Jerome Thomas

Jerome William Thomas (born March 23, 1983 in Wembley, London) is an English footballer currently playing for Portsmouth. He predominantly plays as a winger, but can also operate centrally.

Club career

Arsenal

Thomas impressed as a schoolboy at Luton Town, and joined Arsenal at the age of 18 in 2001. Despite winning the FA Youth Cup twice, in _Arsenal_v._Coventry_.283-1.2C_2-0.29 and _Arsenal_v._Blackburn_.285-0.2C_1-3.29, he found it difficult to break into the first team due to the consistency of Robert Pirès and Freddie Ljungberg. He was soon loaned out to Queens Park Rangers in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. He performed well at QPR - scoring a couple of long distance goals - and made his last appearance on October 29 2002 in an away draw with Wigan. However, upon his return to Highbury his fortunes were little better, making just three appearances in the 2003-04 season - all in the League Cup. After the Gunners signed José Antonio Reyes on January 28 2004, Thomas turned down a new one-year deal with Arsenal and decided it was best to pursue a career elsewhere.

Charlton

Thomas signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Charlton Athletic on February 2 2004, for a transfer fee of £100,000. He made his Premiership and Charlton debut on May 1 in a home draw with Leicester City - a match which relegated the East Midlands club. He quickly fitted into the team: making a total of fifty-nine appearances and scoring four goals over the following two seasons; his first goal came in a 2-3 away win against Tottenham on November 6. As a result of this success, he signed a new three-year contract on August 18 2006, although he found himself absent for the beginning of that season due to a break of his right fifth metatarsal Upon his return to fitness, he resumed his major role in Charlton's season, making a further fifty-seven appearances and scoring three goals in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. Following Charlton's relegation from the top flight, his good form attracted the attention of Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp in January 2008 - although the Pompey boss was doubtful he would be available on loan, seeing as Addicks gaffer Alan Pardew preferred a permanent deal.

Portsmouth

Thomas joined Premier League club, and reigning FA Cup winners, Portsmouth on August 15 2008 on a one-year loan deal, despite Thomas having appeared in both of Charlton's first two games of the season.He was given the number 11 shirt, previously worn by outgoing midfielder Sulley Muntari. He made his league debut for Portsmouth just two days later in a 4-0 away defeat to Chelsea on August 17. Thomas's temporary deal was made permanent on August 21 2008, when he signed a one-year deal with Portsmouth after impressing during his short loan tenure. Charlton will be paid a "small fee" should he play a certain number of matches during the 2008-09 season.

Outside Football

Thomas is the cousin of fellow footballers Jonathan Fortune and Clayton Fortune, and of British rapper Kano - who himself trained as a striker with Chelsea until the age of 13. He is mentioned in Kano's song London Town, from the 2007 album of the same name.

References

External links

• Jerome Thomas player profile at cafc.co.uk