Kevin Thornton to Northampton

[Captain Pugwash]

Northampton Town have signed former Coventry City midfielder Kevin Thornton on a short-term contract from non-league Nuneaton Town.

The 23-year-old Irishman has impressed on trial at Sixfields.

"He's a ball-playing midfielder who can create things," said Cobblers manager Ian Sampson. "We are willing to give him a chance and an opportunity,

"We are always looking for players that we feel will improve the squad and I feel Kevin will do that.

"He is a good footballer and I am sure he will fit in well."

Thornton left Coventry by mutual consent in July, shortly after being convicted of a drink-driving offence for being over twice the legal limit.

Thornton also pleaded guilty to having no insurance, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and not having a full driving licence.

The Irish midfielder was handed a 22-month ban from driving, fined £2,750 and ordered to pay £260 in costs.

After leaving the Sky Blues, Drogheda-born Thornton, who also spent three months on loan at Brighton while at the Ricoh, then re-signed for his former club Boyne Rovers FC in Ireland.

Thornton becomes Sampson's third January signing after capturing another Irishman, striker Stephen O'Flynn from Limerick, and defender Luke Wilkinson on loan from Portsmouth.



Surprised we wasnt after him!

 

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

Surprised he had gone as low as northampton

 

[El Presidente]

Surprised we wasnt after him!

I think we offered him a trial but for some reason he didn't want to drive to training with the Albion/

 

[BensGrandad]

Didnt MA give hima chance at Port Vale but chucked hjim out due to his drinking etc.
Still not as good as his brother Sean who I would rather we had signed.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Didnt MA give hima chance at Port Vale but chucked hjim out due to his drinking etc.
Still not as good as his brother Sean who I would rather we had signed.

He was linked with them, but nothing happened. He had been playing in the non-leagues for a while, but now Northampton have taken a punt. Not worth it, in my opinion. Flashy, but no substance and little use to a team. Except for when he's really up for it, which I don't see happening often for Northampton.

 

[BensGrandad]

I thought that he was on trial at Port Vale but MA didnt offer him a contract because of his drinking and social life. His bhrother Sean is a much better player but there was a mystery about him moving to Orient concerning him and Adam Boyd, who has returned to Hartlepool and either Pepsi or Coke.

 

[seagully]

I used to see Thornton out on regular occasions of a Friday and Saturday night in Cov, smashed out of his face, trying it on with as many birds as possible, starting fights, and failing spectacularly on both counts

 

[supaseagull]

his brother Sean was always the better one

 

[strings]

I think I was in the minority here, for not ever really rating Thornton.

Don't get me wrong, he was fantastic and taking on players and getting himself into excellent posititons. However, there was never really a final ball to another player or a decent shot in target. In short, all his hard work at getting the ball into a good position was for nothing.

 

[Arrid]

Better than Seb Carole!

 

[HarryNT]

He did have a trial at Port Vale:

In July 2009, Thornton was taken on by his former manager Micky Adams, for a trial at League Two side Port Vale.[13] He played his first game against Stafford Rangers on 25 July, topping off an impressive performance with the only goal of the game.[14] However, Adams said ""I am running a football club, not a fat club." and told him he would need to get his fitness back if he wanted a contract.[15] Thornton had previously described his relationship Adams as "lively", saying "We were best mates at times and other times we wouldn't speak to each other!".[16] Adams ended his interest the next month due to his concerns over Thornton's fitness.