{{short description|English footballer}} {{for|the Grenadian cricketer|Wesley Thomas (cricketer)}} {{Use British English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Wes Thomas | image = Wes Thomas August 2014.png | image_size = | caption = Thomas playing for Birmingham City in August 2014 | fullname = Wesley Alexander Nevada Thomas<ref name="Hugman2009-10">{{Cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 |year=2009 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |isbn=978-1-84596-474-0 |page=406}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|1|23|df=y}} | birth_place = Barking, London, England | height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}} | position = Striker | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Queens Park Rangers | youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Waltham Forest | years1 = 2005–2006 | clubs1 = Waltham Forest | caps1 = 32 | goals1 = 17 | years2 = 2006–2007 | clubs2 = Thurrock | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 2007–2008 | clubs3 = Fisher Athletic | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 2008–2010 | clubs4 = Dagenham & Redbridge | caps4 = 27 | goals4 = 3 | years5 = 2008–2009 | clubs5 = → Grays Athletic (loan) | caps5 = 7 | goals5 = 2<!-- Soccerbase don't have full teamsheets for most of Thomas's Grays apps, so their figures are incomplete --> | years6 = 2010 | clubs6 = → Rushden & Diamonds (loan) | caps6 = 0 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2010–2011 | clubs7 = Cheltenham Town | caps7 = 41 | goals7 = 18 | years8 = 2011–2012 | clubs8 = Crawley Town | caps8 = 6 | goals8 = 1 | years9 = 2011–2012 | clubs9 = → Bournemouth (loan) | caps9 = 14 | goals9 = 7 | years10 = 2012–2014 | clubs10= Bournemouth | caps10= 38 | goals10= 4 | years11 = 2012 | clubs11= → Portsmouth (loan) | caps11= 6 | goals11= 3 | years12 = 2012–2013 | clubs12= → Blackpool (loan) | caps12= 9 | goals12= 3 | years13 = 2013 | clubs13= → Birmingham City (loan) | caps13= 11 | goals13= 3 | years14 = 2014 | clubs14= Rotherham United | caps14= 13 | goals14= 5 | years15 = 2014–2016 | clubs15= Birmingham City | caps15= 33 | goals15= 4 | years16 = 2015–2016 | clubs16= → Swindon Town (loan) | caps16= 6 | goals16= 2 | years17 = 2016 | clubs17= → Bradford City (loan) | caps17= 10 | goals17= 1 | years18 = 2016–2018 | clubs18= Oxford United | caps18= 50 | goals18= 13 | years19 = 2018–2019 | clubs19= Grimsby Town | caps19= 36 | goals19= 11 | years20 = 2019–2021 | clubs20= Notts County | caps20= 36 | goals20= 10 | totalcaps = 375 | totalgoals = 107 | club-update = 17:16, 25 January 2021 (UTC) }} '''Wesley Alexander Nevada Thomas''' (born 23 January 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.
He began his career in non-league football with various clubs in and around London before making his debut in the Football League for Dagenham & Redbridge in 2008. After loan spells in the Conference with Grays Athletic and Rushden & Diamonds, he spent a season with League Two club Cheltenham Town. He briefly joined Crawley Town before moving into League One with AFC Bournemouth. After one full season at Bournemouth, he went out on loan again, to Portsmouth, Blackpool and Birmingham City. He joined Rotherham United for the second half of the 2013–14 season before rejoining Birmingham, this time on a permanent basis. In 2015–16, he spent time on loan at Swindon Town and Bradford City, before joining newly promoted Oxford United after the season ended.<ref name="BBC36626045">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36626045 |title=Oxford United: Wes Thomas and Aaron Martin sign two-year deals |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2016 |access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> He later had stints with Grimsby Town and Notts County.
