Rod Thomas facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Roderick John Thomas | ||
| Date of birth | 11 January 1947 | ||
| Place of birth | Glynncorwg, Neath, Wales | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Gloucester City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1963–1964 | Gloucester City | 10 | (3) |
| 1964–1973 | Swindon Town | 296 | (5) |
| 1973–1977 | Derby County | 89 | (2) |
| 1977–1981 | Cardiff City | 96 | (0) |
| 1981–1982 | Gloucester City | ? | (?) |
| 1982 | Newport County | 3 | (0) |
| 1982 | Bath City | 2 | (0) |
| 1982–1983 | Barry Town | ? | (?) |
| International career | |||
| 1967–1977 | Wales | 50 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Roderick John Thomas, born on January 11, 1947, is a former professional footballer from Wales. He played as a defender and was a key player for the Welsh national team.
During his career, Rod Thomas played for several clubs. These included Gloucester City, Swindon Town, Derby County, and Cardiff City. He also had a second time playing for Gloucester and a short spell at Newport County.
Contents
Starting His Football Journey
Rod Thomas began his football career at Gloucester City. In July 1964, when he was still a young player, Swindon Town manager Bert Head noticed his talent. Swindon Town bought him for £500.
It took almost two years for Rod to play his first game for Swindon. This happened at the end of the 1965–66 season. The match was a 0–0 draw against Scunthorpe.
Becoming a Star at Swindon
In the next season, Rod Thomas became Swindon Town's main right-back. He also started playing for his country, joining the Welsh under-23 team. Many people thought he was one of the best defenders outside of the top division.
Rod made his first full international appearance for Wales in 1967. This was in a 0–0 draw against Northern Ireland. He played nearly 300 games for Swindon Town. This included the important League Cup final in 1969.
By the time he left Swindon in 1973, Rod had played for Wales 30 times. This was more than any other Swindon player at that time.
Moving to Derby County
In 1973, Rod Thomas moved to Derby County. His former manager at Swindon, Dave Mackay, offered £100,000 to sign him.
At Derby, Rod was part of a very successful team. They won the top division, the First Division, in the 1974–75 season. This was a big achievement in his career.
Later Career and Retirement
Rod Thomas left Derby County in 1977. He joined Cardiff City for £10,000. His first game for Cardiff was a 2–0 win against Stoke City. He played for Cardiff for four years, but injuries made it difficult for him.
In 1981, he returned to Gloucester City. He also played 20 more games for his country, Wales. Before he retired in 1982, he had short periods playing for Newport County, Bath City, and Barry Town.
