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Rod Thomas

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For other people named Rod Thomas, see Rod Thomas (disambiguation).

Rod Thomas
Personal information
Full name Roderick John Thomas
Date of birth (1947-01-11)11 January 1947
Place of birth Glynncorwg, Neath, Wales
Date of death 15 November 2025(2025-11-15) (aged 78)
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position 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 (11 January 1947 – 15 November 2025) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a defender for Gloucester City, Swindon Town, Derby County, Cardiff City, Gloucester for a second spell and Newport County. He represented the Wales national team at international level, making 50 appearances.

Career

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Swindon 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 1965–66 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 – he remains the club's most capped international footballer.

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 County, when former Town manager Dave Mackay offered £100,000 for Thomas' signature. At Derby he was part of the team that won the 1974–75 First Division.[2]

Thomas left Derby in 1977, joining Cardiff City for £10,000, making his debut in a 2–0 win over Stoke City. His four years at Cardiff were hampered by injuries and, in 1981, he returned to Gloucester City.

He made another twenty appearances for his country, and had brief spells at Newport County, Bath City and Barry Town, before his retirement in 1982.[3][4]

Death

[edit]

Thomas died on 15 November 2025, at the age of 78.[5]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Swindon Town 1965–66 2 0 0 0 2 0
1966–67 35 0 10 0 45 0
1967–68 41 0 5 0 46 0
1968–69 44 0 15 0 59 0
1969–70 41 1 13 0 54 1
1970–71 42 1 9 0 51 1
1971–72 36 1 2 0 38 1
1972–73 41 2 3 0 44 2
1973–74 14 0 2 0 16 0
Total 296 5 59 0 355 5

Honours

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Swindon Town

Derby County

References

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  1. ^ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 114. ISBN 0362020175.
  2. ^ "We are the Champions: 1974-75 – Derby County". gameofthepeople.com. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Past Players". Bath City F.C. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  4. ^ Rod Thomas at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  5. ^ Derby County title-winning defender Rod Thomas dies aged 78

Sources

[edit]
  • Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
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