==Career== Thomas began his football career at Queens Park Rangers, but was released at the end of his two-year scholarship. He moved into non-league football alongside studying for a BTEC National Certificate in Media.<ref name="Wes Thomas BTEC">{{cite news |title=Wes Thomas: 'I got 19 that season and I felt that I could progress and play at a higher level' |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-striker-wes-thomas-1319701 |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=15 February 2013 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> He was top scorer for Waltham Forest in the 2005–06 Southern League Eastern Division,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walthamforest-fc.co.uk/statistics/player.php?id=227 |title=Profile: Wesley Thomas |first=Steve |last=Howe |publisher=Waltham Forest F.C. |access-date=28 January 2016}} Select season and competition (Southern League Eastern Division) via dropdown menus.</ref> top scorer for Thurrock in the Conference South the following season,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.confsouth.co.uk/thurrock.htm |title=Thurrock |website=Conference South Guide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025050946/http://www.confsouth.co.uk/thurrock.htm |archive-date=25 October 2007}}</ref> and repeated the feat with Fisher Athletic, also in the Conference South, in 2007–08,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.confsouth.co.uk/fisherathletic.htm |title=Fisher Athletic |website=Blue Square South Guide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913190301/http://www.confsouth.co.uk/fisherathletic.htm |archive-date=13 September 2008}}</ref> before making his debut in the Football League with Dagenham & Redbridge in October 2008.<ref name=sb0809/>
He joined Conference Premier club Grays Athletic on loan in December 2008;<ref>{{cite news |title=Wes Thomas joins Grays Athletic |url=http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk/sport/3943626.Wes_Thomas_joins_Grays_Athletic/ |work=Thurrock Gazette |date=2 December 2008 |access-date=13 February 2013}}</ref> he made eight appearances and scored twice before his loan ended at the end of January 2009.<ref name=GraysStats/> He joined Rushden & Diamonds in March 2010 on loan until the end of the season,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/6054554/ |title=Diamonds take on Thomas |publisher=Sky Sports |date=25 March 2010 |access-date=13 February 2013}}</ref> but never appeared for the first team, and was transfer-listed by Dagenham & Redbridge as they restructured the team following their promotion to League One.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11750/6189598/ |title=Daggers squad taking shape |publisher=Sky Sports |date=3 June 2010 |access-date=13 February 2013}}</ref>
===Cheltenham Town=== In July 2010, Thomas signed a one-year contract with League Two club Cheltenham Town.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8780823.stm |title=Cheltenham Town sign Frankie Artus and Wes Thomas |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 July 2010 |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Gillingham on the opening day of the season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8842789.stm |title=Gillingham 1–1 Cheltenham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2010 |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> and followed up with two against Crewe Alexandra on his second appearance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Robins star keen to kick on |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11744/6318293/ |publisher=Sky Sports |date=17 August 2010 |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> The club were keen for Thomas to sign an extended contract – by January 2011 he was top scorer with 12 goals – but was reluctant to do so because his pregnant girlfriend wanted to stay close to her London home.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11744/6667940/ |title=Thomas torn over Town future |publisher=Sky Sports |date=17 January 2011 |access-date=11 February 2012}}</ref> He scored regularly until the beginning of March, but produced only one more between then and the end of the season; this still left him as the club's top scorer, with 19 goals.<ref name=sb1011/> He chose not to re-sign for Cheltenham, instead joining Crawley Town, newly promoted to League Two, on what Cheltenham chairman Paul Baker described as "staggering" wages.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11744/6963708/ |title=Baker in awe of Thomas' wages |publisher=Sky Sports |date=13 June 2011 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref>
===Crawley Town=== Thomas signed a two-year contract with Crawley Town. Manager Steve Evans described him as "a natural goalscorer" with pace and good movement who was "still developing" as a player.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13608770 |title=Crawley Town sign Wes Thomas and Scott Davies |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 May 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> He made his Crawley debut as a very late substitute on the opening day of the 2011–12 season, and scored in his second game, in a 2–0 win over Macclesfield Town, but was unable to dislodge Tyrone Barnett and Matt Tubbs from the starting eleven,<ref name=sb1112/> and was unhappy about not playing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7166018/ |title=Cherries land Thomas on loan |publisher=Sky Sports |date=9 September 2011 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> He later claimed that Evans had told him he would be first-choice striker.<ref name="Wes Thomas BTEC"/>
