Browse Sections

• Stockport County FC
• Sale Sharks
• Local football
• Local cricket

Thompson's so at 'home'

Simon Smedley
22/10/2008

IT SURELY goes without saying that ‘Pistol Pete’ Thompson will have once again been proud to have been part of the Northern Ireland squad at back-to-back World Cup qualifiers, but he could scarcely wait to resume his career with his new County team-mates.

Thompson didn’t get the call from the bench during the games against Slovenia and San Marino, so when I spoke to him straight after last Wednesday’s victory at Windsor Park, he was eager to get back into the cut and thrust of League One action at Edgeley Park.

Thompson said: "It has been a long 10 days or so away and I have missed the training at Stockport.

"I’ve missed a couple of games there, so I’m looking to getting back over there and seeing the lads again.

"It was probably a little bit disappointing timing for me to join up with the Northern Ireland squad when I did [October 7], it would have been nice to have kept my momentum going.

"There’s not much I can do about it of course, but both me and the team had done well in the last two games before I came away. Particularly in the Oldham game we played some really good stuff, and I heard that the lads played well at Southend.

"That was another good point picked up away from home. We kept our good little unbeaten run going."

Thompson does feel truly at home in Stockport now following his summer switch from Linfield.

He added: "I’ve settled in nicely at my new place now, it is important to be as happy off the field as you are on it.

"I’m getting to know all the players well and how they play, it’s been a really good learning curve for me.

"I have got a lot more to learn yet, but I am enjoying it in England.

"Stockport play good football, and we’ve got a young team who are definitely moving in the right direction."

Thompson was back in the County starting line-up on Saturday. He had a couple of chances to score, but remains on two goals this season - so far!