لماذا الآن؟

تم تعيين زيف توماس في ديرن ودستريكت بعد أن فاز النادي بلقب دوري الشمال الشرقي في الموسم الماضي.

What happened in this story?

39 انتقالًا عبر خمس دول - اللاعب الذي لا يتوقف عن الحركة summarizes the main development covered in this report.

Who confirmed this news?

See the source attribution in the article for where this report was first published or corroborated.

39 انتقالًا عبر خمس دول - اللاعب الذي لا يتوقف عن الحركة |

39 transfers across five countries - The player who never stops moving

According toBBC.

الخلفية

زيف توماس، الذي بدأ مسيرته في روترهام يونايتد تحت إشراف مارك روبينز، أصبح الآن مدربًا ولاعبًا في نادي ديرن ودستريكت. بعد فوز النادي بلقب دوري الشمال الشرقي، يسعى توماس لتوجيه الفريق نحو النجاح في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، مما يعكس تطور مسيرته من لاعب إلى قائد في عالم كرة القدم.

لماذا هذا مهم

زيف توماس يُعتبر رمزًا للاعبين الذين يتنقلون بين الأندية، حيث يعكس مسيرته الطويلة التحديات والفرص التي تواجه اللاعبين في كرة القدم. انتقالاته العديدة تُظهر مرونة اللاعب وقدرته على التأقلم مع مختلف الأندية والبيئات، مما يجعله مثالًا يحتذى به في دوري الشمال الشرقي. كما أن مشاركته في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي تمثل إنجازًا كبيرًا لنادي ديرن ودستريكت، مما يعزز مكانته في كرة القدم المحلية.

النقاط الرئيسية

39 انتقالًا عبر خمس دول - اللاعب الذي لا يتوقف عن الحركة.
Zev Thomas, a 36-year-old footballer, has had an impressive career that has seen him make 39 transfers across five countries, where he currently works as a coach and player at Derne & District FC. He prepares to face Runcorn Town in his first FA Cup match.
39 moves across five countries - the footballer forever in motion.

“If I don't get the money I think I deserve, I'll leave,” is how Zev Thomas describes an extraordinary playing career that has seen 39 transfers in 18 years. Thomas, who was born in Bradford, is considered one of football's most notable travellers. He played for various clubs such as Rossington Maine (five times), Mickleover Sports (four times), and Freakling Athletic (three times), in addition to trials in the United States, Canada and Belgium.

The list of clubs Thomas played for continues to include Cowdenbeath, Boston United, Hargate Town and Scarborough Athletic. Despite these moves, it appears that Thomas's life in action may be over, as he has taken over the position of coach and player at the ninth tier club, Derne & District, since his appointment in 2024.

Having won the North East League title last season, the club are now preparing to play their first FA Cup match on Saturday against Runcorn Town, one of 219 matches in the first special round. “We've gone from playing in the Doncaster Saturday League in 2021 to participating in the FA Cup,” says Thomas. “It's a huge achievement for the region because they've never seen this team compete in this tournament before.”

Thomas' career at Rotherham United began when Mark Robins, the former Manchester United striker, was the youth team coach. He was released in 2008 without playing an official match, a decision that came as no surprise to him. “I was rebellious and naive at the time,” says Thomas. “I remember I scored a goal in a reserve game, and the next day we had to do a recovery run. At the time, I didn’t think I had to do that. If my attitude had been better, I probably would have actually done well.”

After his dreams of reaching the top were dashed, Thomas began an amazing journey through non-professional football in England, as well as spells at clubs in Kansas, Ontario, Scotland and Belgium. In the 2013-14 season alone, he had contracts with Sheffield, Mickleover Sports, Scarborough Athletic, Matlock Town, and Goal.

In 2013, Thomas almost quit football after a hip injury, worked in a call center in Rotterham and considered joining the Army before getting the chance to resume his career with Thunder Bay Chill in Ontario. When asked if he kept a record of his many destinations, he replied: "No, there were definitely so many that I can't count. It was a good experience, but it could have been better. I moved up or went sideways for the money."

"But playing in different countries was a great experience and I encourage all young players to try it if they get the chance. I have worked under different coaches with diverse ideas and philosophies."

After a life spent on the move, Thomas no longer needs to travel far from his current home, a five-minute walk from Dearne and District Stadium, where he lives with his wife Mary and their children. Thomas combines his part-time job with Derne & District, who attracted 453 fans to their home league match against Penistone Church on July 28, with his role as head coach of Derby County's under-12 side.

He is still registered to play for the non-professional club, but now prefers to coach from the sideline and pass on his experiences to the players. He adds: "Sometimes I feel like I'm a hypocrite because I used to move between clubs for the extra money, and now I tell the players: Keep doing what you're doing, because the money will come."

What's next?

مع اقتراب مباراة ديرن ودستريكت ضد رنكورن تاون في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، يتطلع توماس إلى تحقيق نتائج إيجابية كمدرب ولاعب. هذه المباراة تمثل فرصة لتسليط الضوء على إنجازات النادي في دوري الشمال الشرقي وتعزيز الروح المعنوية للفريق. نجاح الفريق في هذه البطولة قد يفتح أبوابًا جديدة لتوماس وناديه في المستقبل.