James Thompson (born ) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers ( Heritage № 468), Bradford Northern ( Heritage №) (

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

) and

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from xcb, Caer Luel) is a city that lies within the Northern England, Northern English county of Cumbria, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, Scottish border at the confluence of the rivers River Eden, Cumbria, Eden, River C ...

, as a or , i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums.

Playing career

International honours

Jimmy Thompson won caps for England while at Featherstone Rovers in 1970 against France, in the

1975 Rugby League World Cup The 1975 Rugby League World Championship (also referred to as the World Series) was the seventh tournament for the Rugby League World Cup. The format differed from that employed in previous competitions; no single country hosted the matches, whi ...

against Australia (2 matches), in 1977 against Wales, and while at Bradford Northern in 1978 against France (sub), and Wales (sub), and won caps for Great Britain while at Featherstone Rovers in 1970 against Australia (2 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), in the

1970 Rugby League World Cup The fifth Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain in 1970. Britain, fresh from defeating Australia in the Rugby League Ashes, Ashes during their Australasian tour earlier in the year (the last time as of 2017 that they would win The Ash ...

Australia, France, New Zealand, and Australia, in 1971 against France (2 matches), in 1974 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), in the

1977 Rugby League World Cup The 1977 Rugby League World Cup was the eighth Rugby League World Cup tournament and was held in Australasia, with games played during May and June in both Australia and New Zealand. It featured four teams: Great Britain and France in addition t ...

against France, New Zealand, and Australia (2 matches), and while at Bradford Northern in 1978 against Australia.

County honours

Jimmy Thompson won caps for Yorkshire while at Featherstone Rovers; during the 1969–70 season against

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

, during the 1970–71 season against

and Lancashire, during the 1973–74 season against Cumbria and Lancashire, during the 1974–75 season against Other Nationalities, during the 1975–76 season against Cumbria, Other Nationalities and Lancashire, and during the 1975–76 season against Cumbria and Lancashire.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Jimmy Thompson played right-, i.e. number 12, in Featherstone Rovers' 17–12 victory over

Barrow Barrow may refer to: Places England * Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria ** Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, local authority encompassing the wider area ** Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency) * Barrow, Cheshire * Barrow, Gloucestershire * Barro ...

in the 1966–67

Challenge Cup The Challenge Cup is a knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, with the exception of 1915–1919 and 1939–1940, due to World War I and World War II respectively. It involves am ...

Final during the 1966–67 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1967, in front of a crowd of 76,290, played right- in the 33–14 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1972–73

Final during the 1972–73 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 12 May 1973, in front of a crowd of 72,395, and played right- in the 9–24 defeat by Warrington in the 1973–74

Final during the 1973–74 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1974, in front of a crowd of 77,400.

County Cup Final appearances

Jimmy Thompson played right-, i.e. number 12, in Featherstone Rovers' 9–12 defeat by

Hull F.C. Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull F.C., is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in West Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition and were ...

in the 1969–70 Yorkshire

County Cup The county football associations are the local governing bodies of association football in England and the Crown dependencies. County FAs exist to govern all aspects of football in England. They are responsible for administering club and player ...

Final during the 1969–70 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 September 1969, played right- in the 7–23 defeat by Leeds in the 1970–71 Yorkshire

Final during the 1970–71 season at

Odsal Stadium Odsal Stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, is the home of Bradford Bulls Rugby League team. It has also been used by the Bradford Dukes speedway team, BRISCA F1 and F2 stock cars, the football team Bradford City, following the Valley ...

Bradford Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...

on Saturday 21 November 1970, and played left-, i.e. number 8, in Bradford Northern's 18–8 victory over York in the 1978–79 Yorkshire

Final during the 1978–79 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 28 October 1978.

John Player Trophy Final appearances

Jimmy Thompson played left-, i.e. number 8, in Bradford Northern's 6–0 victory over Widnes in the 1979–80

John Player Trophy The John Player Trophy was a golf tournament on the European Tour that was played in England. It was played twice. The first event in 1970 at Notts Golf Club in Nottinghamshire was the 36-hole qualifying event for the John Player Classic. In 19 ...

Final during the 1979–80 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 5 January 1980.

Club career

Jimmy Thompson made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Saturday 1 October 1966.Bailey, Ron (20 September 2001). ''Images of Sport – Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club''. The History Press.

Testimonial match

Jimmy Thompson's

benefit Benefit or benefits may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Benefit'' (album), by Jethro Tull, 1970 * "Benefits" (''How I Met Your Mother''), a 2009 TV episode * ''The Benefit'', a 2012 Egyptian action film Businesses and organisation ...

season/ testimonial match at Featherstone Rovers took place during the 1976–77 season.

Honoured at Featherstone Rovers

Jimmy Thompson is a Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame inductee.

References

External links

*(archived by web.archive.org
The Millennium Masters – Forwards
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Jimmy 1948 births Living people Bradford Bulls captains Bradford Bulls players Carlisle RLFC players England national rugby league team players English rugby league players Featherstone Rovers players Great Britain national rugby league team players Place of birth missing (living people) Rugby league players from Pontefract Rugby league props Rugby league second-rows Yorkshire rugby league team players