Peter_Thomas_(footballer_born_1944)
Peter Thomas (footballer, born 1944)
Football player and manager (1944–2023)
Peter Thomas (20 November 1944 – 19 January 2023)[1] was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper in England, Ireland and United States. Born in England, he made two international appearances for the Republic of Ireland.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1944-11-20)20 November 1944 | ||
| Place of birth | Coventry, England | ||
| Date of death | 19 January 2023(2023-01-19) (aged 78) | ||
| Place of death | Waterford, ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1962–1966 | Coventry GEC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1967 | Coventry City | 1 | (0) |
| 1967 | → Waterford (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 1967–1975 | Waterford | 193 | (0) |
| 1975 | Washington Diplomats | 6 | (0) |
| 1975–1976 | Waterford | 26 | (0) |
| 1976 | Utah Golden Spikers | 20 | (0) |
| 1976–1977 | Waterford | 24 | (0) |
| 1977 | Las Vegas Quicksilvers | 4 | (0) |
| 1977–1978 | Waterford | 28 | (0) |
| 1978 | Sacramento Gold | 17 | (0) |
| 1978–1982 | Waterford | 114 | (0) |
| 1982–1984 | Galway United | 52 | (0) |
| 1984–1985 | Drogheda United | 18 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1973–1974 | Republic of Ireland | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1988 | Waterford United | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In 1962, Thomas joined Coventry G.E.C., playing with them until 1966. That year, he played one game for Coventry City. He went on loan to Waterford F.C. in 1967 where he made thirteen appearances. Coventry City transferred him to Waterford in the summer of 1967 and he stayed with the Blues until 1975. Thomas is associated with bringing a new style of goalkeeping to the League of Ireland. He rarely kicked the ball on the offensive, throwing when possible with great accuracy. He also represented the League of Ireland XI and won five league medals and a FAI Cup medal and played in twelve European Cup matches for Waterford.
In 1975, he moved to the United States where he played for the Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League. In 1976, he moved to the Utah Golden Spikers of the American Soccer League.[2] He returned to the NASL in 1977 with the Las Vegas Quicksilvers. The Diplomats had traded the rights to Thomas and Gerry Ingram to the Quicksilver in exchange for Peter Silvester in November 1976.[3] He finished his North American career with the Sacramento Gold of the ASL in 1978. In the fall of 1978, he returned to Ireland where he rejoined Waterford F.C.
Born in England, Thomas earned two caps with the Republic of Ireland after becoming an Irish citizen. He made his debut in 1973 against Poland, keeping a clean sheet but having to come off at half time due to a pulled muscle in his stomach.[4] His second cap came against Brazil in 1974. He was back down in the ASL in 1975, this time with the Sacramento Gold.[5]
Thomas took over as manager of Waterford United in August 1988 but resigned in December due to work pressures.[6]
Waterford United
- League of Ireland: 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73
- FAI Cup: 1980
Individual
- SWAI Personality of the Year: 1969–70
- "The Year in American Soccer – 1976". Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- Peter Silvester Joins Diplomats Washington Post, The (DC) – Saturday, 5 February 1977
- "The Year in American Soccer – 1978". Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2009.