Sean Thornton
| Date of birth | 18 May 1983 |
| Place of birth | Drogheda |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Weight | 70 kg |
| Height | 1.78 m |
| Position | Midfielder |
Thornton has represented Ireland at every level from Under-15 to Under-18.
A tribunal decided the fee for his move to Sunderland to an initial £225,000, rising to £625,000 depending on appearances.
A 15% sell-on clause was also agreed.
He was made available for transfer in May 2005 before his move to Doncaster Rovers for a club record £175,000 fee.
Thornton's contract at Leyton Orient was extended to June 2010 in June 2009.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tranmere Rovers | 13 May 2001 | 08 Jul 2002 | |
| Sunderland | 08 Jul 2002 | 11 Jul 2005 | |
| Blackpool | 07 Nov 2002 | 06 Dec 2002 | L |
| Doncaster Rovers | 11 Jul 2005 | 30 Jun 2007 | |
| Leyton Orient | 05 Jul 2007 | 30 Jun 2010 | |
| Shrewsbury Town | 12 Sep 2008 | 12 Oct 2008 | L |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-02 | Tranmere Rovers | FA Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2001-02 | Tranmere Rovers | LDV Vans Trophy | 1 |
||||
| 2001-02 | Tranmere Rovers | League Division 2 | 9 | 2 |
1 |
6
|
|
| 2002-03 | Blackpool | LDV Vans Trophy | 1 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Blackpool | League Division 2 | 1 | 2 |
1
|
||
| 2002-03 | Sunderland | FA Cup | 3 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Sunderland | Premier League | 11 | 1 |
|||
| 2003-04 | Sunderland | FA Cup | 4 |
||||
| 2003-04 | Sunderland | League Cup | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2003-04 | Sunderland | League Division 1 | 14 | 8 |
4 |
6
|
1
|
| 2003-04 | Sunderland | League Division 1 Play-Offs | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Sunderland | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Sunderland | League Championship | 3 | 13 |
4 |
5
|
|
| 2004-05 | Sunderland | League Cup | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2005-06 | Doncaster Rovers | FA Cup | 3 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Doncaster Rovers | LDV Vans Trophy | 1 |
||||
| 2005-06 | Doncaster Rovers | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
1 |
||
| 2005-06 | Doncaster Rovers | League One | 23 | 6 |
2 |
4
|
|
| 2006-07 | Doncaster Rovers | FA Cup | 1 | 2 |
|||
| 2006-07 | Doncaster Rovers | Johnstones Paint Trophy | 4 | 2 |
1 |
2
|
|
| 2006-07 | Doncaster Rovers | League Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2006-07 | Doncaster Rovers | League One | 15 | 15 |
3
|
||
| 2007-08 | Leyton Orient | FA Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2007-08 | Leyton Orient | Johnstones Paint Trophy | 1 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Leyton Orient | League Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2007-08 | Leyton Orient | League One | 22 | 9 |
3 |
4
|
1
|
| 2008-09 | Leyton Orient | FA Cup | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2008-09 | Leyton Orient | League Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2008-09 | Leyton Orient | League One | 26 | 4 |
2 |
2
|
1
|
| 2008-09 | Shrewsbury Town | Johnstones Paint Trophy | 1 | ||||
| 2008-09 | Shrewsbury Town | League Two | 5 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2009-10 | Leyton Orient | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Leyton Orient | Johnstones Paint Trophy | 1 |
||||
| 2009-10 | Leyton Orient | League Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2009-10 | Leyton Orient | League One | 28 | 2 |
7 |
12
|
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan 2003 | Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers | W | 2-0 | FA Cup | 3rd round replay |
| 18 Jan 2003 | Everton v Sunderland | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Feb 2003 | Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers | W | 2-2 (3-0) | FA Cup | 4th round replay |
| 08 Feb 2003 | Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland | L | 4-1 | Premier League | |
| 15 Feb 2003 | Sunderland v Watford | L | 0-1 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 15 Mar 2003 | Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 22 Mar 2003 | West Ham United v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 05 Apr 2003 | Sunderland v Chelsea | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 12 Apr 2003 | Birmingham City v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 21 Apr 2003 | Manchester City v Sunderland | L | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 26 Apr 2003 | Sunderland v Newcastle United | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 May 2003 | Aston Villa v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 11 May 2003 | Sunderland v Arsenal | L | 0-4 | Premier League | |
| 13 Aug 2003 | Mansfield Town v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 16 Aug 2003 | Sunderland v Millwall | L | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Aug 2003 | Preston North End v Sunderland | W | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 25 Aug 2003 | Sunderland v Watford | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 30 Aug 2003 | Bradford City v Sunderland | W | 0-4 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Sep 2003 | Sunderland v Crystal Palace | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Sep 2003 | Stoke City v Sunderland | L | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Sep 2003 | Derby County v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Sep 2003 | Sunderland v Huddersfield Town | L | 2-4 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 27 Sep 2003 | Sunderland v Reading | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Oct 2003 | Sheffield United v Sunderland | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Oct 2003 | Sunderland v Cardiff City | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Oct 2003 | Sunderland v Rotherham United | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Jan 2004 | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 25 Feb 2004 | Birmingham City v Sunderland | W | 0-2 | FA Cup | 5th round replay |
