Player Profile – Joe Thornton

Here is the fifth in of a weekly series profiling players across the region. Each week, a different player will reveal best (and worst) moments during their football career. This week it is the turn of Shaw Lane’s influential attacker Joe Thornton.

Joe Thornton is back at Shaw Lane this season

Name: Joe Thornton

Age: 27

Position: Attacker

Current Club: Shaw Lane AFC

Previous Clubs: Ossett Albion, Pontefract Collieries, Staveley Miners Welfare, Athersley Rec, Goole AFC, Tadcaster Albion.

Day Job: External Plumber

Best mate in football: (Smiler) Lee Morris

Career Highlight: Winning the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup with Athersley Rec (in 2014). All the Frickley team were fighting with each other over who was going to lift trophy so was a special moment to beat them. Also winning the league with Shaw Lane (n 2015) when we were always playing catch up on games and when people write you off, makes it better.

Joe Thornton regards winning the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup with Athersley as the highlight of his career. Picture: whiterosephotos.co.uk

Shaw Lane striker Joe Thornton runs to his best mate Lee Morris’ father after Matt Thornhill put Shaw Lane Aquaforce 3-1 in front at Nostell Miners Welfare in February 2015

Lowest Moment in Football: FA Vase semi finalist with Staveley and FA Vase quarter finalist with Shaw Lane. That might be a not meant to be competition for me!

Most Memorable Match: Every match is a memorable one for me. The 2014 Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup final takes some beating. Not many gave us a chance but we had quality in that changing room. We also had a togetherness and created history for the Rec and to be part of it is something no-one can take away. We also did it for Porky’s (Pete Goodlad) dad who passed away hours before the final.

First semi-professional manager: Eric Gilchrist at Ossett Albion. A top man who I owe a lot to for putting faith in me at a young age.

Joe Thornton says that he owes former Ossett Albion manager Eric Gilchrist a lot

First Red Card (at semi-professional level): Vs Worksop Town (for Shaw Lane in 14/15). Lost my head on now team mate Jono Wafula. Still won league that year though!

First Goal (at semi-professional level): Vs Newcastle Blue Star for Ossett Albion. A free kick at Newcastle Falcons’ ground.

First Own Goal (at semi-professional level): Still trying!

What do you want to achieve in football in the future: To keep playing with a smile on my face and to keep trying to put smiles on people faces whether through playing or changing room banter

Favourite Non League Ground to play at (barring your own club): Athersley Rec. The home of the world famous Rec In Crew. It holds some good memories with good people!