Wells Thompson's Fan Forum

i love wells we email all the time but i very upset that he got traded i agree he is the only one with balls on the team

I know that I promised that I would post this article -- like a year ago -- but at least I am getting it done now.   If anyone doubts that Wells is a great, all around guy, this interview will dispell all doubts.  Here is the original link:

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070414/SPORTS/704140341/-1/SPORTS10

Former Family School Student Now Playing Pro Soccer

By Justin Rodriguez

Times Herald-Record

Posted: April 14, 2007 - 2:00 AM

Ever hear of Wells Thompson? Probably not — unless you are a soccer aficionado.

Wells is a rookie midfielder with the New England Revolution. He was the fifth overall pick in this year's Major League Soccer Super Draft.

And get this:

Thompson, a North Carolina native, played in Section 9 for The Family School in 2001, tearing it up on fields across Orange and Sullivan counties. The Family School, located in Hancock, is a prep school for troubled teenagers.

Thompson, 23, says he would never have made the MLS if he didn't spend 18 months at The Family School. He went on to star at Wake Forest and is the highest-drafted soccer player in the program's history.

Thompson talked to us about, among other things, The Family School, life in the MLS and a possible return to the area.

How did you end up at The Family School?

I made some bad decisions and got into a lot of trouble at home. I was drinking at an early age, so my parents sent me away to try to get me to figure my life out. I was heading down the wrong path.

Do you think you would be in the MLS if you didn't attend The Family School?

I really don't think I would be here if it wasn't for The Family School. I was getting into alcohol and other substances. I was young and immature, I was going wild, but the people there really helped me. I really grew up.

Do you still drink?

I do once in a while. I don't think it's an issue for me anymore.

Must not be. You took a pretty interesting Spring Break last year.

I went to the Dominican Republic and did missionary work. I had already done Spring Break, I didn't want to just go and party. I wanted to help people. We built houses and stuff like that. It was a humbling and healing experience.

So why didn't we hear much about you at The Family School? You had to be good.

I was pretty good, I had talent. God blessed me with ability. But I couldn't put it all together. I wasn't in the state of mind to devote myself to soccer. It was a hard time for me being at a new place.

Did you think you were a Division I player?

I don't know if I was. I went to Forsyth Country Day School for two years after (The Family School). That's when I really developed, but I still always seem to fly under the radar. Wake Forest and South Carolina were really the only two Division I schools interested in me.

Speaking of flying under the radar, a lot of fans were surprised New England took you with the fifth overall pick.

I'm not going to lie, I wasn't even going to go to the draft. I didn't know if I was going to get drafted. But a few coaches from Wake Forest gave me the good news and I flew up (to Indiana). New England liked me. I guess they really saw something in me.

Describe your welcome-to-the-MLS moment.

The draft was unbelievable, but my first game on Saturday, everything was so unreal. I played in the whole game and I couldn't believe it was happening. It was like it all came to fruition.

Best part about playing in the MLS?

Playing soccer for a living. It's unbelievable to do something you dreamed about as a kid.

What do you think of David Beckham coming to play in the MLS?

I think it's great. It will bring a lot more people out to games, even if it's not for the right reasons. But it will help American soccer and I hope we can get some more big names. It will only help.

So what happens when Beckham and Wells Thompson battle for a ball on the pitch?

It will be an honor to play against him, but I won't handle it any differently than any other of my competitors. My teammates know that when I step on the field they are the only ones who are my friends.

Anonymous,

I sense you do not care too much for our beloved Wells and the rest of the Revs. ;-D

Despite being eliminated in the first round playoffs, 2008 was a good season overall for the Revs. They were winning big time at the start of the season and they won the SuperLiga. However, there were a lot of injuries (with veterans Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston notably out of the picture), and that simply affected the playoffs.

The Revs would be wise to give rookie players significant game time where possible to develop the team as a whole. In particular, Wells seems to be getting that time and he is showing results.

I wish it were an "all homosexual team." It is definitely the best looking team, and the most talented.

-- Rob

I REALLY like this one with Wells sandwiched between former Rev Ryan Solle (on the left) and another smouldering Demon Deacon (Bobby Davis) on the right:

Here is young Wells when he was the most valuable player under age 18 at the Tampa Bay Sun Bowl 2001:

Dividing these postings up seems to do the trick in attaching photos.  I have a really good interview with Wells discussing some of the adversities he encountered growing up.  It is amazing that he has done as well as he has  -- he has a lot of inner strength as well as athletic prowess (wow -- I just used "prowess" in a sentence).  I will post that interview once I find it.  Enjoy!

I MAY have found out how to post photos in these postings.  (I tried posting before, but it did not seem to work.)  Here are some of the pics that can be found at http://s461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/RobertC999/Wells%20Thompson/  

They are from Wells’ early playing days at Wake Forest. I figure they will become harder to find on the internet.

A couple of great action shots (He is a KNOCKOUT in black!):

Rather than load up the photos on this blog, some of pics of Wells at Wake Forest are here:

http://s461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/RobertC999/Wells%20Thompson/

-- Rob

I posted some cool pics of Wells with pumped legs, a hint of 6-pack abs (from the 4^th pic), and a smile to light up a room.

Onto actual soccer;  I send my best to the Revs who are up against DC United on Thursday. Some key players are out on injuries (including Ralson!), and this is a must-win to go to the MLS Cup Final. Hopefully Wells will be his "take-no-prisoners" self on the field and the Revs can move on.

– Rob