Thomas made his debut for Coventry City during the 1979–80 season, making 3 appearances during that season. Over the next three seasons he was a regular for the first team. In June 1983 he was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £250,000. He made his Tottenham league debut on 27 August 1983 in a 3–1 defeat at Ipswich Town. He collected a UEFA Cup winner's medal at the end of the 1983–84 season and made a total of 87 league appearances for the White Hart Lane club, scoring once, before suffering a knee injury in 1987 following a tackle by Gavin Maguire [3] He retired the following year, having failed to recover from the injury.
Appearances
Coventry City:
1979-1980 Played 3 Scored 0 goals (Division 1)
1980-1981 Played 25 Scored 1 goal (Division 1)
1981-1982 Played 39 Scored 1 goal (Division 1)
1982-1983 Played 41 Scored 3 goals (Division 1)
Tottenham:
1983-1984 Played 27 Scored 0 goals (Division 1)
1984-1985 Played 16 Scored 0 goals (Division 1)
1985-1986 Played 27 Scored 1 goal (Division 1)
1986-1987 Played 17 Scored 0 goals (Division 1)
1987-1988 Played 0 Scored 0 goals (Division 1)
International career
He was capped twice by England during the tour of Australia in June 1983, playing 137 minutes for the national side. He is the only English player to win the UEFA Under-21 Championship twice.[4]
Career after football
He completed a degree in physiotherapy after his career came to an end at the age of 26 after a serious injury.[5] With the assistance of the Professional Footballers' Association he completed a master's degree.[6]
After a short period as physio with West Bromwich Albion he went on to run his own practice in Coventry before working in Florida.[7]