Mickey Thomas
Not since 1968 had Manchester United
finished in the top two, but Mickey Thomas helped return the Red Devils back to
their rightful place in the elite of English football in the 1979/80 season. He
chipped in with the more than handy return of 8 goals from 35 league
appearances, United winning 6 and drawing 2 of the
league games in which Mickey found the net. In a crucial clash with title
rivals Liverpool, the Old Trafford crowd were electric. Dalglish
put the visitors ahead, but Thomas levelled when he met a Steve Coppell cross
at the foot of the post. Jimmy Greenhoff won the game
with a shot high into the roof of the Stretford end net. The Old Trafford
faithful loved it and even though the title was to
eventually stay at Anfield this great victory would
be some compensation.
Other highs that season for Mickey came
in the 100th Manchester derby, United winning through a single Thomas goal,
whilst his penalty was enough to see the Red Devils through to their first
league triumph at Villa Park since 1963. Things looked rosy for club and player
at the start of the following season, with Mickey scoring the third goal as
United enjoyed a 3-0 opening day victory over Middlesbrough. That result,
however, would prove to be one of the few highlights of the season, with United
winning just 7 of their next 34 league games, to find themselves languishing in
the lower half of the table. A terrific winning run of 7 straight games at the
end of the campaign lifted United up to 8th place but Mickey was to feature in
only 3 of those games.
His last outing of the season - a 1-0
win at home to Crystal Palace on the 4th April - would also prove to be his
last appearance in United colours. He moved on to
Everton, the club he had supported as a boy, in August 1981 for a fee of £450,
000, having scored a total of 15 goals in 110 appearances during his time at
Old Trafford. He gained 51 caps for Wales during his career and scored in a 4-1
defeat of England in 1980, which he names as one of the most memorable moments
of his career.
