Mitchell Thomas

Mitchell Thomas
Personal information
Full name	Mitchell Antony Thomas
Date of birth	2 October 1964 (age 59)
Place of birth	Luton, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team
1982–1986	Luton Town
1986–1991	Tottenham Hotspur
1991–1994	West Ham United
1994–1999	Luton Town
1999–2002	Burnley
Total
International career
1985–1986	England U21
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mitchell Thomas (born 2 October 1964) is an English former footballer who played as a defender. While at Tottenham Hotspur he started in the 1987 FA Cup Final.

Playing career

David Pleat brought Thomas into the Luton Town side from Limbury boys club in 1982.^{[citation needed]} In 1985/86 Thomas played three games for England U21s in the European U21 championships.^{[citation needed]} He played in a qualifier and one leg each of the quarter and semi finals, with two of his Luton Town colleagues Tim Breacker and Mike Newell.^{[citation needed]} ^[3] ^[4] He was sold to Tottenham in July 1986 for a fee of £275,000, following the same movement of manager David Pleat.^{[citation needed]} After his spell at Tottenham during which he played in the 1987 FA Cup Final, Thomas moved to West Ham Utd in August 1991 for £500,000 joining former Luton teammate Tim Breacker.

On transfer deadline day in March 1994, he returned to Luton Town on a free transfer,^[5] and he stayed there until the club went into receivership over the summer of 1999 and were forced to sell many players. Stan Ternent signed Thomas, for Burnley, for the start of the 1999-2000 season, which they ended by winning promotion. He remained at Turf Moor until retiring as a player in 2002.

Since Retirement

Since retirement from playing, Thomas has played a part in the transfer of several players. His role was controversial resulting in investigations into the transfers of Jermain Defoe to Tottenham Hotspur^[6] and Shaun Wright-Phillips to Chelsea.^[7] ^[8] Thomas was also embroiled in a controversy of this type when he was transferred to Tottenham.^[9]