| 07 Mar 2004 | Sunderland v Sheffield United | W | 1-0 | FA Cup | Quarter-final |
| 10 Mar 2004 | Sunderland v Preston North End | D | 3-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Mar 2004 | Sunderland v West Ham United | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Mar 2004 | Sunderland v Stoke City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Mar 2004 | Reading v Sunderland | W | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Mar 2004 | Sunderland v Gillingham | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Apr 2004 | Millwall v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | FA Cup | Semi-final |
| 06 Apr 2004 | Wimbledon v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 09 Apr 2004 | Sunderland v Sheffield United | W | 3-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 12 Apr 2004 | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 May 2004 | Sunderland v Crewe Alexandra | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 May 2004 | Sunderland v Norwich City | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 09 May 2004 | Burnley v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 May 2004 | Crystal Palace v Sunderland | L | 3-2 | League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 17 May 2004 | Sunderland v Crystal Palace | W |
2-1 Agg: 4-4 (4-5) |
League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 10 Aug 2004 | Sunderland v Crewe Alexandra | W | 3-1 | League Championship | |
| 14 Aug 2004 | Sunderland v Queens Park Rangers | D | 2-2 | League Championship | |
| 21 Aug 2004 | Plymouth Argyle v Sunderland | L | 2-1 | League Championship | |
| 24 Aug 2004 | Sunderland v Chester City | W | 3-0 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 28 Aug 2004 | Sunderland v Wigan Athletic | D | 1-1 | League Championship | |
| 31 Aug 2004 | Reading v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | League Championship | |
| 21 Sep 2004 | Crewe Alexandra v Sunderland | L | 3-3 (2-4) | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 01 Jan 2005 | Preston North End v Sunderland | L | 3-2 | League Championship | |
| 03 Jan 2005 | Sunderland v Gillingham | D | 1-1 | League Championship | |
| 08 Jan 2005 | Sunderland v Crystal Palace | W | 2-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 22 Jan 2005 | Sunderland v Sheffield United | W | 1-0 | League Championship | |
| 29 Jan 2005 | Everton v Sunderland | L | 3-0 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 19 Feb 2005 | Brighton and Hove Albion v Sunderland | L | 2-1 | League Championship | |
| 22 Feb 2005 | Sunderland v Rotherham United | W | 4-1 | League Championship | |
| 04 Mar 2005 | Burnley v Sunderland | W | 0-2 | League Championship | |
| 12 Mar 2005 | Crewe Alexandra v Sunderland | W | 0-1 | League Championship | |
| 15 Mar 2005 | Sunderland v Plymouth Argyle | W | 5-1 | League Championship | |
| 19 Mar 2005 | Sunderland v Coventry City | W | 1-0 | League Championship | |
| 02 Apr 2005 | Queens Park Rangers v Sunderland | W | 1-3 | League Championship | |
| 17 Apr 2005 | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | D | 2-2 | League Championship | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Under-18 | 1 | 2 |
1
|
||
| 2001-02 | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Under-19 | 5 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2002-03 | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Under-19 | 4 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Under-21 | 4 |
1
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Republic of Ireland | Under-21 | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2003-04 | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Under-21 | 1 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Republic of Ireland | Under-21 | 1 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Under-21 | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2004-05 | Republic of Ireland | Under-21 | 1 | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 2000 | Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic | L | 0-1 | UEFA U18 | Group 8 |
| 17 Oct 2000 | Moldova v Republic of Ireland | W | 0-2 | UEFA U18 | Group 8 |
| 19 Oct 2000 | Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland | W | 2-3 | UEFA U18 | Group 8 |
| 05 Nov 2001 | Republic of Ireland v Latvia | W | 3-0 | UEFA U19 | Group 14 |
| 07 Nov 2001 | Republic of Ireland v Austria | W | 2-0 | UEFA U19 | Group 14 |
| 09 Nov 2001 | Croatia v Republic of Ireland | W | 1-3 | UEFA U19 | Group 14 |
| 20 Mar 2002 | Netherlands v Republic of Ireland | W | 1-2 | UEFA U19 | Quarter-final |
| 10 Apr 2002 | Republic of Ireland v Netherlands | D | 0-0 | UEFA U19 | Quarter-final |
| 22 Jul 2002 | Belgium v Republic of Ireland | W | 1-2 | UEFA U19 | Final group B |
| 24 Jul 2002 | Germany v Republic of Ireland | L | 3-0 | UEFA U19 | Final group B |
| 26 Jul 2002 | Republic of Ireland v England | W | 3-2 | UEFA U19 | Final group B |
| 28 Jul 2002 | Slovakia v Republic of Ireland | D | 0-0 | UEFA Under-19 | Final group 3-4 |
| 11 Feb 2003 | Scotland v Republic of Ireland | L | 2-0 | U21 | |
| 28 Mar 2003 | Georgia v Republic of Ireland | D | 1-1 | UEFA U21 | Group 10 |
| 01 Apr 2003 | Albania v Republic of Ireland | D | 0-0 | UEFA U21 | Group 10 |
| 02 Jun 2003 | Republic of Ireland v Germany | D | 2-2 | U21 | |
| 06 Jun 2003 | Republic of Ireland v Albania | W | 2-1 | UEFA Under-21 | Group 10 |
| 10 Jun 2003 | Republic of Ireland v Georgia | D | 1-1 | UEFA Under-21 | Group 10 |
| 10 Oct 2003 | Switzerland v Republic of Ireland | W | 0-2 | UEFA U21 | Group 10 |
| 27 Apr 2004 | Poland v Republic of Ireland | D | 2-2 | Under-21 | |
| 17 Aug 2004 | Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria | W | 3-2 | U21 | |
| 07 Sep 2004 | Switzerland v Republic of Ireland | L | 4-2 | UEFA U21 | Group 4 |
| 08 Feb 2005 | Portugal v Republic of Ireland | L | 2-0 | U21 | |
| 25 Mar 2005 | Israel v Republic of Ireland | L | 3-1 | UEFA U21 | Group 4 |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.