February 15, 2023...Another Round: Thompson Savours A Fifth Season as a Nine Stripe (from York United FC website)
ANOTHER ROUND: THOMPSON SAVOURS A FIFTH SEASON AS A NINE STRIPE
The centre-back has been with the club since 2019 and returns as the most experienced member of the side.
CONSISTENCY
Roger Thompson has been there, done that and is still hungry for more.
Back for his fifth season with York United FC, the 31-year-old defender is chasing glory once again and putting in the hard yards and some significant sweat equity at Ontario Soccer Centre as the club continues its preparations for the 2023 campaign.
Though minor injuries did hamper his contributions somewhat last term, he still managed over 1,000 Canadian Premier League minutes for the first time since 2019. With Martin Nash keen to utilize the depth in his squad and manage Thompson's fitness as much as possible, it's likely the centre-back will feature even more prominently in the coming season.
And given the litany of new signings, the consistency he brings is certainly a major positive. There's also been some notable departures to deal with too.
Jordan Wilson announced his retirement from the game last month. A well-respected athlete within the league, he developed many close relationships throughout his career, forging a special and longstanding dynamic with Thompson.
Forging similar paths in their early years, they played against each other in local youth leagues in the GTA before joining forces at York United for two seasons.
Memories and moments that Thompson will cherish forever.
THE ANCHOR
"We were very good friends on the team," says Thompson.
"He was very easygoing and came in with that winning mentality. He stressed that all the time, whether it was practice or games. He wanted to win and it was a case of one hundred percent everyday."
Both Wilson and Thompson spent several years playing in Europe prior to returning home and committing to the CPL. It was a tough slog, far from family and friends and forced to dig deep in an effort to grow their careers. It was during that period Thompson started to realize that to fulfil his professional football dreams, nothing could be taken for granted. Ultimately, there are no short cuts. It's a lesson he's always willing to pass on to others.
"Some of the younger Canadian kids…they already have their heads in the sky after one or two seasons in the league," says Thompson.
"We've been through it. It takes a lot of patience and that's what you need to be a better player. Given our experiences, we can turn around and talk to these boys and show them the things we’ve learned. You've got to be positive when you talk to them because everyone sees things differently. And I feel that's why almost all the guys on the team are very comfortable talking to me. They know they're going to get good feedback all the time."
Thompson's influence within the group is remarkable and he's evolved into a deeply-respected member of the locker room. During sessions at OSC, his voice echoes prominently as he encourages and guides his team-mates through various drills. In addition to being the wise and wily veteran, there's another role he'll now have to reacquaint himself with: the club's in-house barber.
Wilson had been the go-to guy when the players needed a fresh new cut, but Thompson is set for a return to action having enjoyed a hiatus of sorts.
"During the first year, in the bubble, I was doing it a lot," he says.
"But when Jordan arrived, he bought some clippers one day and said, ‘Hey Rog, I can cut too,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s perfect,’ and he kind of took over from there. Getting a break from that was nice for sure, but now I have to pick up the clippers again."
Wilson’s retirement is not the official ending to his partnership with Thompson. The now-former player still has one more big event coming up.
"I'm looking forward to going to his wedding in September," says Thompson.
“I’ll be there.”
By that stage of the year, York United will be hoping to have a play-off spot in their sights. With Thompson as their anchor, it should be the case.
Kelvin Queiroz
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