===Bournemouth=== Thomas joined League One club Bournemouth on 9 September, initially on a 93-day loan, with an agreement for the move to be made permanent for a "six-figure fee" when the January 2012 transfer window opened.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/9244041.Cherries__Bradbury_completes_Thomas_loan_swoop/ |title=Cherries: Bradbury completes Thomas loan swoop |first=Neil |last=Perrett |work=Bournemouth Echo |date=9 September 2011 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> In his second game, Thomas won a penalty, reacted to a rebound off the crossbar to score his first goal for the club, and set up a goal for Marc Pugh in a 3–1 victory over Leyton Orient.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14799476 |title=Leyton Orient 1–3 Bournemouth |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 September 2011 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> He began to develop a partnership with Michael Symes which both parties and manager Lee Bradbury thought could become productive.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/9312405.Cherries__Symes_excited_by_Thomas_partnership/ |title=Cherries: Symes excited by Thomas partnership |work=Bournemouth Echo |date=19 October 2011 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> The day after his move to Bournemouth was made permanent, Thomas and Symes each scored in a 2–0 defeat of Wycombe Wanderers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/matchreports/9447140.Cherries__Thomas_spearheads_simple_victory/ |title=Cherries: Thomas spearheads simple victory |first=Neil |last=Perrett |work=Bournemouth Echo |date=2 January 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> Despite scoring 11 league goals, Thomas finished the season with an even longer goal drought than he had at Cheltenham; this time he scored only once after January.<ref name=sb1112/>
In the 2013–14 season, Thomas had been linked with League One side Swindon Town,<ref>{{cite news |title=Leon Clarke: Swindon Town show interest in Coventry striker |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23600999 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014}}</ref> but Bournemouth were reluctant to sell Thomas because they were "low on strikers at the moment."<ref>{{cite news |title=Wes Thomas: Bournemouth striker not for sale, says Howe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23618530 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014}}</ref> Having made only ten appearances in the first half of 2013–14 season, the club announced that he would not be offered a new contract by the club when the season ended.<ref>{{cite news |title=AFC Bournemouth: Howe confirms Thomas is set for Dean Court exit |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/10913845.AFC_Bournemouth__Howe_confirms_Thomas_is_set_for_Dean_Court_exit/ |newspaper=Bournemouth Echo |date=3 January 2014 |access-date=3 January 2014}}</ref>
====Portsmouth (loan)==== Thomas's barren spell at Bournemouth continued into the 2012–13 season, amid competition from Lewis Grabban and Matt Tubbs for a starting spot,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/9883702.Cherries__Thomas_can_emerge_from_goal_slump_insists_boss/ |title=Cherries: Thomas can emerge from goal slump insists boss |first=Ian |last=Wadley |work=Bournemouth Echo |date=21 August 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> and on 28 September, manager Paul Groves allowed Thomas to leave on a month's loan to fellow League One club Portsmouth.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19758109 |title=Portsmouth sign Wes Thomas from AFC Bournemouth |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> The next day, he scored a late winner against Scunthorpe United to give Portsmouth their first home league victory of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/portsmth-vs-scunthorpe/262793 |title=Wes makes mark in Pompey win |publisher=Sky Sports |date=29 September 2012 |access-date=28 January 2016}}</ref> He and Izale McLeod performed well as a strike pairing,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/mcleod-striking-the-right-note-with-thomas-1-4367268 |title=McLeod striking the right note with Thomas |first=Jordan |last=Cross |newspaper=The News |location=Portsmouth |date=15 October 2012 |access-date=28 January 2016}}</ref> and helped the club to four league wins and a draw in Thomas's first five matches for the club. He was reluctant to return to his parent club if he was not going be played,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/thomas-wary-of-cherries-return-1-4394739 |title=Thomas wary of Cherries return |first=Neil |last=Allen |newspaper=The News |location=Portsmouth |date=22 October 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> and Michael Appleton wanted to keep him at Portsmouth,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/appy-everyone-s-a-winner-if-thomas-stays-at-pompey-1-4392278 |title=Appy: Everyone's a winner if Thomas stays at Pompey |first=Howard |last=Frost |newspaper=The News |location=Portsmouth |date=20 October 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> but newly appointed manager Eddie Howe recalled him to Bournemouth with the intention of involving him in the squad.