George Thomason interview: The young Bolton captain with an old-school leadership style

It has only been a few years since George Thomason was plying his trade in the depths of non-league.

So to be leading Bolton out as captain this season at the age of just 23 is something he never takes for granted.

"Sometimes in football the toughest thing is to have some perspective and hindsight," Thomason tells Zone Sporty VIP.

"But I was injured recently and it gave me a good opportunity to look at where I have come from over the past five years.

"Everyone's journey is different but I'm delighted with mine. I've come up a little bit of a different way, but it's good to see more players come through non-league now and make their own name in the game.

"And now to be given the captain's armband at this club is a real honour. You feel a sense of responsibility and know people look up to you.

"That's still something I'm learning each day and trying to take that in my stride.

"I'm so proud of how far I've come, but I've got a lot more goals I want to accomplish now I'm here. I'm never someone to rest on their laurels and be happy with where I am. I'm always looking for the next challenge, and to squeeze the most I can out of this career."

Thomason was handed the captaincy in slightly unusual circumstances in mid-September by manager Ian Evatt.

"It was a bit strange with the way it did happen, getting it passed over from Ricardo [Santos] - because I've always looked up to him and been here with him since day one," Thomason explains.

"He's always been a huge role model for me. So for him to give me his blessing and be there for me, when it could have been a tough situation for both of us, it was a really nice feeling.

"Every game I play for Bolton has always been a special moment. But now that I'm the one leading the boys out from the front, it just gives you that little bit more. It's hard to describe until you're in that situation."

And with his role comes the acceptance that there have been plenty of times this season where Bolton have not quite lived up to expectation.

They narrowly missed out on promotion last season twice, losing out automatically and then in the play-off final. This season they find themselves 10th in the table after playing 23 games, four points off the play-offs. Albeit with games in hand on most of the sides above them.

For a club with such history and such a passionate following, Thomason knows they need to do better.

"As a group of players when you sign here, especially in League One, you know there's a massive expectation to win games and perform well," he says.

"When you dip below that bar you're always open to criticism. The lads here, whether they're new or have been here a while, know that's the case.

"When it's going well the fans are absolutely unbelievable. They can really kick you on.

"But on the flip side when things are going not as expected then sometimes it can be tough. But it's our job to change that. To get them off their seats and get them cheering."

Defeat at Wembley last season, losing to Oxford 2-0 in the play-off final, is what cost Bolton in the end. The trickiest thing about it was that they just really struggled on a day where they were heavy favourites to win.

"It was tough to take, I won't lie," admits Thomason. "For all that we did right last season, we know we let ourselves down on that day.

"It hurt more knowing that we were 90 minutes away from Championship football, but also potentially changing lives as well. It's the second biggest league in the world and there are so many advantages to playing in it.

"And it hurts more seeing the teams that did go up competing and doing really well.

"I'd never been in the situation before so it was kind of hard to put a finger on it. We might have been feeling sorry for ourselves a little bit and that is tough to get over.

"As much as you try and not blame it as this cliche hangover, from people that I've spoken to that have been in these situations before they do say it does have an impact.

"But we've done everything we can to make sure we're in a position to go again."

Now that Thomason is the leader of this side he feels that burden a little bit more. He knows what it means and he knows what the demands are in the city.

He hopes to use his own old-school leadership qualities to get them to where they need to be.

"There are expectations around the club because of the history of the team and the infrastructure here," says Thomason.

"I feel like in the last year or 18 months I've developed the leadership side and those qualities. And I feel that's helped bring the best out of me, and I use that to try and bring the best out of others.

"I always remember watching my dad play when I was a kid. Even thought it was Saturday league stuff, he was always a talker and he would always tell me to use my voice in a game.

"Even the most basic of communication, you don't realise how much that can spur your team-mates on. I do think it's a tool that may be dying out of the game a little. If I can use my voice to get the best out of the team then I will.

"I don't feel like my age really plays a part in that, it's how I am as a person. I'll happily shoulder criticism and take that responsibility, so long as it gets the best out of myself and the team.

"I always attack everything head on and just try and give it my best.

Bolton do tend to come on strong in the run-in under Evatt, and hopes are high of another top-six finish.

They have fallen short twice in the League One play-offs in the past two seasons, and Thomason feels putting that hoodoo to bed would be a dream.

"With how we started the campaign we do feel a little bit like the underdog rising to the top again, and that's what we're trying to achieve," he says.

"To go from semi-finalists to finalists to winners, I think it would be one of the best footballing stories."