Wrexham signed ex-Manchester United star – but historic spell ended in jail sentence
Mickey Thomas went from Wrexham star to behind bars following his role in a counterfeit currency scam.
Dubbed the ‘Welsh George Best’, the 70-year-old certainly enjoyed a colourful life away from the pitch, while wowing fans on it.
Appearing in almost 800 matches during the span of his 22-year career, Thomas dazzled fans at some of the biggest clubs in the English Football League.
The winger even amassed 51 caps for Wales’ national team – and scored in a memorable 4-1 win over England in May 1980.
Having started his career at Wrexham, Thomas earned a dream move to Manchester United in 1978 after helping the Red Dragons win the third division title.
He almost scooped FA Cup in his opening season at Old Trafford – but United were defeated in the final against Arsenal in a five-goal thriller.
But Thomas would later have his revenge against the Gunners in the twilight of his career in a moment that has etched itself into football folklore.
After scoring 15 goals in 110 games for the Red Devils, Thomas enjoyed spells at Everton, Brighton, Stoke, Chelsea, West Brom and Derby – before he then became a huge hit in America.
A two-year spell at Major Indoor Soccer League side Wichita Wings followed, before he returned to Blighty to join Shrewsbury, before linking up with Leeds and then Stoke for a second time.
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Arsenal and Wrexham couldn’t have had more contrasting seasons in the 1990/91 campaign, with the north Londoners winning the first division title, while the Welsh outfit finished bottom of the fourth-tier.
And had it not been for the Football League re-organisation, Wrexham would have relegated to the Conference.
In January 1992, the two teams faced each other in the FA Cup third round at The Racecourse, with Wrexham eight minutes away from crashing out following Alan Smith’s opener.
But Thomas helped to inspire one of the greatest FA Cup comebacks – and upsets – that lives long in the memory of football fans.
The left-footed maestro rifled in a free-kick into the top left corner that flashed past David Seaman in an instant.
Steve Watkin then scored the winner two minutes later as Wrexham dumped out Arsenal, who sat 90 places above them in the football pyramid.
Just one year later, and Thomas would find himself sentenced to 18 months in prison for passing forged banknotes to Wrexham’s trainee prospects.
Sentenced at Knutsford Crown Court, Thomas, then 39, was found to have handed over £800 in fake notes.
Keen to make light of his crime as he arrived at court, Thomas joked to reporters: “Has anyone got change for a tenner for the phone?”
But he wasn’t laughing when he was transferred to Foston Hall in Derbyshire after his stay at HMP Walton in Merseyside.
Thomas discovered his cell-mate was a convincted double-murderer, leadinh him to later say: “Prison taught me a lot.
“It taught me to sleep with one eye open!”
Following his release from jail, Thomas would return to football, where he joined Welsh League side Porthmadog in 1994, before retiring the same year.
After his playing days were over, he became an after-dinner speaker, where in true Thomas fashion, he was quick to make light of his brush with the law.
