“If a club did not offer what I believed I was worth, I would move on,” explains Zeph Thomas, whose remarkable 18-year career has included 39 transfers.
The 36-year-old winger from Bradford has become one of football’s most travelled players.
His career has included five periods with Rossington Main, four with Mickleover Sports and three with Frickley Athletic, as well as time abroad with Garden City Broncbusters in the United States, Montegnee in Belgium and Thunder Bay Chill in Canada.
Thomas has represented an exceptionally long list of clubs during his playing career.
Among them are Cowdenbeath, Boston United, Harrogate Town, Scarborough Athletic, Stafford Rangers and Leek Town.
He has also played for Ilkeston Town, Matlock Town, Goole, Glossop North End, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Brighouse Town on two occasions, Emley, Harrogate Railway Athletic, Sheffield, Shaw Lane, Belper Town, Parkgate, Campion, Eccleshill United, Selby Town and Ossett United.
Now, however, Thomas may finally have found a place where he can settle.
The former St Kitts & Nevis international has taken to life as player-manager of ninth-tier South Yorkshire side Dearne & District, having joined the club in that role in 2024.
After claiming the Northern Counties East League First Division title last season, the Goldthorpe-based village club near Barnsley will make its FA Cup debut on Saturday. Dearne & District travel to Runcorn Town for one of 219 extra preliminary-round fixtures.
“In 2021, we were competing in the Doncaster Saturday League, and now we are preparing to play in the FA Cup,” Thomas says.
“It is a major occasion for the local community because this club has never previously appeared in the competition.”
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