A FORMER PE teacher who had help from an ex-England manager in returning from the football scrapheap is eyeing legendary status at Harrogate Town.
George Thomson, 32, will begin his eighth season with the club when they kick-off against Bromley having just penned a contract extension until 2026.
After joining from FC United in 2017, he has played a significant part in the club’s rise from the National North to the EFL and made over 300 appearances for the club.
Winger Thomson scored at Wembley in their National League play-off final victory over Notts County to help seal a spot in the Football League back in 2020.
And he exclusively revealed to Sun Sport how he is eyeing a third promotion to add to his fairytale rise from non-league hopeful to Harrogate icon.
“I did a YTS at Nottingham Forest but then I got released, like what happens to loads of lads.
“I went on trial to a few clubs but kept getting knocked back, quite a few telling me that I’m too small, but then I went for a trial at the Glenn Hoddle Academy.”
Tottenham legend Hoddle, who managed England for two years from 1996, created the academy in 2008 in memory of his late brother, Carl.
It started out in Spain with the main objective being to get ex-Premier League and EFL scholars back into the pro game having been released.
“I went out there for 18 months and there was a club out there, Jerez Industrial, that we got to play competitive games for which gave us great experience.
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“It was a big decision moving away from home at 18 but I loved it out there,” Thomson says.
“Then when I came back it was just a case of finding my feet at a place where I could play men’s football.
“I did the rounds a little bit in non-league but I always had that desire to get back into it full-time.
“I went to university while I was playing part-time and then I was a PE teacher at primary schools around Bradford. Wow, that seems like a long time ago now.
“Harrogate wanted me to come here when I was at FC United, and the opportunity to go full-time then at 24 was a no-brainer for me.
“We were in the Conference North when I came here and if somebody said that we would get two quick promotions and find ourselves in the Football League then I would have honestly thought that it couldn’t happen.”
Harrogate have solidified themselves in the fourth tier while their 5ft 9in number seven has grown into a giant for the Sulphurites.
Last season he was named Players’ Player of the Year while his 18 goals made him the club’s top scorer.
And now he is looking to push on this year and make yet more history for the North Yorkshire side.
“It’s been an incredible journey and I’m hoping that there are a few more years left for me.
“There were a group of us who have been here long-term that said straight after that Wembley win that we want one more.
“It would be unbelievable if we could do that and we do have a chance.
“This league is notoriously wide open with the three automatic spots up for grabs. So let’s see what happens.”
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