Player Profile

Rod THOMAS

Full name
Roderick John THOMAS

Date of birth
January 11th, 1947 - Glyncorrwg

First joined
May 8th, 1964 [amateur]

First team debut
May 7th, 1966 vs. Scunthorpe United (Home)

Last match played
November 3rd, 1973 vs. Carlisle United (Home)

Positions

LB

IR

CHD

CF

RHD

IL

LHD

RB
International career
WALES
Full international
50 apps.
(30 apps whilst at STFC)

Under-23 international
6 apps.
(6 apps whilst at STFC)

Town manager Bert Head brought Thomas to the County Ground from non-league Gloucester City in July 1964 - paying £500 for his services. Still a youth player, it was almost two years before he made his debut, in a drab 0-0 draw with Scunthorpe, at the end of the 1965/1966 season.

The following season saw Thomas establish himself as the club's first choice right back, and he also achieved his first international honours, being selected for the Welsh under-23 squad. Widely recognised as one of the best defenders outside of the First Division, Thomas made his full international debut in a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland in 1967.

Despite interest from bigger clubs, Thomas went on to make nearly 300 appearances for Swindon, including the 1969 League Cup final. By the time he left in 1973, he had made the most international appearances ever by a Swindon player, having played in thirty matches for Wales. He moved on to Derby, when former Town manager Dave Mackay offered £100,000 for Thomas' signature.

He made another twenty appearances for his country, before his retirement in 1982.

Playing Record


Senior

Season LEAGUE FA CUP EFL CUP EUROPE TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
1973/74 14 - - - 2 - - - 16 -
1972/73 41 2 2 - 1 - - - 44 2
1971/72 36 1 1 - 1 - - - 38 1
1970/71 42 1 2 - 3 - 4 - 51 1
1969/70 41 1 4 - 2 - 7 - 54 1
1968/69 44 - 3 - 12 - - - 59 -
1967/68 41 - 3 - 2 - - - 46 -
1966/67 35 - 8 - 2 - - - 45 -
1965/66 2 - - - - - - - 2 -
1964/65 - - - - - - - - - -
TOTAL 296 5 23 - 25 - 11 - 355 5

Reserve and Youth Team Appearances

Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.

Season RES. LGE RES. LC TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
1973/74 - - - - - -
1972/73 - - - - - -
1971/72 1 - - - 1 -
1970/71 - - - - - -
1969/70 - - - - - -
1968/69 - - 1 - 1 -
1967/68 1 - 1 - 2 -
1966/67 3 - 3 - 6 -
1965/66 30 - - - 30 -
1964/65 1 - - - 1 -
TOTAL 36 - 5 - 41 -

Season NON-LGE COUNTY LGE OTHER TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
1973/74 - - - - - - - -
1972/73 - - - - - - - -
1971/72 - - - - - - - -
1970/71 - - - - - - - -
1969/70 - - - - - - - -
1968/69 - - - - - - - -
1967/68 - - - - - - - -
1966/67 3 1 - - - - 3 1
1965/66 9 - 10 1 - - 19 1
1964/65 16 2 18 4 2 - 36 6
TOTAL 28 3 28 5 2 - 58 8

Season LEAGUE YTH CUP TOTAL
AppsGlsAppsGls Apps Gls
1973/74 - - - - - -
1972/73 - - - - - -
1971/72 - - - - - -
1970/71 - - - - - -
1969/70 - - - - - -
1968/69 - - - - - -
1967/68 - - - - - -
1966/67 - - - - - -
1965/66 - - - - - -
1964/65 5 - 1 - 6 -
TOTAL 5 - 1 - 6 -

Career details


Club Details
Gloucester City

Gloucester City 		November 1963 
Swindon Town

Swindon 		May 8th, 1964 (amateur)
July 23rd, 1964 (signed professional contract initial £500, plus £500 after sixteen league games, and £1000 on international debut); transferred out (November 21st, 1973)
Derby County

Derby County 		November 21st, 1973 (transferred in , £72,000 ); transferred out (November 1977)
Cardiff City

Cardiff City 		November 1977 (transferred in , £10,000 )
Newport County

Newport County 		March 1982 
Bath City

Bath City 		October 1982 
Gloucester City

Gloucester City 		November 1982 (trial)
Barry Town

Barry 		cs 1983