.jpg) Thomas in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 June 1955 | ||
| Place of birth | Hull, England | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–???? | BOCM Ladies | ||
| Reckitts Ladies | |||
| Hull Brewery Ladies | |||
| Preston Ladies | |||
| CP Doncaster Ladies | |||
| –1985 | Rowntrees F.C. Ladies | ||
| 1993–2002 | AFC Preston | ||
| 2004–2009 | Brandesburton Ladies | ||
| International career | |||
| 1974–1985 | Northern England | ||
| 1974–1985 | England | 56 | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Carol Thomas BEM (née McCune; born 5 June 1955) is an English former footballer who played predominantly as a right-back; she is known for her 43-year club career and 9-year captaincy of the England women's national football team, during which she became the first women's international footballer to reach 50 caps.[1][2]
She played club football for a variety of teams around the north of England and was the second captain of England in the modern era, taking over from Sheila Parker in 1976. Thomas became captain at the age of 20[a] and held that position until her retirement with a then-record 56 caps in 1985. She remained England's longest continuous-serving captain before being overtaken by Faye White in 2011; she was also the most successful captain of the England women's national team in terms of tournament successes[3][4] until international titles were won under Leah Williamson.
With her longstanding dedication to both international and grassroots football, she is recognised as one of the largely unsung pioneers of the modern women's game.[2][3][5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
NFMwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Grinstead, Paul (15 October 1984). "Carol – the unsung heroine of football". Hull Daily Mail. p. 11. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023.
- ^ Carol Thomas – National Football Museum Hall of Fame Induction. National Football Museum. 24 November 2021. Event occurs at 0:13–0:19 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Carol Thomas (née McCune): England's unsung heroine". Women's Football Archive. 17 January 2017. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
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