Jimmy Thompson (rugby league)

For other people with the same name, see James Thompson (disambiguation).

James Thompson (born c. 1948) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, Bradford Northern (captain) and Carlisle, as a prop or second-row.^[1]

Jimmy Thompson

Personal information
Full name	James Thompson
Born	c. 1948 (age 75–76) Pontefract, Yorkshire
Playing information
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1966–77 Featherstone Rovers 282 41 0 0 123 1977–81 Bradford Northern 143+2 10 0 1 31 1981–82 Carlisle 21 1 0 0 3 Total 448 52 0 1 157 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1969 Great Britain U-24 1 0 0 0 0 1969–77 Yorkshire 12 4 0 0 12 1970–78 England 5 0 0 0 0 1970–78 Great Britain 21 1 0 0 3
Source: [1][2][3]

Playing career

Featherstone Rovers

Jimmy Thompson made his début for Featherstone Rovers on 1 October 1966 as a substitute against Hull Kingston Rovers.^[4][5]

Thompson played right-second-row in Featherstone Rovers' 17–12 victory over Barrow in the 1966–67 Challenge Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967, in front of a crowd of 76,290, played right-second-row in the 33–14 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1972–73 Challenge Cup Final during the 1972–73 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 12 May 1973, in front of a crowd of 72,395, and played right-second-row in the 9–24 defeat by Warrington in the 1973–74 Challenge Cup Final during the 1973–74 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1974, in front of a crowd of 77,400.

Thompson played right-second-row in Featherstone Rovers' 9–12 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1969–70 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1969–70 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 20 September 1969, played right-second-row in the 7–23 defeat by Leeds in the 1970–71 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1970–71 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970.

Jimmy Thompson's benefit season/testimonial match at Featherstone Rovers took place during the 1976–77 season.

Bradford Northern

Thompson played left-prop in Bradford Northern's 18–8 victory over York in the 1978–79 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1978–79 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 28 October 1978.

He played left-prop in Bradford Northern's 6–0 victory over Widnes in the 1979–80 John Player Trophy Final during the 1979–80 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 5 January 1980.

Representative honours

Jimmy Thompson won caps for England while at Featherstone Rovers in 1970 against France, in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against Australia (2 matches), in 1977 against Wales, and while at Bradford Northern in 1978 against France (sub), and Wales (sub), and won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers in 1970 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), in the 1970 Rugby League World Cup Australia, France, New Zealand, and Australia, in 1971 against France (2 matches), in 1974 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), in the 1977 Rugby League World Cup against France, New Zealand, and Australia (2 matches), and while at Bradford Northern in 1978 against Australia.

Jimmy Thompson won caps for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1969–70 season against Cumberland, during the 1970–71 season against Cumberland and Lancashire, during the 1973–74 season against Cumbria and Lancashire, during the 1974–75 season against Other Nationalities, during the 1975–76 season against Cumbria, Other Nationalities and Lancashire, and during the 1975–76 season against Cumbria and Lancashire.

Honoured at Featherstone Rovers

Jimmy Thompson is a Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame inductee.^[6]

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. RL Record Keepers' Club
3. "Player Summary: Jimmy Thompson". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
4. Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). Images of Sport – Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club. The History Press. ISBN 0752422952
5. "Rugby League Heroes: Jimmy Thompson". Total Rugby League. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
6. "Featherstone Rovers legends added to Hall of Fame". pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.

External links

• (archived by web.archive.org) The Millennium Masters – Forwards
• Profile at fevarchive.co.uk
• Image "Thompson tries to tackle - Jimmy Thompson tries to tackle the Warrington attacker. - 04/09/1977" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Thompson waits - The Northern players wait as an Australian is cautioned. - 08/10/1978" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Thompson with the Cup - Jimmy Thompson with the Yorkshire Cup won today at Headingley versus York. - 28/10/1978" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Jimmy Thompson scores - Referee Mean points for a try as colleagues congratulate Jimmy Thompson on scoring. - 26/02/1977" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Northern celebrate John Player win - Jimmy Thompson cracks the champagne after Northern's win v Widnes at Headingley. - 05/01/1980" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Jimmy Thompson shows the John Player Trophy to fans. - Jimmy Thompson shows the John Player Trophy to fans. - 15/01/1980" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Jimmy and Nigel parade the Trophy - Jimmy Thopmpson and Nigel Stephenson parade the Trophy in front of the fans at Odsal before the game v St Helens - 29/05/1981" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Jimmy Thompson scores - Jimmy Thompson about to ground the ball to score a vital try in today's cup tie against Leeds - 20/08/1978" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Jimmy Thompson leaves the defenders trailing - International prop forward Jimmy Thompson leaves four Leeds defenders behind as he crosses for his try at Odsal today. - 30/07/1978" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Thompson Clears His Line - Skipper Thompson is brought down whilst clearing his line. Roe looks on. - 25/11/1979" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Graham Idle In Action - Northern's new signing Graham Idle in action today with skipper Jimmy Thompson and hooker Noble watching. - 17/08/1980" at rlhp.co.uk
• Image "Ian Van Bellen bursts through - Ian Van Bellen bursts out of a double tackle in today's Esso cup tie at Odsal while skipper Thompson looks on. - 26/08/1979" at rlhp.co.uk