Bradley Thomas
Encyclopedia
Bradley Mark Thomas is a professional footballer who currently plays for Grays Athletic
. Born in Forest Gate, Thomas is primarily a centre back
.
, East London, he started his career under Barry Fry
at Peterborough United but failed to make a first-team appearance, being loaned out to Kettering Town
, Aldershot Town
, Heybridge Swifts
, Welling United
and Weymouth
.
He made the switch to Eastleigh
in the summer of 2005 but his stay in Hampshire
was to be a short one as he was signed by Yeovil Town
in January 2006, following the departures of Luke Oliver
and Efe Sodje
. Whilst at Huish Park
, he struggled to break into the first-team, having to settle for a solitary FA Cup
substitute appearance.
Further loan spells at Tamworth
and Boston United
provided more regular first-team football. Thomas was ultimately released by Yeovil in the summer of 2007.
Thomas signed for Crawley Town
in June 2007, becoming one of Steve Evans' first signings for the club. He had a previous spell under Evans, whilst on loan at Boston United.
Thomas started the 2007–08
season in the Crawley first team but suffered a broken fibula in a friendly versus a Tottenham Hotspur
XI in late August 2007, meaning he missed a large chunk of the season. He returned to the Crawley side in February 2008, in the home defeat to Ebbsfleet United and established himelf as a regular fxture in the side during the last two months of the season. The player agreed a deal to stay at Crawley for the 2008–09 Conference National season.
He went on to join King's Lynn
in the Conference North
in 2008, where he made a total of 26 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.
Thomas appeared for Sutton United in the FA Cup
Fourth Qualifying round tie against Hampton & Richmond Borough
in which United won 3–1. Thomas missed his mother's wedding in order to play in this game, which was featured on ITV
the next day. In December 2009, Thomas signed for Hendon
.
Thomas joined Braintree Town on 15 July 2010 after a trial spell, before joining Grays Athletic
in November 2010.
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
. Born in Forest Gate, Thomas is primarily a centre back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Career
After leaving Rokeby SchoolRokeby School
Rokeby School is an 11 - 16 Comprehensive School for boys located in Canning Town, east London. It is also a Specialist Mathematics & Languages School.-Notable alumni:* Micah Hyde* Tresor Kandol* Alan White* Alexander McQueen* Linvoy Primus...
, East London, he started his career under Barry Fry
Barry Fry
Barry Francis Fry is an English football manager. A former Manchester United apprentice as a winger, his playing career involved brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Luton Town and Leyton Orient, before he retired prematurely due to injury.He has managed Dunstable Town, Bedford Town, Maidstone...
at Peterborough United but failed to make a first-team appearance, being loaned out to Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
, Heybridge Swifts
Heybridge Swifts F.C.
Heybridge Swifts are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971...
, Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
and Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
.
He made the switch to Eastleigh
Eastleigh F.C.
Eastleigh Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium.-History:...
in the summer of 2005 but his stay in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
was to be a short one as he was signed by Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
in January 2006, following the departures of Luke Oliver
Luke Oliver
Luke John Oliver is an English footballer who currently plays for Bradford City in League Two, as a defender.-Career:He signed for Wycombe in January 2009 from Stevenage Borough...
and Efe Sodje
Efe Sodje
Efetobore "Efe" Sodje is a footballer who is currently playing for Bury. He is a central defender...
. Whilst at Huish Park
Huish Park
Huish Park is a football ground in the suburbs of Yeovil, Somerset, England and is the home ground of Yeovil Town Football Club. The stadium replaced the club's previous ground, The Huish famous for numerous FA Cup giant-killings was officially opened on 4 August 1990, with a match against then...
, he struggled to break into the first-team, having to settle for a solitary FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
substitute appearance.
Further loan spells at Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
and Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
provided more regular first-team football. Thomas was ultimately released by Yeovil in the summer of 2007.
Thomas signed for Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
in June 2007, becoming one of Steve Evans' first signings for the club. He had a previous spell under Evans, whilst on loan at Boston United.
Thomas started the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season in the Crawley first team but suffered a broken fibula in a friendly versus a Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
XI in late August 2007, meaning he missed a large chunk of the season. He returned to the Crawley side in February 2008, in the home defeat to Ebbsfleet United and established himelf as a regular fxture in the side during the last two months of the season. The player agreed a deal to stay at Crawley for the 2008–09 Conference National season.
He went on to join King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
in the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
in 2008, where he made a total of 26 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.
Thomas appeared for Sutton United in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Fourth Qualifying round tie against Hampton & Richmond Borough
Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C.
Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. are an English football club based in the suburb of Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. They were founded in 1921 and formerly known as Hampton F.C. until 1999 when they changed their name in an attempt to draw a wider support base from around the...
in which United won 3–1. Thomas missed his mother's wedding in order to play in this game, which was featured on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
the next day. In December 2009, Thomas signed for Hendon
Hendon F.C.
Hendon Football Club are an English football club based in Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.In the 2003-04 season they finished fourth in the Isthmian League Premier Division...
.
Thomas joined Braintree Town on 15 July 2010 after a trial spell, before joining Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
in November 2010.