# Mitchell Thomas

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For the Australian curler, see [Mitchell Thomas (curler)](/source/Mitchell_Thomas_(curler)).

**Mitchell Thomas** (born 2 October 1964) is an English former [footballer](/source/Association_football) who played as a [defender](/source/Defender_(association_football)). While at [Tottenham Hotspur](/source/Tottenham_Hotspur_F.C.) he started in the [1987 FA Cup Final](/source/1987_FA_Cup_Final).

## Playing career

[David Pleat](/source/David_Pleat) brought Thomas into the [Luton Town](/source/Luton_Town_F.C.) side from [Limbury](/source/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](/source/Tim_Breacker) and [Mike Newell](/source/Mike_Newell_(footballer)).[citation needed] [3] [4] He was sold to [Tottenham](/source/Tottenham_Hotspur_F.C) in July 1986 for a fee of £275,000, following the same movement of manager [David Pleat](/source/David_Pleat).[citation needed] After his spell at Tottenham during which he played in the [1987 FA Cup Final](/source/1987_FA_Cup_Final), Thomas moved to [West Ham Utd](/source/West_Ham_United_F.C.) in August 1991 for £500,000 joining former Luton teammate [Tim Breacker](/source/Tim_Breacker).

On transfer deadline day in March 1994, he returned to [Luton Town](/source/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](/source/Stan_Ternent) signed Thomas, for [Burnley](/source/Burnley_F.C.), for the start of the [1999-2000 season](/source/1999-2000_in_English_football), which they ended by winning promotion. He remained at [Turf Moor](/source/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](/source/Jermain_Defoe) to Tottenham Hotspur[6] and [Shaun Wright-Phillips](/source/Shaun_Wright-Phillips) to [Chelsea](/source/Chelsea_F.C.).[7] [8] Thomas was also embroiled in a controversy of this type when he was transferred to Tottenham.[9]

## References

1. Dunk, Peter (ed.) (1987). *Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88*. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 368. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.

1. ["England U21 results to 1985"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-u21-intres76.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*

1. ["England U21 results from 1986"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-u21-intres86.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100125164210/http://rsssf.com/tablese/eng-u21-intres86.html) 25 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Haylett, Trevor (25 March 1994). ["Football: Peacock goes but Francis stays: Mixed day at Queen's Park Rangers while Limpar joins Everton and Beagrie hops to City"](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-peacock-goes-but-francis-stays-mixed-day-at-queens-park-rangers-while-limpar-joins-everton-and-beagrie-hops-to-city-1431375.html?CMP=ILC-refresh). *The Independent*

1. ["Legal wrangle looms for Jermain Defoe over mother's role in Spurs move"](http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jan/08/tottenham-portsmouth). *The Guardian*. 8 January 2009.

1. Conn, David (9 March 2010). ["Shaun Wright-Phillips and Chelsea face questions over unlicensed agent"](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/mar/09/shaun-wright-phillips-chelsea-agent). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 12 May 2010.

1. Conn, David (10 March 2010). ["Wright-Phillips deal offers Quest chance of belated success"](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2010/mar/10/david-conn-inside-sport-blog). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 12 May 2010.

1. ["More strife for Spurs"](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-more-strife-for-spurs-1420849.html?cmp=ilc-n). *The Independent*. 6 June 1994. Retrieved 12 May 2010.

## External sources

- [Luton sell Mitchell.](https://archive.today/20030421233526/http://www.lutonfc.com/greatestever.asp)
- ["Goodbye to Mitchell" from Clarets-Mad.](http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/feat/ed94/goodbye_to_mitchell_48548/index.shtml)
- [Mitchell Thomas at Clarets-Mad.](http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/feat/ed35/mitchell_thomas_312348/index.shtml)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mitchell Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Thomas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Thomas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.