<ref name=HoweLeave>{{cite news |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/10066206.Cherries__Thomas_asked_Howe_to_leave/ |title=Cherries: Thomas asked Howe to leave |first=Neil |last=Perrett |work=Bournemouth Echo |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref>
Thomas said he thought Groves had not given him enough backing, and hoped for a fresh start under Howe,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/10040849.Cherries__Thomas_sets_his_sights_on_new_start_under_Howe/ |title=Cherries: Thomas sets his sights on new start under Howe |first=Ian |last=Wadley |work=Bournemouth Echo |date=12 November 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> but a few days later he told the manager he wanted to leave.<ref name=HoweLeave/>
====Blackpool (loan)==== On 22 November, Thomas followed Michael Appleton to Championship club Blackpool, on loan until 1 January 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20425736 |title=Blackpool sign Bournemouth striker Wes Thomas on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 November 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> His first goal came on 1 December in a 4–1 away win at Peterborough United.<ref name=sb1213/> Although Appleton wanted him to stay,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20677378 |title=Michael Appleton wants Wes Thomas to stay at Blackpool |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 December 2012 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> Thomas finished his spell at Blackpool with three goals from nine games and returned to Bournemouth.<ref name=sb1213/>
There was considerable interest in the player's services from Championship clubs including Derby County, Watford,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8387478/ |title=Derby and Watford keen on Bournemouth striker Wes Thomas |publisher=Sky Sports |date=9 January 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> Burnley and Appleton's latest club, Blackburn Rovers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8428372/ |title=Burnley have lodged a bid for Bournemouth forward Wes Thomas |publisher=Sky Sports |date=23 January 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> But after three more appearances for Bournemouth, without scoring, Thomas signed for Birmingham City on loan until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21288228 |title=Wes Thomas: Birmingham sign Bournemouth striker on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=1 February 2013}}</ref>
====Birmingham City (loan)==== Thomas went straight into the starting eleven, partnering Marlon King, for Birmingham's 2–1 win against Nottingham Forest two days later. He played 71 minutes and missed a chance to score on debut, "plant[ing] a shot high and wide of the upright".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/pictures-birmingham-city-2-nottingham-1287836 |title=Birmingham 2 Nottingham Forest 1 |first=Colin |last=Tattum |work=Birmingham Mail |date=2 February 2013 |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref>
Thomas struggled to make an impact until scoring his first goals, against Derby County on 9 March. The ''Birmingham Mail''{{'s}} reporter described how "with his back to goal, Thomas wrestle-turned two defenders and showed great determination before smashing the ball in from a tight angle on the left" to level the scores, and a "thumping drive" in stoppage time completed a 3–1 win.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/birmingham-city-3-derby-county-1732637 |title=Birmingham City 3 Derby County 1 |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=9 March 2013 |access-date=28 January 2016}}</ref> Manager Lee Clark praised Thomas's hold up play and work ethic as well as his goals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lee-clark-praises-birmingham-city-1732750 |title=Lee Clark: 'We just played with lots more power, more pace and energy.' |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=9 March 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014}}</ref> Thomas himself expressed his desire to stay at Birmingham City on a permanent deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21755177 |title=Birmingham City: Wes Thomas hopes loan becomes permanent |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 March 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014}}</ref> Four weeks later, he scored his third and last goal of his loan spell, in a 1–1 draw with Millwall.<ref name=sb1213/> Clark wanted to keep Thomas for the 2013–14 season, but questioned whether a deal was "doable" because of the transfer fee required.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marlon King, Peter Lovenkrands, Darren Ambrose and Hayden Mullins to be shown the door by Blues |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-allow-marlon-king-4010106 |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=24 May 2013 |access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref>
