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Thommo’s back from Afghanistan to drive Bluebirds’ midfield
Neil Thomas has endeared himself to the supporters at the Bridge Meadow Stadium with his all-action midfield play that has helped the Haverfordwest County to fifth place in the Welsh Premier League table.
Known to all as ‘Thommo’, he hails originally from North Wales but has played a great deal of football in the south and is also heavily involved in the RAF, where he has just returned from a stint in Afghanistan. When he came home for a week of rest and recuperation he showed the grit that has endeared him to the Bluebirds’ faithful as he was quickly back in action against top of the table TNS and helped provide the shock result of the weekend as his side were good value for a 2-2 draw.
Neil set out on his footballing trail as he played for Nantlle Vale when he was about eight years old and found his niche at that age as a striker (Jack Christopher and Nicky Woodrow beware!) before switching to midfield and playing for his beloved Everton as a schoolboy.
North Wales travels
Sadly, things didn’t work out as he hoped in terms of a professional career so he returned to Nantlle Vale and was playing for Nantlle Vale in the Caernarvon and District Senior League as soon as he was 16 and doubling up with regular appearances for Bangor City Youth.
At other times in those days he also played for Holyhead in the Cymru Alliance, Llanberis and Llangefni before deciding to join the Royal Air Force at 20 and after nine weeks of training in London found himself at St Athan and the start of his time playing football in South Wales.
South Wales move – and Basra in Iraq
He turned out for Port Talbot and then Cardiff-based side Ely Rangers in the Welsh League and then for Bryntirion but life in the services, plus regular trips back home meant that he was unable to settle as he would have liked and at other times he played for Taffs Well, Porthmadog and Llanelli, as well as having a spell in Basra, out in Iraq, where there was little chance of playing any football because the only pitch was very sandy with rocky lumps aplenty and so was very dangerous.
Bluebirds’ boost
It was on his return that Derek Brazil asked him to sign for Haverfordwest County and Thommo would say it was one of the best moves he has ever made since he has done really well there. He grabbed ten goals last season from 29 matches and his only regret is the fact that he missed a few games through suspension – something that he attributes to his having red hair!
Afghanistan success
But then came his six-month posting to Afghanistan and one of the consolations about missing the matches at Haverfordwest was the fact that at least he could have some five-aside football there. His section played in a large sports hall every Wednesday in a league against other teams that included Americans and Dutch from the coalition forces. Thommo’s team won the league and cup and their success was filmed for a programme to appear on Channel Five television about life for the troops out in Afghanistan.
Forces recognition
One of his proudest facts about football is that he has regularly represented the RAF against the Army and Royal Navy for the last six seasons and the RAF have won the tournament three times. They play at Uxbridge whilst the Army have Aldershot as their venue and the Royal Navy play host as Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth AFC.
Neil has also represented the Combined Services for six seasons as well, playing in an annual tournament called the Kentish Cup, the oldest trophy competed for by the Combined Services as they play against Holland, Belgium and France, who are very strong at present and prevented Thommo and the rest of the Combined Services lads from adding to a hat-trick of victories in the competition.
Back to the Bluebirds
But now he’s looking forward to a settled spell at Haverfordwest County where he says that there is a great team-spirit under top manager Brazil and his assistant Mark Evans, whom he describes as a ‘breath of fresh air.’ Add the likes of chairman Rob Summons (‘a top man’), Micky Ellis and the rest of the staff and supporters, and it is easy to see why Thommo has settled so well alongside Dyfan Pearce, who is another RAF man in the club.
At 26 years of age he has plenty of time left in the game and it is to be hoped that his best years are yet to come with Haverfordwest County because Neil Thomas certainly has a great deal to offer the club with his wholehearted approach to the game!
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