Jamie Thomas has rejoined Northern Premier League side Bamber Bridge just over a year after a dream move to Preston North End.
The 25-year-old started his career with Preston’s rivals Blackpool and rose up through the academy of the Tangerines before spells at Burnley and Bolton Wanderers.
He also played for Ayr United, Squires Gate and AFC Blackpool before joining Bamber Bridge.
In the summer of 2021 ahead of Frankie McAvoy’s first and only season as permanent manager of the club, Preston played Bamber Bridge in their traditional friendly at the Sir Tom Finney stadium.
After bagging two goals against them, Preston decided to take him on trial to take a closer look at him. He impressed immediately by scoring in a friendly against Accrington Stanley.
We are always in need of an attacker and there was nothing to lose with this deal even if it was very unlikely to pay off. But you never know if you don’t give the player a chance.
Thomas signed a one-year deal but chances were at a premium for him. He appeared on the bench for the first league game of the season against Hull City. He then came on for seven minutes in a League Cup tie against Mansfield Town.
That would be the sum total of his Preston North End career. He didn’t appear in another matchday squad. In January he joined National League side Halifax Town on loan and was released in the summer by Preston.
It’s a shame the fairytale signing didn’t have a fairytale ending.
Thomas has now rejoined Bamber Bridge and will be hoping to get some games under his belt after being starved of them last season. From the seventh tier, to the second and back to the seventh again for Thomas. He made his second debut for the club on Tuesday night in a 3-0 defeat to Whitby Town. The dream didn’t quite work out for him but hopefully he can enjoy his second spell at Bamber Bridge.