INOIT
Well-known member
A tribute by Blackpool FC historian Gerry Wolstenholme.
Max Thompson was born in Liverpool on 31 December 1956 and joined Liverpool as a 15-year-old apprentice, playing in central defence in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, before signing as a professional in January 1974. He became Liverpool’s youngest ever debutant at 17 years 129 days when Bill Shankley picked him for the one League game he played for the club, at centre forward against Tottenham Hotspur in the final game of the 1973/74 season; his record stood until May 2010 when it went to Jack Robinson who played as a 16-year-old. He did play one other first team game in the EUFA Cup side and was a regular member of the championship winning reserve side. And he spent the summer of 1977 playing in America in the North American Soccer League with Dallas Tornadoes, playing 21 games and scoring two goals.
Max also operated as a central defender and it was in that position that he was signed by Blackpool on a month’s loan from Liverpool on 30 December 1977. He had decided to accept the offer in the hope of playing first team football.
He made his Blackpool debut at full back for the Central League side against Preston North End reserves on 31 December 1977 when late in the game he ‘overlapped on the right to put the North End defence in a fix before they cleared’ as the game was drawn 1-1. Coach Derek Armstrong later commented that he was ’highly impressed’ with his performance.
In late January 1978, Blackpool manager Allan Brown was faced with a dilemma because although he wanted to sign Thompson he was concerned that Liverpool might put too high a fee on him. Brown had approached Liverpool manager Bob Paisley but he would not divulge any fee and had been sending his scouts to watch Thompson so that he could get the valuation right! The loan was extended while the two clubs deliberated about an agreed fee.
In the meantime, he made his League debut for Blackpool against Charlton Athletic on 14 January 1978 when Blackpool won 5-1 and he made ‘a notable debut at right back’ in that he was ‘well controlled, strong and classy and got into the opponents’ box more times than any full back since Dave Hatton’s reign’ as Blackpool ’overwhelmed Charlton who hardly managed a fiery attack’.
He kept his place for five games and in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on 11 February 1978, he and Stan McEwan ‘marshalled a fine defence’ as Blackpool drew 2-2. And, his loan having been extended once more, the question was being asked ‘What price Max?’ because by then there was competition from other clubs who wanted to sign the Liverpool reserve. But in the game against Cardiff City on 25 February 1978 he crashed into a barrier and had to leave the field as Blackpool lost 2-1. He was out of the side for three games.
The transfer issue was settled when Blackpool eventually signed him on 8 March 1978 for a then club record fee of £80,000 as the Blackpool management felt that he would make a big impact as a centre half and that he would form a good partnership with either Stan McEwan or Peter Suddaby. Blackpool’s caretaker manager Jimmy Meadow’s view was ‘Thompson has flair and skill and is a valuable asset and the fee was fair.’ Meadows had been appointed following the sacking of Allan Brown, and he immediately had a dilemma as apparently Liverpool had agreed to Thompson playing in America again in the 1978 close season so Blackpool honoured the deal, albeit begrudgingly for Meadows said that deals with American clubs generally caused problems for their English counterparts. Meadows commented, ‘I didn’t want Max to go and he will not be going next year.’
Max returned to the League side for a 2-1 defeat by Bolton Wanderers on 25 March 1978 but in the following match against Sunderland, a 1-1 draw, he injured his hamstring and was sidelined once again.
Fit again and returning to the League side once more as substitute against Millwall on 15 April 1978, he had to replace an injured Alan Ainscow after just half-an-hour and rather than disturb the defence he was played up front as Blackpool lost 2-0.
The view in April 1978 just before the end of the season was ‘The club has four cracking defenders in Peter Suddaby, Maxie Thompson, Stan McEwan and Brian Wilson. But someone has to have the guts to pick two of them and stick to their guns, and have the other two competing for places, and not shift one of them from right back to the left wing in a vain attempt to keep everyone happy.’ Max finished the 1977/78 season having played 11 League games and made one substitute appearance.
In the 1978/79 pre-season he scored his first goal for the club in a friendly game against Fort Lauderdale Strikers on 7 August 1978 when Blackpool won 3-2.
Relegated to Division three, Blackpool appointed Bob Stokoe for a second spell at the club and the manager was upset in August 1978 because there was a hold-up in Thompson being released to return to play in England after his summer playing for Dallas Tornadoes in the North American Soccer League, where he scored two goals in 22 games.
Dallas did not immediately sign the release papers and Blackpool were pressing them as late as 14 August 1978 to do so. Even though Thompson was under contract to Blackpool who now held his registration, he could not play until the release had been signed. Stokoe said, ‘It is not for me to comment on the system that applies in such transfers, but we need Maxie and I hope we sort this one out so that I can have 13 men to pick from on Wednesday.’ In the event he was not available for the Wednesday game, a League Cup second leg tie against Carlisle United.
