Jerome Thomas, after enduring a period of injuries while at Fratton Park, emerged as a key player who significantly contributed to West Brom’s promotion to the Premier League.
His time at Portsmouth was plagued by consistent injuries, but upon joining West Brom, he quickly rebounded and showcased his undeniable attacking skills and value to the team.
With standout performances, including crucial goals against top-tier opponents like Arsenal, Thomas played a pivotal role in West Brom achieving back-to-back top-half finishes in the Premier League.
Jerome Thomas and West Bromwich Albion were a match made in heaven the moment the winger took to the turf at the Hawthorns.
The Arsenal academy graduate made a move to the Midlands after struggling during his time at Portsmouth, where he only managed three appearances as a substitute at Fratton Park due to injuries.
However, once he recovered and regained match fitness, the former Charlton Athletic player’s performances were exceptional, playing a crucial role as the Baggies secured promotion to the Premier League.
His performances in the Championship campaign were marked by numerous standout moments, illustrating his talent and significant impact on the team’s success.
The enigmatic wide man proved to be unstoppable on his best days, with his unpredictable style posing a constant challenge for defenders throughout the 2009/2010 season. This prowess paved the way for his transition to the Premier League in the subsequent campaign.
Jerome Thomas early career: Arsenal, Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth
After progressing through Arsenal’s youth ranks, Thomas had brief stints with Queens Park Rangers in the third tier during loan spells before joining Charlton Athletic in early 2004.
The skillful winger then spent four successful years at The Valley, with the initial three seasons played in the top flight before experiencing relegation in 2007.
The young attacking outlet had managed to prove himself as a shining star in Alan Curbishley’s side during his early years in Greenwich though, with his first goal for the club coming in a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Seven goals and 103 league appearances later, Thomas’ constant trickery on the flanks was being sought after by top level clubs following Athletic’s drop into the Championship, with Portsmouth swooping for the forward on an initial loan deal.
With that deal made permanent Pompey fans would have been prepared to see their new star in action, but what followed was a year of injury problems on the south coast, with just 143 minutes played throughout the course of the season.
Di Matteo said at the time: “Jerome was a threat all day. I hope he isn’t just going to play like that for one game.”
And he most definitely didn’t; with three goals in three games at the end of November helping his side earn more valuable points in the race towards promotion, while his mazy runs allowed space for his teammates to flourish further up the field.
If it wasn’t for his ill-discipline Thomas could have been even more of an influential figure for the Baggies that season, with red cards against Arsenal and Plymouth Argyle seeing him spend plenty of time on the sidelines through suspension.
Pompey fans would have been cursing their luck that they let the winger get away, with his unavailability for matches during his time at Fratton Park forcing their hand into letting him leave the club.
He was thriving in his new role with Albion though, with promotion to the Premier League secured before going on to be a regular in the top flight the following season.
Jerome Thomas showcased his prowess for West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League, with one of the highlights being his decisive goal against former club Arsenal.
This goal secured a 3-2 victory for the Baggies, surprising many as they defied expectations to remain in the Premier League.
Under the leadership of Steve Clarke, West Brom boasted a strong attacking lineup with players like Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie leading the front line, while Chris Brunt contributed from the flanks.
Clarke’s tactical acumen guided the team to consecutive top-half finishes in the Premier League, with a young Romelu Lukaku making significant goal-scoring contributions during the latter of those seasons.