Rod Thomas
John Roderick " Rod" Thomas ( born January 11, 1947 in Glyncorrwg ) is a former Welsh footballer. The right-back and 50 -fold Welsh international played nearly 300 league games for Swindon Town and won with the then second division in 1969 surprisingly against Arsenal the League Cup. After his move to Derby County he won in 1975 nor the English Championship.
Sports career
After a first experience in the Southern League as a player from Gloucester City - not far from the Welsh border in the south west of England - Thomas joined in July 1964 Swindon Town. The then coached by Bert Head team was in season 1964/65 initially still in the Second Division second-rate active, got out of this, however, again. Thomas himself had to wait for his first league use, which then ended at the end of the third League 1965/66 season with a 0-0 draw against Scunthorpe United almost two years. From the season 1966/67, Thomas established on the right -back position as a permanent solution. In the following three years now, he completed 120 league games, came about from 1967 regularly in the Welsh national team for the course and crowned the 1968/69 season with a double success. Here, with Swindon Town he managed not only to rise again in the second division, but also the surprising title victory in the League Cup after being defeated in the final of Arsenal FC after extra time 3-1. In the following more than four years as a second division player he confirmed his achievements and he was considered one of the nation's best players at his position outside the English top league. In November 1973, finally had the opportunity to change to the First Division. Background of the transfers was the coaching change at Derby County Brian Clough to Dave Mackay, Mackay which had recently played in Swindon on the side of Thomas.
For a fee of £ 80,000 Thomas hired in Derby. However, on the way to the starting line- he first had to speak recovering from an injury and continue in the right defense force as a " first choice " Ron Webster displace. And so it was not until the second half of the season 1974/75, in the Thomas benefited from a Blessur of Webster and on the way to winning the English Championship the last 19 league games (of a total of 22 appearances ) denied. Good one and a half years later he was at right-back " set " before the Irishman Dave Langan made him dispute after the turn of 1976/77 the post. After just six championship matches in 1977, Thomas joined in November 1977 returned to his home walische to Cardiff City.
More than four years was Thomas for playing in England's second league club active and he had to fight during the time again and again with injuries. In February 1982, Thomas returned briefly to old stamping ground to Gloucester City and just a month later, he moved to Newport County - also an English- ( third division ) Welsh professional football club acting. Last known station before his career was over in the 1982/83 season Barrytown.
Two decades later signed him Derby County's former owner Lionel Pickering as sports director. But as he beyond the title have little decision-making authority, commitment, begun in April 2003 already ended back in November of the same year.
Title / Awards
- English Championship ( 1): 1975
- Charity Shield ( 1): 1975
- English League Cup ( 1): 1969
- Anglo-Italian League Cup ( 1): 1969
- Anglo-Italian Cup ( 1): 1970