Something of an era at Yeovil Town came to an end today with the announcement that Steve Thompson had been released from his contract as Assistant Manager and would be departing Huish Park.
Steve has worked as a coach under five managers at Yeovil, as well as being manager himself for two spells, across the period that saw the club go full-time professional and rise up through the divisions from Non-League to the high point of a League One Play-off Final at Wembley.
An RAF man, his early football career was influenced by where he was stationed. He nearly came to Huish in the Eighties but was posted elsewhere. He made his name as a player in the Wycombe Wanderers team of the early Nineties, winning medals for the Conference title, the F.A. Trophy and a promotion from the then Division Three through the play-offs. In 1996, after three and a half seasons with the Chairboys, he moved to Woking and got another F.A. Trophy Winners medal. Colin Lippiatt, who knew him well through his Woking connections, brought Thommo to Yeovil in a player-coaching role in 1998.
Although registered as a player until the end of his time at Yeovil, and even appearing on the bench this season, his time at Huish Park was mainly spent in the management and coaching side. When Lippiatt departed in 1999 Thommo took over as caretaker and then was given the job permanently. However the HP Revolution was in the air. In came David Webb in 2000, but although the Webb axe cut swathes through the club Thommo was someone he kept hold of, and he became the Assistant Manager. Both the next two managers, Colin Addison and Gary Johnson, saw his value and retained him, the relationship with Johnson in those Glory Years becoming particularly close.
When Johnson left for Bristol City he made it clear there was a job for Thommo there if he either wasn't offered or didn't want the vacancy at Yeovil, but Thommo chose to take the reins for the second time. Against many people's expectations he saw the club through to survival in its first season in League One. Some felt he was treated a bit shabbily when his reward was to be demoted back to Assistant Manager, but he loyally swallowed it and continued in that post under Russell Slade.
In the eleven years (less a month) that Thommo has been at Yeovil Town he has been an integral part in the rise of the club from Conference also rans to a solid member of the Football League. His hard work, commitment and loyalty during that time has been appreciated by those with eyes to see. We sincerely wish him the very best for the future. He has a great deal to offer the game, wherever it takes him.
18 February 2009 : 
