| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Steven Howard Thompson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1978-10-14)14 October 1978 (age 47) | ||
| Place of birth | Paisley, Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–2003 | Dundee United | 133 | (18) |
| 2003–2006 | Rangers | 62 | (17) |
| 2006–2008 | Cardiff City | 97 | (16) |
| 2008–2011 | Burnley | 83 | (13) |
| 2011–2016 | St Mirren | 154 | (44) |
| Total | 529 | (108) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997–1999 | Scotland U21 | 12 | (5) |
| 2002–2004 | Scotland | 16 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Steven Howard Thompson (born 14 October 1978) is a Scottish former professionalfootballer, and current television pundit who played forDundee United,Rangers,Cardiff City,Burnley andSt Mirren. He was also aScotland international between 2002 and 2004.
Born inPaisley, he started his career atDundee United in 1996 and made his début as a substitute in a league match againstHearts in 1997. With United he won theSFL Youth League in 1997.[2] Byseason 1998–1999 he had become a regular in the Dundee United team and in October 2002 began talks on a new contract,[3] insisting a week later they were "going well".[4] Amidst speculation thatRangers were interested in signing Thompson, talks resumed in mid-November,[5] only for the move to Rangers to all but be confirmed before the end of the month.[6] Following talks on a new contract broken down, it announced that Dundee United had placed Thompson on a transfer list.[7]
OnBoxing Day 2002, Thompson moved to Rangers for £200,000 withBilly Dodds having returned toTannadice twenty-four hours earlier,[8] though Sky Sports reported the move was completed on 31 December 2002.[9] Thompson scored on his debut in the 3–1 win overDundee.[10]
After suffering knee ligament damage in September 2003,[11] Thompson missed most of the season, undergoing surgery which was successful[12] and returning in March.[13] Later in the 2003–04 season, Thompson would go on to score six goals in the remaining matches, which included a 2–1 loss in anOld Firm game on 28 March 2004.[14]
Thompson played in the majority of matches thefollowing season and despite having played in nearly every match of2005–06, Thompson would score his first Champions League goal, in a 2–2 draw againstPetržalka 1898, in Matchday Four, on 1 November 2005.[15] By the end of December, Thompson was allowed to move toCardiff City for a fee of £250,000 in January 2006.[16] He was previously linked with a move to SPL rivalsAberdeen.[17]
During his first year atNinian Park, he scored twice on his debut, on 14 January 2006, in a 3–0 win overBurnley.[18] Since his debut, he was a regular first team member and spent the year forming a partnership with fellow strikerMichael Chopra. He played a total of 45 games in both league and cup competitions during his first year but only managed to find the net 6 times. Thompson was transfer listed in the summer of 2007 due to his inability to score goals consistently at Championship level but a bizarre injury prevented him from leaving the club.[19] Thompson was on holiday in the US when he fell off a banana boat, being towed behind another boat, which caused him to sustain a groin injury that required surgery.[20][21] He returned from the injury on 15 September where he came off the bench to grab a late equaliser in a league match againstPlymouth Argyle and continued to progress making his first start for Cardiff in five months in November. However, despite his increasing form he was not formally taken off the transfer list and attracted interest fromScottish Premier League sideAberdeen.[22]
During November and the beginning of December, Thompson was first choice striker for the Bluebirds and normally lined up alongsideJimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the squad and he found the net three times during this period, againstHull City,Colchester United andBlackpool. After these matches Thompson held an interview with Scottish newspaperThe Herald in which he claimed that managerDave Jones had made him a scapegoat for Cardiff's failure to reach the play-offs the previous year. During the interview he also revealed that he and Jones rarely speak to each other any more after he was placed on the transfer list.[23] A day later on 15 December he was sent off in a derby match againstBristol City after a foul on Bristol goalkeeperAdriano Basso by refereeUriah Rennie, who was heavily criticised by Dave Jones for his handling of the game.[24]
On 14 January 2008, Cardiff managerDave Jones revealed that the club had received two offers for Thompson from anotherFootball League Championship club, but they had been turned down.[25] In the 2008–09 season, Thompson played four times for Cardiff City, including his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win overSouthampton on the opening game of the season.[26]
On 1 September 2008, after spending over a year on the transfer list at Cardiff, he signed forBurnley on a two-year deal linking up with managerOwen Coyle again, during Coyle's time at Dundee United Thompson used to clean his football boots.[27] He made his Burnley debut on 13 September againstNottingham Forest and went on to make over 40 appearances for the side during the season scoring a career high total of 11 goals, including a 20-yard volley on 12 May in the 2–0 win overReading in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final.[28] His form led manager Owen Coyle to label him "the best free transfer of the season".[29]
