Former players who played in an era of football when ‘men were men’ will always hold a special heart for fans who remember them, and Dave Thomas is no exception for Everton.
| It was so good to have former #EFC winger Dave Thomas – and his faithful guide dog Hannah – back at Goodison Park last weekend. #AllTogetherNow pic.twitter.com/oltVSVdOYb
— Everton (@Everton) October 4, 2019
The former winger who played for two years on Goodison made his return to the ground where the eight-time England international used to terrorise opposing players, with the QPR and Burnley centurion most remembered for his famed partnership with Bob Latchford.
Sadly for Thomas, as stated in an interview with The Express, the former Everton star became the first player ever in the top-flight to be registered blind after being diagnosed with glaucoma in the early 2000s.
Yet this didn’t stop the former Everton hero from making an appearance at Goodison Park last weekend, where the club honoured Thomas at half-time against Everton for his efforts at the club.
Here is what some Everton fans had to say about Thomas’ appearance at Goodison Park on Twitter…
In today’s currency, Dave would have been €50 million plus player.
— Stephen (@humanist10) October 4, 2019
My all time EFC hero. Tear in the eye there…@nsno
— Damon Minchella (@DamonMinchella) October 4, 2019
One of my all time favourite players.
— Ray Campbell Lupton (@rclstudio) October 4, 2019
Brought a tear to my eye that.
— Paul Smith (@EFCL9) October 4, 2019
Plenty of supporters remembered the good ole’ times with Thomas bombing down the wing in the 70s…
You would be hard pushed to find a more natural, stylish, better left winger than Dave Thomas. How he and Latchford never got more England caps is beyond comprehension. A brilliant pair. Great to see the reception given to him by Everton fans
— Paul Boardman (@PaulBoardie) October 4, 2019
Good luck Dave. Running like the wind down the wing with socks round your ankles, pinpoint cross to the head of Bob latchford 1-0to the blues.
— Cheryl swanick (@Cheryl01375906) October 4, 2019
My favourite winger
— keith sweeney (@keithsweeney5) October 4, 2019
Such a shame we didn’t get him in a few years earlier to as a replacement for Johnny Morrissey.
— Gerard Cannon (@Gegsyc58) October 4, 2019
Everton’s defeat to Manchester City that night made it three Premier League games in a row for the Toffees, with Marco Silva’s side now languishing in 15th in the league table after seven matches.