Thomson was born in
Smethwick, which was then in
Staffordshire. He joined local side
Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1959 upon leaving Lyndon High School in
Solihull. He signed professional forms in July 1961, before making his senior debut on 27 January 1962 in an
FA Cup tie against
Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion. Between his debut in 1962 and 1967, he missed just 11 first-team games. Unfortunately for Thomson, he was too late for the glory years and instead came through under the tail-end of
manager Stan Cullis' 16-year reign. Their best finish during Thomson's time was fifth in the
First Division in
1962–63. The club fell to the
Second Division in
1964–65. They won
promotion at the second time of asking – in
1966–67, as runners-up. In the summer of 1967, he was part of the Wolves side that played in the United States, guesting as the
Los Angeles Wolves. Under that guise, they won the
United Soccer Association league championship. In March 1969, Thomson moved on to
Birmingham City for £40,000, He did not play any first-team games however, and instead spent part of 1971 on
loan at nearby
Third Division club
Walsall. In 1972, he moved on to
Luton Town, another Second Division side with ambitions of top-flight football. Thomson's teams had a knack for finishing second in the second tier, as the "Hatters" achieved this in
1973–74, as they watched
Middlesbrough sprint away with the title. Luton were unfortunate to go back down in
1974–75, finishing a mere point from the safety of
Tottenham Hotspur in 19th. In 1976, his career was drawing to a close, and his best days behind him, Thomson went back to the States, spending a short period with
Hartford Bicentennials. He returned to the
English Football League, and the
West Midlands, with Third Division
Port Vale in October 1976. He made an 'impressive' debut in a 3–2 defeat to
Wrexham at
Vale Park on 16 October 1976 and earned himself both a regular first-team spot and the captaincy. He played 24 games for
Roy Sproson's team in
1976–77, before he returned to the re-branded
Connecticut Bicentennials as
player-coach in March 1977. He stayed with the Connecticut Bicentennials for two years before returning to England with
non-League Worcester City. He later became player-manager of
Stafford Rangers. Another spell in the US with
Memphis Rogues in the
NASL followed before he joined Brewood,
Solihull Borough and then
Tipton Town. ==International career==