Thomson was an exceptionally fast full-back and was also extremely adept at back-pedalling.
Club career
Thomson was born in Smethwick, which was then in Staffordshire. He joined local side Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1959 upon leaving Lyndon High School in Solihull. He signed professional forms in July 1961, before making his senior debut on 27 January 1962 in an FA Cup tie against Black Country rivalsWest Bromwich Albion. Between his debut in 1962 to 1967 he missed just 11 first team games. Unfortunately for Thomson, he was too late for the glory years, and instead came through under the tail-end of manager Stan Cullis' sixteen-year reign. Their best finish during Thomson's time was fifth in the First Division in 1962–63. The club fell to the Second Division in 1964–65. They won promotion at the second time of asking – in 1966–67, as runners-up. In Summer 1967 he was part of the Wolves side that played in the United States, guesting as the Los Angeles Wolves, under which guise they won the United Soccer Association league championship. In March 1969, Thomson moved on to Birmingham City for £40,000, teaming up with his former boss Stan Cullis, though Cullis retired early the next year. He played 44 games of the 1969–70 campaign, in a settled back four made up of Thomson, Dave Robinson, Garry Pendrey, and Ray Martin. However, he fell out of favour under new boss Freddie Goodwin, and featured just 15 times in 1970–71. In 1971–72, Birmingham gained promotion to the top tier, as runners-up behind Norwich City. He did not play any first team games however, and instead spent part of 1971 on loan at nearby Third Division club Walsall. In 1972, he moved on to Luton Town, another Second Division side with ambitions of top-flight football. Thomson's teams had a knack of finishing second in the second tier, as the "Hatters" achieved this in 1973–74, as they watched Middlesbrough sprint away with the title. Luton were unfortunate to go back down in 1974–75, finishing a mere point from the safety of Tottenham Hotspur in 19th. In 1976, his career drawing to a close and his best days behind him, Thomson went back to the States, spending a short period with Hartford Bicentennials. He returned to the English Football League, and the West Midlands, with Third Division Port Vale in October 1976. He made an 'impressive' debut in a 3–2 defeat to Wrexham at Vale Park on 16 October 1976 and earned himself both a regular first team spot and the captaincy. He played 24 games for Roy Sproson's team in 1976–77, before he returned to the re-branded Connecticut Bicentennials as player-coach in March 1977. He stayed with the Connecticut Bicentennials for two years, before returning to England with non-league Worcester City. He later became player-manager of Stafford Rangers. Another spell in the US with Memphis Rogues in the NASL followed, before he joined Brewood, Solihull Borough and then Tipton Town.
International career
Thomson won eight full caps with the senior team between 1963 and 1964. He was selected by Alf Ramsey and made his full international debut on 20 November 1963 in an 8–3 Home International victory over Northern Ireland. His final international appearance came in December 1964. He also played fifteen games for the England under-23 team, which was a record.
Later life
He was married to Jan and had three children. After retiring from playing, he ran a sports shop in Sedgley in the West Midlands. He was known to take part in Wolves All Stars charity games from his retirement up until his last years, as well as help coach youngsters in Oldbury. He died of prostate cancer at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley at the age of 65. He had apparently recovered from a first occurrence of the illness, only to succumb after suffering a relapse.
Statistics
Club statistics
Source:
International statistics
Honours
;Wolverhampton Wanderers
Football League Second Division runners-up: 1966–67
;Luton Town
Football League Second Division runners-up: 1973–74
