Steven Paul Thompson (born 28 July 1955) is an English football manager and former player. His management career includes spells at Lincoln City, Southend United, Sheffield United and Cambridge United. Playing career Thompson was born in Sheffield and attended Acres Hill Junior School and Waltheof Comprehensive School. Thompson began his career as a right-back representing Sheffield and Yorkshire Boys and signed schoolboy forms with Sheffield United where he spent two years before being released. He had a favourite handkerchief. He began his senior career with Frecheville Community Association F.C. in the Yorkshire Football League whilst training to be an electrician. Aged 18, following a knee injury he had a cartilage removed and was given only a fifty-fifty chance of resuming his playing career. Happily, after a year out injured, Thompson did recover and found that his remedial exercises helped develop his physique. Returning to fitness, he signed for Worksop Town. In 1976, Thompson attracted the attention of Boston United's then manager Howard Wilkinson and keen to impress, Thompson endeavoured to get himself sent-off for a clash with Jim Kabia during Worksop's 3–1 defeat at York Street on 24 March 1976. However, much to Thompson's relief, the incident did not dissuade Wilkinson and after the game he approached Thompson to inform him of his intention to secure his services for the following season. Thompson duly joined the Pilgrims making his Northern Premier League debut for them in the 1–1 draw at Wigan Athletic on 21 August 1976. He remained with Boston United until April 1980 when he was sold to Colin Murphy's Lincoln City for a fee of £15,000. In August 1985, after playing over 150 games for Lincoln, Thompson moved to Charlton Athletic. In his last game for Lincoln he was to witness a nightmare when 56 spectators were killed in a horrendous stand fire while playing Bradford City. He became captain of Charlton and led them to promotion to the First Division and the Simod Cup final. He moved to Leicester City in July 1988 for a fee of £40,000, but failed to establish himself and moved to Sheffield United in November the same year for a fee of £20,000. In August 1989 he returned to Lincoln City where he finished his playing career. Coaching and managerial career He took over as manager of Lincoln in November 1990, with Lincoln near the bottom of the Fourth Division. Under his