. Thomas played for the whole match with Atromitos losing 2–1 in a match in memory of Panagiotis Bahramis, who died in an accident in 2010.

On 21 August 2012, Thomas signed a contract with Greek Superleague side Veria. He played four times for Veria before returning to England.

Return to English football

Thomas returned to England in January 2013 and on 4 February he joined Conference Premier side Luton Town until the end of the 2012–13 season. He was sent off in only his second game for Luton, and subsequently joined League Two side Rochdale on loan on 28 March, where he played in two games. Thomas was not offered a contract extension and left Luton in May 2013.

Thomas joined Conference Premier side Tamworth on 9 August 2013. Alongside his role at Tamworth, Thomas is the Under-11's Academy coach at Premier League club Stoke City.

He joined Worcester City on 28 January 2014. On 18 October 2014 in a match against Harrogate Town Worcester were without a recognised goalkeeper after Jose Veiga suffered an injury, so Thomas went in goal and kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 win.

In March 2015, Thomas was offered, and accepted, a role as an academy coach with the New York Red Bulls, bringing an end to his playing career at the age of 35. He went back to playing football in 2016, when he signed with Kidderminster Harriers. He was sent out on loan to Altrincham on a month, and after his return, apart from being a player, he also got a role as a coach for the U19 squad. In May 2017, he was appointed as the new manager of Rushall Olympic while continuing in his coaching role at Kidderminster.

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Honours