Springwood captain, Mark Thompson, will line up for his 100th game on Saturday.
Mark Thompson may be experiencing plenty of success this season with Springwood, but it hasn’t always been that way.
Thompson, who will play his 100th game for the Pumas on Saturday, has stuck with the side through plenty of lean years, since joining in 2007.
In his first season, Thompson played four games in reserves and then received the call up to the seniors, and has become a crucial part of their structure ever since.
Until this season, Thompson had played in only 17 wins out of 93 starts, including a winless 2008, but his dedication never wavered.
His appointment as captain is testament to the respect that the playing group has for Thompson, but he is a popular figure with people in all facets of the club.
A quieter type of guy, Thompson leads through his actions at the Pumas, renown as one of the club’s hardest trainers.
Pumas coach, Tony King, said Thompson’s attitude set a strong example for the rest of the players.
“He’s a bit of a quiet leader but his leadership qualities don’t come from what he says,” King said.
“It comes from what his training regime and doing what needs to be done.”
His experience is invaluable for the Pumas, with Thompson the only current regular senior player to have played 100 games for the club.
King said Thompson’s explosiveness in the midfield was a major attribute for the side on the field.
“He can give us a lot of drive out of the middle and change the game in that regard,” he said.
Since taking up the coaching reins last season, King said Thompson’s game against Grange earlier this season stood out in his mind.
“We needed someone to step up and he was the one that did that,” he said.
King said the side would definitely lift for Thompson in a crucial match against Surfers on Saturday.
“Having Thommo running out for his 100th gives us a bit of extra urge to play well for him for sure.”
