In memoriam: Barrie Thomas

Scunthorpe United is saddened to learn of the passing of former forward Barrie Thomas at the age of 88.

The Iron's second highest all-time league goalscorer with 93 goals across two spells, and third in the all-time overall standings with 96 strikes, and holds a number of club records the side, including most league goals in a season (31 - achieved by January), and most goals in a league game (five).

Thomas, born in Measham, joined the club in September 1959 from Mansfield Town and would score in his second and third games for the club, against Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town respectively before a five-game spell out of the side. Once he returned, he would enjoy a prolonged spell in the team, only missing the final three games of the campaign. He would end the 1959-60 season with 10 goals in 25 appearances - the club finishing 15th in Division Two.

The following season, he would play all 42 league games and reach an impressive figure of 26 goals. He would also net a hat-trick in the FA Cup in a 6-2 victory over Blackpool. The campaign would end with six braces in the league as the side improved on their position, finishing ninth.

1961-62 would prove to be a season definer, both for Thomas and for the club. His prolific goalscoring reached brand new heights, but his campaign would only see him remain with the club for half of the season. It's not often a player scores more goals than appearances made, but Thomas did just that, finishing on a tally of 31 strikes in just 24 league appearances. That run included six braces and two impressive four-goal performances, one in a 5-1 victory over Plymouth and the other in a 4-1 away win at Leeds United.

The goalscoring heights that he reached up until January had quite rightly attracted attention from teams in Division One but it was perhaps bizarrely fellow Division Two side Newcastle United who acquired his services. They opened their cheque book, however, offering a massive sum of £35,000, plus two of their players in Ken Hodgson and John McGuigan, and that became impossible to refuse. A few crucial defeats in the second half of the season, in the absence of Thomas, would see United finish fourth and just miss out on promotion to Division One. It still remains the club's highest-ever league finish. Newcastle finished the campaign in 11th.

The side were relegated back to Division Three by the time Thomas returned from Newcastle United in November 1964 for a sum of £20,000, still maintaining a decent profit for Scunthorpe.

Thomas wasted no time getting back to double figures for the club, registering 13 goals in 23 appearances during the second half of the 1964-65 campaign. That run included two braces before he even surpassed his own expectations on April 24, 1965.

United welcomed Luton Town to the Old Show Ground and 2,755 witnessed a piece of history. Thomas grabbed five goals and the final score would be a record one of 8-1; a record which has since been equalled, but not surpassed.

His run in the side in 1965-66 would be stagmented, but he still got to double figures in 19 appearances during the campaign. The following season would see him play his last handful of games for the club, reaching 10 appearances and still managing three goals.

Along with playing for the Stags, the Iron and the Magpies, Thomas also represented Leicester City and Barnsley in his career before calling a day on his playing career in 1968 due to injury. He was prolific wherever he went, amassing an impressive 211 goals in 338 appearances.

Barrie passed away on Saturday, August 30th, and the thoughts of everyone at Scunthorpe United are with his family and friends at this sad time.