www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk:80/gulls/Tyrone-knows-s-best -
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Published on: 8/21/2008
Last Visited: 8/21/2008
Tyrone knows he's made the best choice
...
Thompson himself never knew of Atkins' interest.
But when, after a year in the Blue Square Premier with Crawley Town, he heard that United manager Paul Buckle was in for him, Thompson did not hesitate.
"I didn't need to give it a second thought," he said.
...
Sheffield born-and-bred, Thompson, now 26, joined Sheffield United as a nine-year-old schoolboy at the Blades' Centre of Excellence and stayed at Bramall Lane for ten years.
After four first-team appearances, and loan spells at Lincoln, Doncaster and Huddersfield, he joined Scarborough in 2004 and then Halifax a year later, becoming a regular at both clubs.
Crawley manager Steve Evans, formerly with Boston, had seen Thompson on the Northern circuit and Tyrone explained: "Although it was the first time I'd moved away from home, I needed a new direction and it was right at the time."
...
In three games against United, Thompson played on the right wing, centre midfield and, in the final game of the league season, up front when Crawley won 2-1 at Plainmoor.
"It was turning the clock back for me, because I actually used to play as a centre-forward when I was a youth team player at Sheffield United," he said, "so I know what's required."
Armed with a two-year contract, Thompson has walked into a Plainmoor squad where few players are sure of their places.
He has no problem with that.
"The competition at the club is like I've never seen before," he said.
"Some people handle it better than others, but I think it's a good thing.
"By having that competition, if you can get a extra 5-10 per cent out of somebody, it helps the whole team.That's all that counts."
Thompson turned down the offer of a contract extension at Crawley in May and this Saturday, only a fortnight into the new season, he will head back to the Broadfield Stadium with United.
"I made plenty of friends there, and I felt I left the club on good terms," he said.
"But that counts for nothing when the whistle goes.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's just another game, and we want the three points."
The match does come after Monday's below-par home defeat by Ebbsfleet and that, for Thompson, is much more relevant.
"No team wants to lose two games in a row," he said.
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