Geoff Thomas

After playing non-league football in his teenage years, Thomas gambled on a career in professional football in 1982 by taking a pay cut from his job as an electrician, to sign full-time with Rochdale in 1982. He did not play much whilst at Spotland, in the two seasons he spent at Rochdale he made only 12 appearances scoring just once. In March 1984, Dario Gradi signed Thomas for Crewe Alexandra, on a free transfer. After three substitute appearances, Thomas made his full debut on 28 April 1984 in a 3–0 home win over Tranmere Rovers, and marked the occasion with his first goal for the club. A tough-tackling player, who could operate in central midfield or out on the right, Thomas was a mainstay of the team as Crewe finishing mid-table in the Fourth Division. He was to spend two and a half seasons at Gresty Road, playing 137 times for the club Thomas moved to Crystal Palace in June 1987, for a fee of £50,000. Thomas made an immediate impact at Selhurst Park, collecting the Supporters' Player-of-the-Season award in his first season, and helping his side to promotion to the top flight in his second year at the club. His third year at Palace was even better, as Thomas enjoyed top-flight football for the first team, and captained the side in the 1990 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where they drew 3–3 with Manchester United, before losing in a replay. In the 1990–91 season, he was a crucial member of the Palace squad who finished in third place in the top flight. It was the…

In May 1991, Thomas won his first England cap when he was picked by Graham Taylor in a European Championship qualifier against Turkey in İzmir. He also represented his country against the Soviet Union, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia that year, and went on to win nine caps, his last coming against France at Wembley in 1992.

Crystal Palace

FA Cup runner-up: 1989–90