He was banned for two matches in January 2000 for elbowing Nicky Summerbee of Sunderland to the head in the build-up to a goal;[5] the incident was missed by the referee but action was taken by the governing body following a video review.
Thatcher subsequently moved to Leicester City in a £300,000 transfer deal in the summer 2003,[7] immediately proceeding to attack Glenn Hoddle's style of management.
[8] After a single season at Leicester, Thatcher once again found himself in the arms of a relegated club, and moved to Manchester City.
He was initially the first choice left-back at Manchester City, but a combination of injuries and the emergence of Stephen Jordan limited him to 21 appearances in his first season for the club.
In January 2005 Thatcher nearly joined Fulham for a fee of £500,000 after a series of burglaries unsettled his family, but the move fell through.
[11] Thatcher was not sent off by referee Dermot Gallagher but given just a yellow card, but he was investigated by the FA as a result of the challenge.
[13] On 30 August, Manchester City announced that Thatcher would be banned for six matches, two of which would be suspended, and fined six weeks' wages for the challenge.
[18] Thatcher also faced possible action from Lancashire Police over a clash with ex-Blackburn Rovers player Ralph Welch during a reserve game at Ewood Park in February 2006.
[20] He played his first match for Charlton Athletic on 23 January 2007 against Middlesbrough; [21] the team were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.