Tommy Thompson was one of the few members of the 1960 British Olympic team who established himself as a professional. He played for Middlesbrough juniors before starting his two years National Service in 1956 and when he came out he joined Stockton as an amateur, where he played alongside Brian Clough’s brother Des, and he went on to win four England amateur caps. He had several offers to turn professional but had set his mind on playing in the Roma Olympics and made the squad and appeared in Great Britain’s opening game at right-back against Brazil at Livorno but three minutes after Britain took a 2-1 lead, Thompson was carried off with a broken leg and in those days substitutes were not permitted and the handicap was too much for the British team as they bravely lost 4-3. At the time of the Olympics Thomson was locomotive cleaner in Stockton but did eventually turn professional with Blackpool in 1961 and whilst he could have joined his local club Middlesbough he went to Blackpool because, as he said, “Blackpool seemed a nicer place to live”. He played 152 times for the Lancashire club and played alongside such greats as Jimmy Armfield, Alan Ball and Emlyn Hughes. He stayed with the club for nine years before moving to York City in 1970. He played just four games for the Yorkshire club before retiring and then spent time coaching and scouting for the club before he returned to Blackpool where he was a milkman for 20 years before working for the local council as a bowling green attendant.
Great Britain