(Continued)
Max Thompson was born in Liverpool on 31 December 1956 and joined Liverpool as a 15-year-old apprentice, playing in central defence in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, before signing as a professional in January 1974. He became Liverpool’s youngest ever debutant at 17 years 129 days when Bill Shankley picked him for the one League game he played for the club, at centre forward against Tottenham Hotspur in the final game of the 1973/74 season; his record stood until May 2010 when it went to Jack Robinson who played as a 16-year-old. He did play one other first team game in the EUFA Cup side and was a regular member of the championship winning reserve side. And he spent the summer of 1977 playing in America in the North American Soccer League with Dallas Tornadoes, playing 21 games and scoring two goals.
Max also operated as a central defender and it was in that position that he was signed by Blackpool on a month’s loan from Liverpool on 30 December 1977. He had decided to accept the offer in the hope of playing first team football.
He made his Blackpool debut at full back for the Central League side against Preston North End reserves on 31 December 1977 when late in the game he ‘overlapped on the right to put the North End defence in a fix before they cleared’ as the game was drawn 1-1. Coach Derek Armstrong later commented that he was ’highly impressed’ with his performance.
In late January 1978, Blackpool manager Allan Brown was faced with a dilemma because although he wanted to sign Thompson he was concerned that Liverpool might put too high a fee on him. Brown had approached Liverpool manager Bob Paisley but he would not divulge any fee and had been sending his scouts to watch Thompson so that he could get the valuation right! The loan was extended while the two clubs deliberated about an agreed fee.
In the meantime, he made his League debut for Blackpool against Charlton Athletic on 14 January 1978 when Blackpool won 5-1 and he made ‘a notable debut at right back’ in that he was ‘well controlled, strong and classy and got into the opponents’ box more times than any full back since Dave Hatton’s reign’ as Blackpool ’overwhelmed Charlton who hardly managed a fiery attack’.
He kept his place for five games and in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on 11 February 1978, he and Stan McEwan ‘marshalled a fine defence’ as Blackpool drew 2-2. And, his loan having been extended once more, the question was being asked ‘What price Max?’ because by then there was competition from other clubs who wanted to sign the Liverpool reserve. But in the game against Cardiff City on 25 February 1978 he crashed into a barrier and had to leave the field as Blackpool lost 2-1. He was out of the side for three games.
The transfer issue was settled when Blackpool eventually signed him on 8 March 1978 for a then club record fee of £80,000 as the Blackpool management felt that he would make a big impact as a centre half and that he would form a good partnership with either Stan McEwan or Peter Suddaby. Blackpool’s caretaker manager Jimmy Meadow’s view was ‘Thompson has flair and skill and is a valuable asset and the fee was fair.’ Meadows had been appointed following the sacking of Allan Brown, and he immediately had a dilemma as apparently Liverpool had agreed to Thompson playing in America again in the 1978 close season so Blackpool honoured the deal, albeit begrudgingly for Meadows said that deals with American clubs generally caused problems for their English counterparts. Meadows commented, ‘I didn’t want Max to go and he will not be going next year.’
Max returned to the League side for a 2-1 defeat by Bolton Wanderers on 25 March 1978 but in the following match against Sunderland, a 1-1 draw, he injured his hamstring and was sidelined once again.
Fit again and returning to the League side once more as substitute against Millwall on 15 April 1978, he had to replace an injured Alan Ainscow after just half-an-hour and rather than disturb the defence he was played up front as Blackpool lost 2-0.
The view in April 1978 just before the end of the season was ‘The club has four cracking defenders in Peter Suddaby, Maxie Thompson, Stan McEwan and Brian Wilson. But someone has to have the guts to pick two of them and stick to their guns, and have the other two competing for places, and not shift one of them from right back to the left wing in a vain attempt to keep everyone happy.’ Max finished the 1977/78 season having played 11 League games and made one substitute appearance.
In the 1978/79 pre-season he scored his first goal for the club in a friendly game against Fort Lauderdale Strikers on 7 August 1978 when Blackpool won 3-2.
Relegated to Division three, Blackpool appointed Bob Stokoe for a second spell at the club and the manager was upset in August 1978 because there was a hold-up in Thompson being released to return to play in England after his summer playing for Dallas Tornadoes in the North American Soccer League, where he scored two goals in 22 games.
Dallas did not immediately sign the release papers and Blackpool were pressing them as late as 14 August 1978 to do so. Even though Thompson was under contract to Blackpool who now held his registration, he could not play until the release had been signed. Stokoe said, ‘It is not for me to comment on the system that applies in such transfers, but we need Maxie and I hope we sort this one out so that I can have 13 men to pick from on Wednesday.’ In the event he was not available for the Wednesday game, a League Cup second leg tie against Carlisle United.
(Continued)