In the 2009–10 season, with Burnley now in the Premier League for the first time in 33 years, Thompson's opportunities were mainly limited to cameo roles. Following Coyle's departure to rival Bolton and was replaced byBrian Laws, He scored his firstPremier League goal for Burnley in a 2–1 defeat byWolves on 13 March 2010.[30] Despite Burnley being relegated, Thompson went on to score three goals in the remaining matches, againstSunderland,[31]Birmingham City[32] andTottenham Hotspur.[33] Thompson was offered a new one-year contract by Burnley,[34] which he accepted.[35]
In the 2010–11 season, with Burnley back in the Championship after one season in the Premier League, Thompson again saw his opportunities limited. Thompson would score an equaliser against his former club, Cardiff City, in a 1–1 draw.[36] Thompson said after the match:"It's important we kept up our momentum, going into these two bigs games at Watford and Cardiff, and taking four out of six points is a good return, on the back of our win against Norwich before that. We're building momentum and looking forward. This is the first time certainly I've felt we're really picking up a bit of speed here."[37] After the 2010–11 season, Thompson was released by the club.[38] Following his release, Thompson announced he would return to Scotland for the first time since leaving Rangers for Cardiff City. In addition, Thompson stated he enjoyed playing for the club.[39]
Steven Thompson signed a two-year deal with boyhood heroesSt Mirren on 1 June 2011.[40] After the move, Thompson says his main objective at the club is to aim for to climb the SPL table.[41]
He made his home debut at St Mirren Park againstMorton in the Renfrewshire Cup match, which St Mirren won 4–2. Thompson scored two goals in the match.[42] Thompson won, and then missed, a penalty kick on his debut againstDunfermline Athletic on the opening game of the season.[43] After the match, BossDanny Lennon believes Thompson should remain as a penalty taker.[44] On 6 August 2011, Thompson would score his first goal for the club, in a 1–1 draw against former club, Dundee United. Three weeks later, on 23 August 2011, Thompson scored twice, in the second round of Scottish League Cup, in a 4–3 win over Morton. He ended his eight games without scoring, on 15 October 2011, when he scored against his former club, Rangers, as both sides drew 1–1. After the match, Thompson says scoring against his former side at Ibrox stadium is "brilliant" and a "great feeling" to equalise.[45] Thompson since a regular first team member and scoring form shortly became very slow. Thompson then scored his first hat-trick for St Mirren against Dunfermline Athletic in April 2012 to take his tally for the season to 15.[46] After the match, Thompson spoke about his hat-trick and revealed he hadn't scored a hat-trick over a decade ago.[47]
In the 2012–13 season, Thompson starts his season when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss againstHibernian on 18 August 2012. Soon, that was followed up, on 29 September 2012, when he scored a brace, including an overhead kick and winning the penalty, allowingLewis Guy to score, in a 5–4 thrilling victory againstRoss County. From 21 December 2012 to 30 December 2012, Thompson scored four goals in three consecutive matches. Thompson scored in a 3–2 win overCeltic to send the club through to the final of the Scottish League Cup.[48] In February 2013 he agreed a new one-year contract with St Mirren.[49] He went on to score the second goal in a 3–2 victory against the Edinburgh team Heart of Midlothian which led to the Paisley team winning the League Cup final.[50] Following the win, Thompson described winning the Scottish League Cup as "bursting with pride" and amazing feeling.[51]
Thompson scored his first goal of the 2013/14 season in a 1–1 draw againstAberdeen on 30 September 2013.[52] He then followed up with a brace in a 3–0 win overPartick Thistle on 9 November 2013,[53] and another came in the next game, as St Mirren win 2–1 over Ross County.[54] Thompson would score another brace, in a 3–2 win overMotherwell on 5 April 2014, which relegated Hearts to the Scottish Championship and helped St Mirren stay in the Scottish Premiership for another season.[55] Thompson finished the season on high, becoming the club's top-scorer, as well as finishing in eighth place. At the end of season 2013–14, Thompson was named as new club captain by new St Mirren managerTommy Craig.[56] The striker replacedJim Goodwin in the role, as the Irishman took up a newplayer-coach role under Craig. Upon becoming captain, Thompson said being captain was an honor and it made him proud. He also intended to finish his career at St Mirren.[57]
On 23 April 2015, at the club's Ralson Training Complex, Thompson threw a spiked pole at teammateJohn McGinn, after losing possession in a training session.[58] The pole went a centimetre into McGinn's leg and tore the muscle, but did not do any long term damage; McGinn missed the remainder of the season due to this injury.[59] Thompson apologised for the incident, describing it as a "prank."
