Thompson: Robert (Bob)

1920-1921 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Eldon Nr Bishop Auckland: 1890

Debut: Port Vale (a): 28-08-1920

6’0” 12st (1920)

Thompson earned himself a place in United’s record books by scoring the club’s first-ever League hat-trick, on 11th December 1920 against Notts County at Elland Road. He also finished as top scorer in United’s first season. He was the fastest player on Leeds’ books in 1920, having won the famous Powderhall Sprint in Edinburgh. After starting with Wingate Albion, he made his League debut with Preston North End in the 1910-11 season, but just played the one game and after scoring two goals in seventeen League games he left Deepdale to join Second Division Glossop in the 1912-13 season. He scored fourteen goals in forty-seven League appearances before Glossop resigned from the League in 1915. He returned to the North-East to play for Non-League Durham City, from where he joined Leeds in July 1920. He was centre-forward in United’s first-ever game in the Football League at Port Vale on 28th August 1920, but did not play again until October. He then put together a run of consecutive appearances for United at centre forward, but was switched to the outside-right spot after Leeds bought Tommy Howarth. Then Thompson found himself on the sidelines and went to Third Division North side Ashington in May 1921. After two goals in seventeen League games he was transferred to Third Division South team Luton Town in June 1922, where he scored seven goals in seventeen League games. He joined Non-League Pontypridd in 1923, scoring fifty-one goals for them. In February 1924 he represented the Welsh League against the Irish Free State. He moved to Third Division North Accrington Stanley in 1924 and scored seventeen goals in thirty three games in the 1924-25 season before joining First Division Bury in May 1925. He made just one League appearance without scoring at Gigg Lane. After a trial with Third Division North team Tranmere Rovers in 1925, he joined another Third Division North side, Hartlepools United, in December 1926, where he scored three goals in four League games. He then dropped into Non-League football with Goole Town in January 1927 and later York City.