Thomas Pinault (born 4 December 1981) is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Colchester United, Grimsby Town and Brentford, and his native country for Cannes and RC Grasse.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Pinault[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 4 December 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Grasse, France | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1998 | Cannes | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–1999 | Cannes | 0 | (0) |
| 1999–2004 | Colchester United | 133 | (5) |
| 2004–2005 | Grimsby Town | 43 | (7) |
| 2006–2007 | Brentford | 27 | (1) |
| 2007–2010 | Crawley Town | 108 | (8) |
| 2010–2013 | RC Grasse | ||
| Total | 311 | (21) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Colchester United
A product of the Cannes youth system, Pinault moved to England to join Second Division club Colchester United on a free transfer in June 1999.[3][4] After making just 10 appearances during his first two full seasons at Layer Road,[5][6] he broke into the first team squad during the 2001–02 season and signed a new two-and-a-half year contract in October 2001.[7][8] Pinault remained with Colchester United until his contract expired at the end of the 2003–04 season,[4] by which time he had made 157 appearances and scored seven goals for the club.[9]
Grimsby Town
After an unsuccessful trial with Dundee United and turning down a contract from Northampton Town,[10] Pinault signed a one-year contract with League Two club Grimsby Town on a free transfer in July 2004.[11] Pinault was a regular in the team during the 2004–05 season, making 47 appearances and scoring seven goals,[12] but his relationship with manager Russell Slade deteriorated after he was "singled-out for criticism" by Slade for his defensive performance during a 2–2 draw with Notts County late in the season.[13] He was released at the end of the 2004–05 season.[14] In 2006, Pinault's remarks about his time at Blundell Park were chosen as one of BBC Sport's Quotes of the Year:[15]
Brentford
After a year out of football with an ankle ligament injury,[16] Pinault returned to England sign a one-year contract with League One club Brentford on a free transfer in July 2006.[17] Despite being transfer-listed by incoming manager Scott Fitzgerald in December 2006,[18] Pinault remained at Griffin Park for the duration of the 2006–07 season and made 37 appearances, scoring one goal.[19] He was released in June 2007,[20] after Brentford's relegation to League Two was confirmed.[21]
Crawley Town
Pinault joined Conference Premier club Crawley Town on a one-year contract in July 2007.[22] Through successive one-year extensions of his contract,[23][24] he remained at the Broadfield Stadium for three seasons and made over 110 appearances for the club.[9] Pinault rejected a new contract and left Crawley at the end of the 2009–10 season.[25]
RC Grasse
Early in the 2010–11 season, Pinault returned to France to join hometown Championnat de France Amateur 2 club RC Grasse.[26] He remained at the Stade Jean Girard until his retirement at the end of the 2012–13 season.[27]
Personal life
Thomas is the brother of footballer Clément Pinault.[28] After retiring from football, he became an estate agent.[29]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Colchester United | 1999-00[5] | Second Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2000–01[6] | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| 2001–02[7] | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| 2002–03[30] | 42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 45 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04[31] | 40 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5[a] | 1 | 54 | 2 | ||
| Total | 133 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 157 | 7 | ||
| Grimsby Town | 2004–05[12] | League Two | 43 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 47 | 7 |
| Brentford | 2006–07[19] | League One | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| Crawley Town | 2007–08[32] | Conference Premier | 41 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ― | 1[b] | 0 | 43 | 4 | |
| 2008–09[33] | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | ― | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |||
| 2009–10[27] | 40 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ― | 0 | 0 | 40 | 1 | |||
| Total | 109 | 8 | 3 | 0 | ― | 1 | 0 | 113 | 8 | |||
| RC Grasse | 2012–13[27] | Championnat de France amateur 2 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ― | ― | 23 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 335 | 29 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 371 | 31 | ||
Honours
Colchester United
- Harwich Charity Cup Centenary Shield: 1999[34]
References
External links
Thomas Pinault at Soccerbase
