Former Waterford goalkeeper and manager Peter Thomas dies

The death has been announced of the former Waterford goalkeeper and manager Peter Thomas.

He was 78.

Thomas, who joined the Blues on loan from his hometown club Coventry City in 1967, won five league titles during his first spell at Kilcohan Park. After becoming an Irish citizen, he went on to earn two Republic of Ireland caps.

In 1975, he made the switch to the North American Soccer League, where he lined out for Washington Diplomats. Moves to the Utah Golden Spikers, Las Vegas Quicksilvers and Sacramento Gold followed, before Thomas returned to Waterford in 1978. Two years later, he was between the posts as the Blues won the FAI Cup for the second time, defeating St Pat's 2-0 in the Dalymount Park decider.

Thomas later had spells with Galway United and Drogheda United. He hung up his gloves at the end of the 1984-85 season.

He briefly managed Waterford in 1988.