===Rotherham United=== On 14 January 2014, Thomas signed for Rotherham United until the end of the season for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Millers land Cherries striker |url=http://www.themillers.co.uk/news/article/millers-land-cherries-striker-1293888.aspx |publisher=Rotherham United F.C. |date=14 January 2014 |access-date=27 February 2014}}</ref> He scored 6 goals in 16 appearances as Rotherham gained promotion to the Championship, but turned down an offer to stay with the club.<ref name=RejoinsBCFC>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united/rotherham-united-wes-thomas-joins-birmingham-1-6667096 |title=Rotherham United: Wes Thomas joins Birmingham |newspaper=The Star |location=Sheffield |date=11 June 2014 |access-date=28 January 2016}}</ref>
===Birmingham City return=== Thomas signed a two-year contract with Birmingham on 11 June 2014.<ref name=RejoinsBCFC/> He made his second debut in the starting eleven for the opening-day defeat at Middlesbrough,<ref name=sb1415/> and his powerful header against Brighton & Hove Albion on 16 August ended Birmingham's 18-game winless run at home in the league.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28716427 |title=Birmingham 1–0 Brighton |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2014 |access-date=17 August 2014}}</ref> After Gary Rowett replaced Clark as manager, his preference for selecting Clayton Donaldson as lone striker in a 4–2–3–1 formation meant Thomas's appearances came mostly from the bench. Early in the 2014–15 season, after scoring two poacher's goals as Birmingham beat Gillingham in the second round of the League Cup, he admitted he found the situation frustrating.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-2-gillingham-0-9928594 |title=Birmingham City 2 Gillingham 0: Gary Rowett praises 'poacher' Wes Thomas |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=25 August 2015 |access-date=1 September 2015}}<br>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/love-playing-birmingham-city-hopefully-9941158 |title=I love playing for Birmingham City – hopefully I'm here to stay, says Wes Thomas |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=27 August 2015 |access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref> He was released by Birmingham when his contract expired at the end of the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/mark-duffy-wes-thomas-david-edgar-lee-novak-neal-eardley-3104800.aspx |title=Five players leave Blues |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=11 May 2016 |access-date=11 May 2016 |archive-date=15 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815193520/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/mark-duffy-wes-thomas-david-edgar-lee-novak-neal-eardley-3104800.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
====Swindon Town (loan)==== On the 2015 summer transfer deadline day, Thomas joined League One club Swindon Town on loan until January 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/wes-thomas-joins-on-loan-2663310.aspx |title=Wes Thomas joins on loan |publisher=Swindon Town F.C. |date=1 September 2015 |access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref> He scored twice from four league matches in September, but then injured a hamstring and was out for several weeks.<ref name=sb1516/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-boss-gary-rowett-10200438 |title=Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett provides an update on Wes Thomas's loan situation at Swindon Town |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=6 October 2015 |access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Because Swindon's first-team squad contained eight loanees – the rules allow a maximum of five in the matchday squad – he played only twice more after he returned to fitness in what remained of his loan spell.<ref name=sb1516/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/14177285.Loan_terms_put_the_brakes_on_Smith_staying_with_Tykes/ |title=Barnsley manager Lee Johnson says on-loan Swindon Town striker Michael Smith never had the chance to play his way towards a permanent transfer |first=Matthew |last=Edwards |newspaper=Swindon Advertiser |date=1 January 2016 |access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref>
