39 moves across five countries - football's ultimate journeyman
As he prepares to manage in the FA Cup for the first time, Zeph Thomas tells BBC Sport about his extraordinary career path spanning 39 moves in 18 years.
Zeph Thomas, a 36-year-old footballer born in Bradford, has had an extraordinary career spanning 39 moves across five countries over 18 years. He began his journey at Rotherham United, where he was released in 2008 without playing a senior match. Thomas then embarked on a remarkable journey across non-league football in England, with spells at clubs such as Mickleover Sports, Scarborough Athletic, Matlock Town, Goole, and Brighouse Town (second stint). He also had stints in Kansas, Ontario, Scotland, and Belgium.
Thomas' career took a significant turn when he embraced his player-manager role at Dearne & District, a ninth-tier South Yorkshire club. After their victory in the Northern Counties East League First Division last season, they will play their first-ever FA Cup match on Saturday against Runcorn Town. Thomas' career started with a youth team coach at Rotherham United, coached by former Manchester United forward Mark Robins.
Despite his numerous moves, Thomas believes that playing in different countries was a great experience and encourages young players to explore such opportunities if they get a chance. Currently, Thomas balances his part-time job as a lead coach for Derby County's Under-12s with his role as a player-manager at Dearne & District.
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