Hobson’s choice as two ex-Burnley players join new clubs
There has been a rush of former Burnley players on the move recently., some of whom have played in our first team and others not. Today we can add two more to the list from those who didn’t make our first team.
Firstly, goalkeeper Lewis Thomas who we released just four weeks ago after spending four years with us. Although from Leicestershire, he was an academy goalkeeper at Manchester City and started his scholarship there before moving to Burnley at the end of the first year.
He played in the youth team and the under-23s while also spending time out on loan at AFC Fylde. It was thought that he’d left a year ago when there was no mention of him on the retained list, but he remained a Burnley player last season although his way through was becoming more difficult, particularly with the emergence of Charlie Casper.
He’s moved quickly to secure a new club and yesterday signed a one-year deal with League Two club Harrogate Town. Manager Simon Weaver said of his new signing: “He’s a huge lad, so walking down the tunnel we’ve got another big unit in there.
“We think he’ll fit in really well with our goalkeeping department. Phil Priestley (Harrogate goalkeeping coach) importantly gave us the nod that he respected the lad and thought he was very coachable and likeable, as well as having all the ingredients to do really well with his career.”
Shaun Hobson has swapped National League club for National League club, moving north from Southend to Oldham and close to home for the Manchester born central defender.
It’s seven years since the now 24-year-old left Burnley having captained the youth team during that ill fated season when we were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup by the Met Police. Recommended to Eddie Howe by Burnley’s then academy manager Jason Blake, he joined Bournemouth on leaving us and in the following season he played at Turf Moor for Bournemouth in the Premier League Cup.
He was with Bournemouth for four years where his first team experience came in loans at Eastbourne, Chester, Eastleigh and Weymouth. That last loan at Weymouth proved to be key. The manager there was Mark Molesley who moved on to Southend and immediately signed Hobson.
His debut for Southend came in the League Cup at Gillingham and a week later he was in their league side for a home game against Harrogate. In his three seasons at Roots Hall, he’s made 129 league appearances, the first 44 of them coming in League Two prior to their relegation.
Yesterday, he signed for Oldham Athletic as two ex-Clarets David Unsworth and Steve Thompson combined to get him to Boundary Park. Unsworth, now manager at Oldham, said: “Shaun was somebody we had on our list from the start, we’ve tracked him since new year and at one stage thought it might not happen. I got a call from Steve Thompson, our head of recruitment, and he said we might be able to get him if we act quickly.”
Unsworth added: “We know all about him, he’s a Manchester boy, a top centre-half, great age, pace, size and stature, and the deal got turned around very quickly which I’m over joyed about. His signing just shows if you stay patient and vigilant you get your targets and I have no doubt Shaun will come into the squad and make us better for next season.”
Up the Clarets wish both Lewis and Shaun the very best at their new clubs.
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