Reaching 50 caps is a milestone that not many footballers experience, but the Lionesses’ second-ever captain Carol Thomas in particular knows how significant the moment can be in a footballer’s career, having been the first women’s player to achieve the feat in the England shirt.
Indeed, this weekend marks 38 years since the Hull-born right-back made her 50th appearance for the Lionesses, becoming the first England women’s player to rack up so many caps.
England and Preston North End legend Sir Tom Finney presented Carol Thomas with her cap, before her side went on to defeat Scotland 4-0 at Preston North End.
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Thomas took to social media on Friday to relish the historical moment, sharing sepia-tinted images from the day as well as a shot of the black and white-trimmed cap.
The 67-year-old is well familiar with blazing trails and seizing laurels, having not only been the first woman to rack up 50 caps for England but also the first to lead her side to two tournament victories, to captain her country 50 times and to become an FA qualified coach after retirement.
For over a decade, Thomas was a leader from the back and skippered England across seven tournaments. Having started out as a winger at works team British Oil and Cocoa Mills, her steadfast performances over the years gained her acclaim and recognition.
Thomas earned her first England cap in 1974 at the tender age of 19. Within two years, she ensconced herself in manager Tommy Tranter’s starting XI at right-back and was quickly handed the captain’s armband.
Thomas was the longest-serving England captain until 2011, when her record was broken by fellow Hall of Fame inductee Faye White.
Today, six players in the current England set-up – Lucy Bronze (102) Alex Greenwood (74), Jordan Nobbs (70), Millie Bright (66), Rachel Daly (66) and Kiera Walsh (56) – boast more than 50 caps, while Georgia Stanway (47) and Leah Williamson (41) are the only players with more than 40.
The Lionesses claimed their first-ever major tournament victory with last summer's triumphant Euro2022 campaign. Sarina Wiegman's side relished a third trophy lift in just shy of a year as they claimed back-to-back Arnold Clark Cup titles in February.
The summer's Women's World Cup remains the ultimate prize for a side establishing itself as the new force on the international stage.
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