Timber defender has no offseason

By steve brandon

The Portland Tribune, May 11, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

THOMPSON

Justin Thompson guesses the game he played for Portland on Wednesday night against Necaxa was his 100th match in the past two years.

And Thompson’s new team, the Timbers, still has 27 games remaining over the next four months, plus potential playoffs.

“I’ve been playing a ton of midweek games in England, where the weather can be very difficult, but it’s made me stronger mentally,” says Thompson, a central defender from Worcester City FC. “It’s forced me to get up for games that you wouldn’t call ‘big,’ and after eight-hour bus rides. It’s taught me a lot about how to be a professional.”

But while his Worcester City mates are into their offseason, he is beginning a new one, in a new city, accompanied by his fiancée, Molly, a model.

“Everybody’s going off to Spain or Greece to spend two weeks on the beach and really rest their body and recover. … I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect me,” he says. “At the same time, I’m a pro.”

Thompson, 26, from North Vancouver, British Columbia, went to England two years ago but always wanted to come back and try to establish himself in the United Soccer Leagues First Division. The 6-3, 205-pound central defender has played in the league for Virginia Beach and Vancouver.

He grew up as a striker, even playing forward versus Iraq and two days later center back against Brazil in the Under-20 World Cup.

“I consider myself a defender, although deep down in my heart of hearts I still fancy myself a striker,” he says.

Look for him to go forward in certain conditions, if Portland coach Gavin Wilkinson is willing.

“I like to think I’m dangerous on corner kicks and set pieces,” Thompson says. He scored four goals in 53 matches (49 starts) for Worcester City this year, and “I could have had a whole bunch more. It was a joke around the locker room how many posts and crossbars I hit and unbelievable saves the goalkeepers made.”

Thompson has three dates circled on his calendar: July 19, Aug. 11 and Sept. 9. That’s when Portland plays the Vancouver Whitecaps (the first two at PGE Park). The way his career in Vancouver ended left a bad taste in his mouth.

“I had a really good first season and was nominated for defender of the year on the team,” he says. “They offered me a new contract, and I agreed but just hadn’t signed anything. Then they fired our coach (Tony Fonseca) and brought in Bob Lilly, and he just cleaned house, cut about five guys without ever really seeing us or, in my opinion, doing his due diligence.

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