====Bradford City (loan)==== Thomas signed a 93-day emergency loan deal with League One club Bradford City on 29 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/wes-thomas-birmingham-city-2927405.aspx |title=Wes Thomas loaned out |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=29 January 2016 |access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> He made his debut as a half-time substitute in the next day's League One match at home to Fleetwood. With the scores level in stoppage time, Thomas's shot was pushed onto the crossbar by Fleetwood's goalkeeper and Steve Davies touched home the rebound for a late winner.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/bradford-vs-fleetwood/340420 |title=Bradford 2–1 Fleetwood: Bradford leave it late |publisher=Sky Sports |date=30 January 2016 |access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref> He played in ten matches, opening the scoring in a losing cause at home to Colchester United for his only Bradford goal, up to 19 March, but made no further appearances before the end of his loan.<ref name=sb1516/>
===Oxford United=== Thomas signed a two-year contract with Oxford United, newly promoted to League One, on 25 June 2016.<ref name="BBC36626045" /> He scored his first goal for the club on his league debut, in a 1–1 draw with Chesterfield on the opening day of the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36930021 |title=Oxford Utd 1–1 Chesterfield |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 August 2016 |access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> In a game against Coventry City in November, he ruptured his Achilles tendon and missed the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38051585 |title=Wes Thomas: Oxford United striker ruled out for season with Achilles rupture |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 November 2016 |access-date=21 November 2016}}</ref> In 2017–18 he scored 11 goals (10 in the league) and was joint top-scorer with James Henry,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wwfc.com/news/2018/july/league-1-spotlight-oxford-united/ |title=League 1 Spotlight: Oxford United |publisher=Wycombe Wanderers |date=24 July 2018 |first=Tom |last=Hancock |access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref> but was released at the end of the season,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/16333336.oxford-united-boss-karl-robinson-looking-for-attacking-recruits-with-x-factor/ |title=Oxford United boss Karl Robinson looking for attacking recruits with X factor |newspaper=Oxford Mail |date=5 July 2018 |access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref> having scored 15 goals for the club in 57 appearances in all competitions over his two seasons.<ref name="soccerbase">{{Soccerbase|49879|Wes Thomas|accessdate=26 August 2018}}</ref>
===Grimsby Town=== On 17 August 2018, Thomas signed a one-year contract with League Two club Grimsby Town.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45223645 |title=Wes Thomas: Grimsby Town sign Oxford United striker on one-year deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 August 2018 |access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref>
He was released by Grimsby at the end of the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48171521|title=Grimsby Town: Top scorer Wes Thomas among four released by Mariners|date=5 May 2019|access-date=8 May 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
===Notts County=== On 12 August 2019, Thomas signed for Notts County.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/thomas-signs-100819/ | title=Thomas Signs for Notts County}}</ref> On 25 January 2021, Thomas left the club after his contract was mutually terminated.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2021/january/wes-thomas-departs-250121/ |title=Wes Thomas departs |publisher=Notts County FC |date=25 January 2021 |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 7 November 2020}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=3|Dagenham & Redbridge |2008–09<ref name=sb0809>{{soccerbase season|49879|2008|access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> |League Two |5||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||5||0 |- |2009–10<ref name=sb0910>{{soccerbase season|49879|2009|access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> |League Two |23||3||1||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=StatsFLT|Appearances in Football League Trophy}}||0||26||3 |- !colspan=2|Total !28||3||1||0||1||0||1||0||31||3 |- |Grays Athletic (loan) |2008–09<ref name=GraysStats>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407073651/http://www.afcb.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10324~44828,00.html |title=Profile: Wes Thomas |publisher=AFC Bournemouth |archive-date=7 April 2012 |url=http://www.afcb.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10324~44828,00.html}}<br>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/7767878.stm |title=FA Trophy first round results |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 December 2008 |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> |Conference Premier |7||2||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance in FA Trophy}}||0||8||2<!