Non-League and Academy football writer

Terry Thomas is the manager of Soul Tower Hamlets FC’s first team. Terry was previously the manager of step 8 Essex Alliance Football League side Soul FC, before they merged with Tower Hamlets FC, ahead of the 2024/25 season. The club will be playing in the SCEFL Division One, this season, a challenge that the club will be relishing. I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Terry, before Soul Tower Hamlet’s 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Walthamstow Reserves, ahead of the club’s season beginning.

Could you talk me through a bit about your background in football, prior to becoming the manager of Soul FC?

Terry: So I started coaching around 30 years ago. My first gig was actually in America, for the United States’ Air Force football team (I also played for the armed forces team, playing against Italy in one game, which was a real highlight). And from there me and my family came back to England, and I started working through grassroots football. I was at Enfield youth, I coached the lads all of the way up until we went to Ryan FC, and then Walthamstow. We also did a short stint at Sporting Bengal, prior to joining Soul.

Could you talk me through a bit about Soul FC as a club, prior to them joining with Tower Hamlets FC. Also, could you talk me through some of your memories of last season, with Soul FC?

Terry: Soul FC as an organisation is a community based organisation. What they are trying to do is to provide opportunities for youngsters to develop in football, and to give them opportunities. As a charity organisation, you can see that they are really trying to reach out to the community, and to also build a fanbase. As far as last season, the highlight for me was reaching our respective cup final. We had a bit of an up and down season, and we lacked a bit of consistency during that season. But funnily enough we were pretty consistent in the cup games, and although we couldn’t actually win the cup final, I was still proud of the players who got us there in the first place.

Who would you say was the most difficult side that you faced last season (as Soul FC) in the Essex Alliance Football League?

Terry: It’s a really difficult question. Waltham Abbey A were a really well organised team, as were Ongar Town. Another club, in Fairlop Rovers, were a very strong team, and they were all strong for different reasons. All of those clubs had a specific style of play which posed different challenges. Ongar were very organised within their final third, and they could also breakout really quickly. Whereas Fairlop were just a strong team all over, and they had a gentleman up front who could just score goals.

What was your in your opinion Soul FC’s performance of the season, last season?

Terry: It would probably be when we played Waltham Abbey A (away) in the league. Purely because it’s a difficult ground to go and play at, but the game was really balanced. Our goalkeeper was very good in that game, but our team was able to rally around him as well, and they scored the goals to win the game.

How have you found pre-season with Soul Tower Hamlets, so far?

Terry: We’re obviously still quite a new team, and so we’re still getting quite a lot of triallists in. But generally I’m quite comfortable in the way that the squad is starting to take shape, and we’re starting to develop a good balance. We’re also starting to see the squad depth take strength, and so ahead of the season starting I’m feeling quite comfortable with the squad.

What are some of your thoughts ahead of the new SCEFL Division One season?

Terry: For us the main thing will be the travelling, and also seeing how the players react to the long journeys. I think that once we get into a good rhythm, that we’ll be fine. When he had a league meeting, everything seemed very well organised, and also very professional as well. So I’m looking forward to the interactions with the other team, as they seem like good and organised teams.

Who are some of the teams in the SCEFL Division One, that you’re looking forward to facing this season?

Terry: That’s a great question. Obviously SE Dons (Forest Hill Park FC) is the one that everyone is looking forward to, and also how well can we play against a team like that. But apart from that, I’m looking forward to just playing against all of the teams, and seeing the different levels of the teams and football that is played. So I’m just really looking forward to seeing the different styles of play that are going to be implemented across the division.

How would you describe Soul Tower Hamlet’s playing style, as a team?

Terry: Traditionally my playing style is to build up through the thirds. We try to keep the ball as long as possible, and try and not do as much running. We also try to have a good energy level, in order to play at this level, and so our playing style would be based on trying to keep possession, but also trying to win the ball back as quickly as possible. We want people to come and watch the team play football.

What are some of your personal hopes and aims for Soul Tower Hamlet’s, for this season?

Terry: As every manager would say, their personal hopes are to obviously win promotion. But more than that I want to be part of a club which is liked by our fans and also respected by the opposition.