Peter Thomas (footballer, born 1944)

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.

Peter Thomas
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

Club career

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.

International career

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]

Managerial career

Thomas took over as manager of Waterford United in August 1988 but resigned in December due to work pressures.[6]

Honours

Waterford United

Individual

  • SWAI Personality of the Year: 1969–70

See also

References
  1. Peter Thomas, League of Ireland's 'best ever goalkeeper,' dies
  2. "The Year in American Soccer – 1976". Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  3. Peter Silvester Joins Diplomats Washington Post, The (DC) – Saturday, 5 February 1977
  4. "Statistics: Republic of Ireland [Powered by tplSoccerStats]".
  5. "The Year in American Soccer – 1978". Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  6. www.irishtimes.com
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