Following Saints relegation from theScottish Premiership, Thompson signed a new one-year deal with the club on 26 June 2015.[60] Thompson retired at the end of the 2015/16 season, with his final appearance being a 2–2 draw with Rangers.[61][62]
Thompson has been capped for Scotland atunder-21 level and won his first fullScotland cap againstFrance in March 2002 and got his first start a month later,[63] scoring his first goal in May 2002 against aHong Kong League XI during theHKSAR Reunification Cup.[64] He would score twice more for his country, in a 3–1 friendly win overCanada atEaster Road in October 2002 and equalizing in a 1–1 draw away toMoldova in a World Cup qualifier in October 2004.
Thompson is a musician and in May 2008 he penned a song for Cardiff'sFA Cup final appearance.[65][66] His dad, Graham, is also a musician and plays in a Glasgow pub band called Dr. Cook and the Boners.[67] Following St Mirren winning the Scottish League Cup, Thompson revealed he wrote a song for the club, but decided against playing the song in public, even if the club win the Cup.[68]
While growing up, Thompson attended Houston Primary School andGryffe High School, as did his children.[69]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dundee United | 1996–97 | Scottish Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
| 1997–98 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 10 | 1 | |||
| 1998–99 | Scottish Premier League | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 | 1 | ||
| 1999–2000 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | – | 34 | 6 | |||
| 2000–01 | 31 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 37 | 4 | |||
| 2001–02 | 31 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | – | 37 | 10 | |||
| 2002–03 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | – | 23 | 9 | |||
| Total | 133 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 9 | – | 161 | 31 | |||
| Rangers | 2002–03 | Scottish Premier League | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2003–04 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 19 | 8 | ||
| 2004–05 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4[d] | 2 | 33 | 10 | ||
| 2005–06 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7[c] | 1 | 22 | 3 | ||
| Total | 62 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 85 | 23 | ||
| Cardiff City | 2005–06 | Championship | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 | 4 | |
| 2006–07 | 43 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 | 6 | |||
| 2007–08 | 36 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 42 | 6 | |||
| 2008–09 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 5 | 1 | |||
| Total | 97 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 106 | 17 | |||
| Burnley | 2008–09 | Championship | 34 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3[e] | 1 | 42 | 11 |
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 20 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 23 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 | Championship | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | 35 | 3 | ||
| Total | 83 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 18 | ||
| St Mirren | 2011–12 | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | – | 43 | 16 | |
| 2012–13 | 34 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | – | 41 | 16 | |||
| 2013–14 | 37 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | 41 | 16 | |||
| 2014–15 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 21 | 4 | |||
| 2015–16 | Scottish Championship | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[f] | 1 | 32 | 2 | |
| Total | 154 | 44 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 180 | 54 | ||
| Career total | 529 | 108 | 47 | 11 | 37 | 19 | 19 | 5 | 632 | 143 | ||
| Scotland | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 | 4 | 1 |
| Total | 16 | 3 |
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 May 2002 | Hong Kong Stadium,Hong Kong |  Hong Kong | 2–0 | 4–0 | HKSAR Reunification Cup |
| 2 | 15 October 2002 | Easter Road,Edinburgh |  Canada | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 13 October 2004 | Stadionul Republican,Chişinău |  Moldova | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
