Former Everton great Dave Thomas now blind, fundraising for guide dogs

[Groucho]

.....quite right too. Dave Thomas rarely gets a mention but he was a temendous winger with that unique gift of hitting the bye line at pace and still getting his cross in. Latchford must've loved playing with him.

My nan went blind with glaucoma.

Didn't Bob Latchford credit him with most of his goals?

 

[Bluebonic]

Whenever great footballing partnerships are discussed, Dave Thomas' partnership with Bob Latchford should always be mentioned. Dave was one of three players we bought from Burnley ( along with keith newton and martin Dobson and whilst all three were internationals and all three were successful for Everton, none made a mark like Davey did, purely because of his almost telepathic awareness of where Latchfords head was going to be!

Davey never messed about, no stepovers or dribbles for him! He tore down the touchlien, beat his defender and that whipped in a laserbeam croos to the Latch. High or low, the cross was always delivered with pace and accuracy and high or low, Big Bob inevitably managed to reach it.

Of all my Everton heroes Bob Latchford is the one who made the biggest impression on me, but he could never have doen that without Thomas on the wing loading the bullets for him! I was truly gutted when he left to join QPR and i can say without question that he was never replaced until Kanchelskis arrived, that is how good he was! God bless you Dave, you gave me many, many golden memories and I will certainly be giving to your collection.

 

[Bluebonic]

Sorry guys, old age and dry rot! We didnt buy keith newton from Burnley, we sold him to Burnley! Apologies!

 

[Eggs]

My nan went blind with glaucoma.

Didn't Bob Latchford credit him with most of his goals?

....I'm sure he did. Loved watching him play, so much natural ability.

 

[strummer]

I didn't have a clue he'd gone blind and im saddened to hear it. Thomas.Latchford.mckenzie.king and Dobson. What an exciting team we had in the late 70s. I idolised these players as a kid just like my lad does with Gerry Ross Rom and a few others. All the best Dave and hopefully you raise pots of money for a great charity

 

[scottishtoffee]

One of my favourite away days that, despite the fact that we were soaked

And mine can still recall doing the Gene Kelly number "singing in the rain", happy days. Good luck to you Dave and thanks for the joy you brought me and countless others.

 

[Jacob]

Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday has just done a little piece on Dave and said he will be featured next week. Guide Dogs for the Blind are one of the charities I support...we take our sight for granted yet how marvellously a lot of blind or partially sighted people cope. I know I couldn't. Guide dogs give them a new perspective on life and the freedom to regain independence. Good on Dave .... a great support act to Bobby Latch and now a great support to his charity.

 

[Joey66]

Such a shame I have just found an old picture of him in his garden in the old Everton Pictures thread saying what a winger he was.

 

[Baines' left foot]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...avid-prentice-former-everton-winger-10510009?

Interesting story in today's Echo - I didn't know Thomas had suffered from Glaucoma and was registered blind in 2008. Now he's raising money for Guide Dogs, if anyone wants to help.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Dave Thomas in full flow was an arresting sight.

Socks round his ankles (he point blank refused to wear shin pads), moulded stud boots flashing across even the heaviest surfaces, the Everton winger could deliver crosses from either foot with pinpoint accuracy.

Davey was only an Everton footballer for two seasons, but it is no coincidence that the Toffees finished third and fourth in those campaigns – and in his first season finished top-flight top scorers with 76 league goals.

It is a cruel irony that a footballer so celebrated for his vision, should be denied that sense in later life.

The former Everton favourite was registered blind/partially sighted in 2008 after struggling with glaucoma for 15 years.

And now he wants to raise money for a Guide Dog.

Dave has opened a JustGiving page and explained: “I’m raising money for Guide Dogs, which is a charity very close to my own heart.

“Since losing my sight I have had three operations but unfortunately there is no improvement in my vision. Although I still enjoy golf, fly fishing, carriage driving and gardening, I have to rely on family and friends to take me out.

“This year I decided to apply for a guide dog. Guide Dogs has always been a charity close to my own heart; both of my elderly parents were diagnosed with glaucoma, which is one of the reasons that my wife Brenda and I had moved back to the North East in 2010.

“The support that Guide Dogs have given me during the application process has been life changing. The charity has provided me with long cane training as well as the confidence to go out on my own again to busy places.

“The support of the local Guide Dogs Mobility team have helped me recover my independence and taught me numerous skills to enable me to get out and about safely despite my loss of vision.

“Guide Dogs receive no government funding for the guide dog service and therefore rely entirely on donations from the public and business community. Each lifetime partnership, from birth to retirement, costs the charity a staggering £50,000.

“I would love the opportunity to give back to Guide Dogs for the support they have given me. The money I raise will go towards Guide Dog’s Name a Puppy scheme, which will enable me to sponsor a puppy through their guide dog training, so that they can go on to help someone else who is living with sight loss.

“Sight loss has been life changing but so are Guide Dogs.”

If you want to help David you can make a donation on his JustGiving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/DavidThomas7

Me and my family fostered a guide dog puppy for 14 months before she went off to guide dog school.

One of the best things we've ever done. Massively rewarding seeing the dog with a little sash on having passed her training (If I recall correctly only 1/3 make it to a guide dog), knowing that she'd soon be helping someone immensely. It was also massively heartbreaking letting her go, though.

 

[Bazlar]

One of my favourite away days that, despite the fact that we were soaked

Lol. I remember that. Everyone made paper hats from their newspapers. Made all the sweeter because I went there the season before too and we got beat 5-0

 

[summerisle]

Whenever great footballing partnerships are discussed, Dave Thomas' partnership with Bob Latchford should always be mentioned. Dave was one of three players we bought from Burnley ( along with keith newton and martin Dobson and whilst all three were internationals and all three were successful for Everton, none made a mark like Davey did, purely because of his almost telepathic awareness of where Latchfords head was going to be!

Davey never messed about, no stepovers or dribbles for him! He tore down the touchlien, beat his defender and that whipped in a laserbeam croos to the Latch. High or low, the cross was always delivered with pace and accuracy and high or low, Big Bob inevitably managed to reach it.

Of all my Everton heroes Bob Latchford is the one who made the biggest impression on me, but he could never have doen that without Thomas on the wing loading the bullets for him! I was truly gutted when he left to join QPR and i can say without question that he was never replaced until Kanchelskis arrived, that is how good he was! God bless you Dave, you gave me many, many golden memories and I will certainly be giving to your collection.

My sentiments in a nutshell.