Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
282	270	12	41	0	0	123

Introduced by chance to rugby league at sixteen, a young junior in his first match was so unfamiliar with the game that he punched the ball when it was kicked to him from the kick-off. That same youngster then leamed so quickly that he was soon selected for Yorkshire Under 17s. The coach was due to leave Leeds for Lancashire at 7.30 a.m. and because he had no money, he walked fifteen miles from Knottingley to Leeds to catch the bus. That youngster was Jimmy Thompson, and his subsequent analysis of the 'punching' incident was that 'he might not have understood the game in those early days, but even then nobody got past him'. These anecdotes perfectly illustrate why Jimmy Thompson's attitude and determination made him the RL star that he was, despite having to overcome some devastating injuries.

After that interesting start, he signed from the Rovers juniors in June 1966 and, initially, made a substitute appearance at home to Hull KR on 1 October 1966,before making a full appearance at Leigh the following week. He did not play in Rovers Yorkshire Cup final on 15 October, but was reinstated in the team after the final. Despite his inexperience and youth, he dedicated himself to a high level of fitness and he developed his skills in a manner which almost bordered on the fanatical, but his dedication yielded results. Initially, he couldn't even pass properly and Keith Goulding spent hours on the training field making him pass the ball to hit the posts - and another facet of his game was complete. He applied himself to everything and even his play the ball technique was well nigh perfect.

The capabilities of the young Thompson were vividly illustrated in that first season. His inclusion in the 1967 RL Cup team with its tough encounters all the way to the final against premier Yorkshire club opposition demanded a high level of defensive work which he revelled in. His tackling stint in the final was remarkable for an eighteen year old and his tackle on Murray snuffed out a Barrow try. Equally, it was his run from half-way, only to be downed by Tees two yards from the line, which led to Arnie Morgan scoring from the resultant play.

From that impressive first season he became better and better, despite lengthy lay-offs through serious injuries. He was incapacitated from August 1971 to November 1972, October 1973 to April 1974 and November 1974 to August 1975, and at one stage understandably thought his career was over. He owed his resurrection to the surgical skills of Mr Bain at Durham. 

In the midst of these injuries was interwoven an amazing success story. At club level, after collecting his winner's medal against Barrow, he became one of only three Featherstone players to appear in all three finals of 1967, 1973 and 1974. It was a close thing for the 1974 final against Warrington. He had been out through injury from October 1973 and missed all the rounds including the semi-final u. Leigh on 30 March. He returned on 3 April to play in six of the last seven league games and prove his fitness. Further club honours were runners-up medals in the Yorkshire Cup finals of 1969 and 1970, but he missed the 1976 final because of injury. The pinnacle then was the First Division Championship in 1976/77. When Thompson returned to full fitness at the beginning of 1975/76, he switched to prop a position he had acquired successfully at international level. He only missed one game that season with 38 appearances and he became part of what was probably the most successful front row in the club’s history - Thompson, Bridges and Farrar.  The Rovers finished runners-up, but in 1976/77 then succeeded in landing the league title for the only time in their history - and Thompson weighed in with another mammoth appearances total of 37 out of 41 matches, earning him the John Jepson Trophy for Player of the Season. Although not renowned for his try- scoring, he did score a hat-trick at home to Workington in April 1971.

His impressive representative career commenced on 17 April 1969, when he played for Great Britain v France in the Under 24 game at Castleford. Six months later, he earned his county debut for Yorkshire v Cumberland at Hull, the first of 11 appearances during which he captained the side in 1971. His selection for the Great Britain tour of Australasia in 1970 led to his full international debut, when he played in the Second Test v Australia in Sydney on 20 June 1970. Great Britain had lost the First Test and Thompson replaced Don Robinson. The pack of Hartley Fisher, Watson, Laughton, Thompson and Reilly was the best he ever played in and laid the foundation for Great Britain's 28-7 victory in the Second Test, and 21-17 in the Third Test. That is still the last time that the Ashes were won by Great Britain some fifty years on. The two Tests against New Zealand were also won and, in a very crowded international year, Thompson then played in the World Cup held in England in the autumn. Although disrupted by injury, Thompson was firmly established on the international scene and he toured Australasia again in 1974 [when he played in 21 of 28 games, was rated one of the successes, and appeared (successfully) in the prop position for the first time to help the tour manager out] and in 1977 with another World Cup tournament.

When he returned home in June 1977, his well-earned testimonial season had been concluded and two months later he was transferred to Bradford Northern for £10,000, where he was reunited with former coach Peter Fox.  He, was much as anyone, was fully aware of Thompson's worth and he gave great service to that club before finally moving for a final season with the newly formed Carlisle in 1981/82. He played in 21 games, but then dislocated his shoulder and decided to retire.

Jimmy Thompson is a marvellous example for any aspiring sportsman. He took to the rugby league game with raw natural ability, but it was his dedication, application, determination and aptitude which shaped his illustrious career.  Renowned for his defensive work, his copy-book tackling was awesome. His work rate was exceptional and his fearless and competitive approach was exemplary. He set the standards to inspire others.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey