Swindon Sport news, Wiltshire Sport results - From the Swindon Advertiser.
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RIGHT BACK ROD Thomas has been voted Town’s greatest right-back by Swindon Advertiser readers. The Welshman, who was part of the 1969 League Cup-winning side, is the third player to be nominated in Town’s Greatest XI, alongside left-back Paul Bodin and goalkeeper Fraser Digby. And the 62-year-old told the Advertiser that he was delighted to have been given the ultimate accolade by the club’s fans. “I’m very pleased and honoured to be chosen,” said Thomas  “Even though I came to Derby (after playing for Town) and won the
medal in the First Division, I still regard my time at Swindon as the highlight
of my career.”
Thomas was first brought to Swindon in 1964 for £500 from Gloucester
City, but had to wait two years for his first team bow.
He made his debut on 7 May 1966 in the home game against Scunthorpe United
and went on to make 355 appearances for the club, scoring five goals.
Having established himself as first choice for the right-back berth in 1966/67,
Thomas was soon considered one of the best defenders outside the First Division
and he made his full debut for Wales in a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland
in 1967.
He was part of the team that gained promotion to Division Two in 1969 and
stunned Arsenal 3-1 in the League Cup final that same year.
He played in the two-legged win over AS Roma in the Anglo-Italian Cup Winners’
Cup, and more European glory followed at the end of the 1969/70 campaign
in the 16-team Anglo-Italian Cup.
In the final against Napoli on the Italian team’s home ground, Town
stunned their hosts by taking a three-goal lead, only for the match to be
abandoned 11 minutes from the end when Napoli supporters threw concrete
blocks onto the pitch.
Given the success that Town enjoyed during 1969 and 1970, it is unsurprising
that Thomas looks back on that time with great affection.“It was great to win the League Cup final against the Arsenal when we were such underdogs,” said Thomas, who now lives in Derby. “There were other occasions of course, I remember knocking West Ham out of the FA Cup and winning the Italian Cup against Naples. “That was some performance as there were a lot of tough sides along the way, so to win that was very good.” Thomas left Town to link up with former Swindon boss Dave Mackay at Derby in 1973, for a fee of £100,000. When he departed he had collected 30 caps for Wales, the most international appearances by any Town player. He went on to play 50 times for his country. Our search for Town’s greatest-ever centre-backs starts next week See the Swindon Advertiser and online for details on how to cast your vote. THE ROD THOMAS FILE
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