Wayne Thomas

Stoke City

Thomas was born in Gloucester and began his career playing for Torquay United. He soon became a regular in the side, and made more than 100 league appearances for them. His performances soon brought attention from larger clubs, with Stoke City, then in the Second Division, winning the race for his signature in the summer of 2001, paying a transfer fee of £200,000. He soon became a regular in the side and made 45 appearances during the 2000–01 season as Stoke lost to Walsall in the play-offs. In the 2001–02 season Thomas helped Stoke achieve promotion through the play-offs with a 2–0 win against Brentford at the Millennium Stadium in the final. Despite the promotion, Thordarson was sacked and replaced by Steve Cotterill, who in turn was manager for just five months before he resigned amidst much controversy to become assistant manager at Sunderland. After a short spell under the caretaker manager, Dave Kevan, Tony Pulis became the new manager of Stoke. Thomas' career flourished under Pulis and so, with his contract running out in the summer of 2005, several Championship clubs were looking to sign him on a free transfer after he stated that he was unhappy with Stoke taking too long to offer him a new contract.

Burnley

The race was eventually won by Cotterill, then managing Burnley, after Cotterill flew out to the player's holiday home in Florida to persuade him. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for Burnley against Coventry…

In March 2015, Thomas was appointed as an academy coach with the New York Red Bulls. He went back to playing football in 2016, when he signed with Kidderminster Harriers. He was sent out on loan to Altrincham for a month, and after his return, apart from being a player, he also earned a role as a coach for the under-19 squad. Later in the 2016–17 season, he spent a month on loan at Southern League Premier Division side Stratford Town. In May 2017, he was appointed as the new manager of Rushall Olympic while continuing in his coaching role at Kidderminster. He was dismissed by Rushall in October 2017. In October 2017, Thomas returned to Worcester City as a player; on his second début for the club, he was sent off for raising his arms to an opponent. In March 2018, Thomas left Worcester City to take a job at a West Bromwich Albion soccer school in China.

Stoke City

Football League Second Division play-offs: 2002 Individual

Stoke City Player of the Year: 2001–02