-- Soccerbase don't have full teamsheets for most of Thomas's Grays apps, so their figures are incomplete --> |- |Rushden & Diamonds (loan) |2009–10<ref name=sb0910/> |Conference Premier |0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |Cheltenham Town |2010–11<ref name=sb1011>{{soccerbase season|49879|2010|access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> |League Two |41||18||2||1||0||0||0||0||43||19 |- |Crawley Town |2011–12<ref name=sb1112>{{soccerbase season|49879|2011|access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> |League Two |6||1||0||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=StatsFLT}}||0||8||1 |- |rowspan=4|AFC Bournemouth |2011–12<ref name=sb1112/> |League One |36||11||2||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||38||11 |- |2012–13<ref name=sb1213>{{soccerbase season|49879|2012|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref> |League One |6||0||1||0||1||0||0||0||8||0 |- |2013–14<ref name=sb1314/> |Championship |10||0||0||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||12||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !52||11||3||0||3||0||0||0||58||11 |- |Portsmouth (loan) |2012–13<ref name=sb1213/> |League One |6||3||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||1{{efn|name=StatsFLT}}||0||7||3 |- |Blackpool (loan) |2012–13<ref name=sb1213/> |Championship |9||3||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||9||3 |- |Birmingham City (loan) |2012–13<ref name=sb1213/> |Championship |11||3||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||11||3 |- |Rotherham United |2013–14<ref name=sb1314>{{soccerbase season|49879|2013|access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> |League One |13||5||0||0||0||0||3{{efn|name=L1PO|Appearances in League One Play-Offs}}||1||16||6 |- |rowspan=3|Birmingham City |2014–15<ref name=sb1415>{{soccerbase season|49879|2014|access-date=2 May 2015}}</ref> |Championship |33||4||2||2||2||0||colspan=2|—||37||6 |- |2015–16<ref name=sb1516>{{soccerbase season|49879|2015|access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref> |Championship |0||0||0||0||2||2||colspan=2|—||2||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !33||4||2||2||4||2||colspan=2|—||39||8 |- |Swindon Town (loan) |2015–16<ref name=sb1516/> |League One |6||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||2 |- |Bradford City (loan) |2015–16<ref name=sb1516/> |League One |10||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||10||1 |- |rowspan=3|Oxford United |2016–17<ref name=sb1617>{{soccerbase season|49879|2016|access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref> |League One |13||3||0||0||2||1||2{{efn|name=EFT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}||0||17||4 |- |2017–18<ref name=sb1718>{{soccerbase season |49879|2017|access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref> |League One |37||10||1||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=EFT}}||1||40||11 |- !colspan=2|Total !50||13||1||0||3||1||3||1||57||15 |- |Grimsby Town |2018–19<ref name=sb1819>{{soccerbase season|49879|2018|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> |League Two |36||11||3||1||0||0||1{{efn|name=EFT}}||0||40||12 |- |Notts County |2019–20<ref name=sb1920>{{soccerbase season|49879|2019|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> |National League |32||10||3||0||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=FAT & Play-Offs|Appearances in FA Trophy and National League Play-Offs}}||0||38||10 |- |Notts County |2020–21<ref name=sb2021>{{soccerbase season|49879|2020|access-date=20 March 2020}}</ref> |National League |4||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||4||0 |- !colspan=3|Career total !344||90||15||4||12||3||14||2||385||99 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Rotherham United''' *Football League One play-offs: 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/leyton-orient-vs-rotherham-united/teams/311706 |title=Starting Lineups - Leyton Or vs Rotherham 25.05.2014 |website=Sky Sports |date=25 May 2014 |access-date=11 November 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120217061135/http://www.daggers.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10692~44828,00.html Profile] at Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. website *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120407073651/http://www.afcb.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10324~44828,00.html Wes Thomas player profile] at afcb.co.uk *{{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Wes}} Category:Living people Category:1987 births Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Category:People from Barking, London Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players Category:Waltham Forest F.C. players Category:Thurrock F.C. players Category:Fisher Athletic F.C. players Category:Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. players Category:Grays Athletic F.C. players Category:Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players Category:Crawley Town F.C. players Category:AFC Bournemouth players Category:Portsmouth F.C. players Category:Blackpool F.C. players Category:Birmingham City F.C. players Category:Rotherham United F.C. players Category:Swindon Town F.C. players Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players Category:Oxford United F.C. players Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players Category:Notts County F.C. players Category:Southern Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:English Football League players Category:Black British sportsmen Category:21st-century English sportsmen