Post by Communications Team on Oct 26, 2012 15:08:31 GMT
By Brian Dick - Birmingham Mail
Exactly ten years to the day since his debut, Moseley fly half makes his 200th appearance for the club
TweetShare on printShare on email
Ollie Thomas
When club historians look back at Ollie Thomas’s distinguished Moseley career they might conclude the maverick play-maker succeeded despite the ever-present threat that the baby-face would be chucked out with the bath water.
It seems no matter how many points, breaks or assists the 29-year-old makes – and there have been countless hundreds since he was thrown in the deep end for his first league appearance in a 74-8 hammering by Worcester – it has only ever taken one gaffe to give his various coaches a reason not to pick him.
Yet that perception can’t be entirely correct given the fact this evening, exactly ten years to the day since he came off the bench at Sixways, Thomas will make his 200th appearance in the Red and Black as Moseley take on Doncaster at Castle Park.
Born to a Moseley star of yesteryear, his father Alan played on the wing during the 1970s, there is something of the prodigal son about Thomas’s relationship with his hometown club.
Twice he has left, twice he has done reasonably well on his travels, yet twice he has returned. This evening he finds himself joining an exclusive club of double centurions.
And maybe, just maybe, the consistency that for so long has eluded him as though it was one of his own show-and-gos, is finally developing.
“There is no denying that Ollie is a fantastic footballer and that when he is on song he is up there with some of the best kickers in this league,” said Kevin Maggs.
“At times certain things let his game down but look what he did last week, he kicked seven out of seven, scored a try, created another and you would have to say he is playing very well at the moment.
“He would not have played 200 games if he was not worth his place and although it’s not always been easy for him, he has got Moseley out of the mire on plenty of occasions.”
Indeed, draw up a list of Moseley’s biggest achievements in recent years and Thomas has been there.
Promotion from level three in 2006 came on the back of an outstanding campaign in which he kicked the club to some narrow wins.
Victory at Twickenham three years later might not have been achieved without him coming off the bench and chipping an impudent drop goal. Even more recently he absolutely crushed Birmingham & Solihull with the sheer weight of his scoring as Bees were relegated and he established himself as the man for the post-season.
And now, after a decade, perhaps coaches’ desire to dispense with the bath water has finally drained away.
(Congratulations Ollie)
Exactly ten years to the day since his debut, Moseley fly half makes his 200th appearance for the club
TweetShare on printShare on email
Ollie Thomas
When club historians look back at Ollie Thomas’s distinguished Moseley career they might conclude the maverick play-maker succeeded despite the ever-present threat that the baby-face would be chucked out with the bath water.
It seems no matter how many points, breaks or assists the 29-year-old makes – and there have been countless hundreds since he was thrown in the deep end for his first league appearance in a 74-8 hammering by Worcester – it has only ever taken one gaffe to give his various coaches a reason not to pick him.
Yet that perception can’t be entirely correct given the fact this evening, exactly ten years to the day since he came off the bench at Sixways, Thomas will make his 200th appearance in the Red and Black as Moseley take on Doncaster at Castle Park.
Born to a Moseley star of yesteryear, his father Alan played on the wing during the 1970s, there is something of the prodigal son about Thomas’s relationship with his hometown club.
Twice he has left, twice he has done reasonably well on his travels, yet twice he has returned. This evening he finds himself joining an exclusive club of double centurions.
And maybe, just maybe, the consistency that for so long has eluded him as though it was one of his own show-and-gos, is finally developing.
“There is no denying that Ollie is a fantastic footballer and that when he is on song he is up there with some of the best kickers in this league,” said Kevin Maggs.
“At times certain things let his game down but look what he did last week, he kicked seven out of seven, scored a try, created another and you would have to say he is playing very well at the moment.
“He would not have played 200 games if he was not worth his place and although it’s not always been easy for him, he has got Moseley out of the mire on plenty of occasions.”
Indeed, draw up a list of Moseley’s biggest achievements in recent years and Thomas has been there.
Promotion from level three in 2006 came on the back of an outstanding campaign in which he kicked the club to some narrow wins.
Victory at Twickenham three years later might not have been achieved without him coming off the bench and chipping an impudent drop goal. Even more recently he absolutely crushed Birmingham & Solihull with the sheer weight of his scoring as Bees were relegated and he established himself as the man for the post-season.
And now, after a decade, perhaps coaches’ desire to dispense with the bath water has finally drained away.
(Congratulations Ollie)
