Adrian Thorne

Adrian Ernest Thorne (2 August 1937 – 29 July 2022) was an English professional footballer who scored 48 goals from 130 appearances in the Football League playing as a left winger for Brighton & Hove Albion, Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City and Leyton Orient.[3] He was Brighton's top scorer in the 1960–61 season with 14 goals in all competitions,[4] and his five goals against Watford on the final day of the 1957–58 season ensured their promotion to the Second Division for the first time in the club's history. He also helped Exeter City gain promotion from the Third Division in 1964.[5] He went on to play Southern League for Cheltenham Town and Barnet.

Adrian Thorne
Personal information
Full name Adrian Ernest Thorne[1]
Date of birth (1937-08-02)2 August 1937
Place of birth Brighton, England
Date of death 29 July 2022(2022-07-29) (aged 84)[2]
Position(s) Left winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
195?–1954 Brighton Old Grammarians
1954–1961 Brighton & Hove Albion 76 (38)
1961–1963 Plymouth Argyle 11 (2)
1963–1965 Exeter City 41 (8)
1965–1966 Leyton Orient 2 (0)
1966–1969 Cheltenham Town
1969–1970 Barnet 18 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Thorne was born in Brighton on 2 August 1937,[3] and attended Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School. He was spotted by Brighton & Hove Albion as a 17-year-old playing for his school's Old Boys' team in the Sussex County League, and signed for the club in August 1954. Like many players in the 1950s, his career development was interrupted by the requirements of National Service, and he made his debut in the Third Division South on 18 January 1958, at the age of 20, scoring in a 2–0 defeat of Southend United.[6]

Going into the final game of the season, at home to Watford, Albion needed a point to secure the Third Division South title and promotion to the Second Division for the first time in the club's history. With Dave Sexton injured, Thorne was selected to make just his seventh League appearance: he scored five goals as Albion won 6–0.[6] Despite scoring a goal every two games,[3] and finishing the 1960–61 season as the club's top scorer, with 14 goals in all competitions,[4] he was never an undisputed member of the starting eleven, and towards the end of that season he asked for a transfer.[6]

Thorne joined Second Division club Plymouth Argyle for an £8,000 fee, but made little impact. In two years, he played only 12 games, scoring twice, and moved on to Exeter City during the 1963–64 season.[7] He became a regular in the Exeter team that gained promotion to the Third Division that season,[5] and remained with the club for another year before signing for Second Division Leyton Orient on a free transfer in the summer of 1965. At Orient, Thorne was reunited with former Brighton teammates Dave Sexton, now managing the club, and Tony Nicholas,[8] but he played only twice for them in the League.[3] He went on to play Southern League football for Cheltenham Town and Barnet.[7][9]

Thorne married wife Gillian when he was a Plymouth player. While at Orient, he began to train as a teacher, gaining qualifications in science and physical education, and went on to work in that profession.[6]

Thorne died in 2022 at the age of 84.[10]

References
  1. "Player search: Thorne, AE (Adrian)". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  2. Exeter City FC Museum [@GrecianArchive] (6 August 2022). "Former Brighton, Leyton Orient, Exeter City & Plymouth Argyle player ADRIAN THORNE passed away on 29th July 2022" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. "Adrian Thorne". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  4. Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. p. 338. ISBN 0-9521337-1-7.
  5. Blackstone, Mike (28 February 2009). "Blackstone Column: Halcyon days of 1963–64 remain fresh in my memory". This is Exeter. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  6. "Vintage Vinners: No regrets for Albion's five goal promotion ace". The Argus. Brighton. 21 January 2001. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  7. "Adrian Thorne". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  8. "A History of Leyton Orient FC 1965–1974". Keith Emmerson. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  9. "Adrian Thorne". Downhill Second Half. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  10. Nicoli, Luke (3 August 2022). "Obituary: Adrian Thorne – 1937–2022". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
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