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David Watkin John Thomas (6 July 1917 – 30 March 1991) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward. He played in the Football League for Plymouth Argyle, Watford and Gillingham, scoring 112 goals in 259 appearances. He also played non-league football for Romford and Sittingbourne. His brother, Bob, played in the Football League for several clubs as an inside forward.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Watkin John Thomas[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 July 1917 | ||
| Place of birth | Stepney, England | ||
| Date of death | 30 March 1991 (aged 73)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Dovercourt, England | ||
| Position(s) | Centre forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1938 | Romford | ||
| 1938–1948 | Plymouth Argyle | 74 | (29) |
| 1948–1950 | Watford | 105 | (41) |
| 1950–1953 | Gillingham | 80 | (42) |
| 1953 | Sittingbourne | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| –1955 | Chatham Town | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born in Stepney, Thomas began his career in non-league football with Romford.[2][3] He joined Football League club Plymouth Argyle in 1938, as manager Jack Tresadern's first signing,[3] and established himself as the club's first choice centre forward after Bill Hullett was transferred to Manchester United.[3][4] He made 23 appearances in the Second Division before the Second World War put an end to competitive football in September 1939.[4] He continued to play for Argyle in the South West Regional League until December, scoring five goals in six matches,[4] before guesting for Brentford, Clapton Orient, Fulham, Gillingham, Grimsby Town and West Ham United during the course of the war.[1] Thomas returned to Plymouth Argyle after the war had finished to take part in the 1945–46 Football League South.[3][4] Towards the end of the campaign, his brother Bob joined the club from Brentford and the pair scored 36 goals between them in the 1946–47 season.[3]
Thomas lost his place in the team to Maurice Tadman at the beginning of the 1947–48 campaign.[3] He made his final appearance for Argyle in January 1948 before being transferred to Third Division South club Watford.[3][4] Thomas spent three seasons with Watford and was the club's leading goalscorer twice.[5] He scored 41 league goals in 105 appearances before joining Gillingham in 1950,[2] where he continued to score regularly. He was Gillingham's leading goalscorer in his first season with the club and was tied with Derek Lewis in the 1951–52 campaign.[6] He left the club in 1953 and finished his career back in non-league football with Sittingbourne.[2][4] He later managed Chatham Town and acted as trainer for Gravesend & Northfleet.[1] Thomas died in Dovercourt on 30 March 1991 at the age of 73.[7]
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