Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson

Born at South Hetton in 1875, Fred started off his goalkeeping career at Sunderland but could not displace the famous Ned Doig so moved to Bury in 1896 where he was altogether more successful and picked up an FA Cup winners medal in 1900.

A subsequent move to Bolton did not work out but it still took a lot of persuasion to entice him south to Luton in the summer of 1903. Fred had all the attributes for a great goalkeeper and remained ever present in 1903-04 keeping 13 clean sheets along the way.

Deciding to move to Portsmouth after only one season he subsequently played for four further clubs in quick succession before ending his career at Brodsworth Colliery.

Fred passed away in Eastbourne in 1958.