Bill Thompson

William Gordon Thompson (10 August 1921 – 26 December 1986) was a Scottish footballer who played in the Football League as a wing half for Portsmouth and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. He went on to manage clubs in England and the Netherlands.

Life and career

Born in Glasgow, He went on to play in the League for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and in non-league football for Guildford City. In May 1957, he was the pick of more than thirty applicants for the post of manager at Third Division South club Exeter City, but lasted only until January 1958, when the club announced his departure by mutual agreement, though Thompson himself said he had been sacked. A few days later, he was appointed manager of Southern League Worcester City, leading them to victory against Liverpool in the 1958–59 FA Cup and remaining in post until 1962.

He went on to coach abroad, including in the Netherlands with Sparta Rotterdam from 1963 to 1966 and HFC Haarlem from 1970 to 1971.

Honours Portsmouth Football League First Division: 1948–49, 1949–50 FA Charity Shield: 1949

Guildford City Southern League Premier Division: 1955–56

Sparta Rotterdam KNVB Cup: 1965–66