Page 10 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Clevedon Town 290122

Thanks and Good Luck Sam!

The Club bids Farewell to Long-Serving
Sam Thomas
As a lot of you will now know last week
Sam accepted an offer to join
Mangotsfield United FC to play in the
southern league. Though I’m running the
risk of people thinking there is a conflict
of interest ( some of you reading this may
not know that he is my son )I felt it only
right that the club should pay tribute to a
player who has given us 11 1/2 years
continuous service, our longest serving
player.
I know he had to think long and hard
before accepting Ray Johnson’s offer, as
Sam has got a lot of friends & made a lot
of memories at the club during this time
but like most sportsman want to
challenge themselves at the highest level
they can.
Making 283 1st team appearance, 55 for the Reserves plus some for the Colts in
2010, he probably picked up more bookings than goals he scored. To jog your
memories, he recalls the hat trick V Cheddar here at the Lancer scott in 2017, the last
Meet the Player
minute close range volley winner at Corsham that Skids got on video when we had
10 men. 2019 at Calne, the 86th minute headed winner that cost Calne 3 points and
a corner flag!
Highly regarded as a central midfield player, he regularly covered at centre half,
particularly this season, in fact played virtually every position on the pitch. Even
going between the sticks when Coomber decided it was time for an early shower, at
Cheddar and then this season versus Exmouth. He has played under five managers
in his time at the club and they all have one thing in common, none of them played
him upfront!

He made the most appearances In our 2013 promotion season to the western
league. Then featured in the pre season game against Bristol City, see the photo of
his “tackle” on Steve Davies!
Like a lot of the lads at this club he has
more than pulled his weigh in the
background and helping with
maintenance, sorting the TV football
service, his plumbing company SNT
sponsor the first team away kit and the
training kit.
We wish you every success, we all know
that he will be back when he doesn’t
have a game and if he has a change of
heart I’m sure he’ll pick the phone up to
Beech.
All the best Tomo.
Sam v BCFC always liked a tackle