After serving in the armed forces, Thompson won a local English billiards competition in his home town of Leicester, and was runner-up in the 1952 CIU snooker championship to L.F.
[2] Having been runner-up CIU final again in 1953, and working as a telephone engineer, Thompson was competing for the first time in the English Amateur Championship when he eliminated the defending champion Tommy Gordon 3–2[3] and went on to win the title with an 11–9 victory over Cliff Wilson in the final.
[4] Due to ill health he withdrew from the 1955 tournament and so was unable to defend the title.
[6] He was invited to participate in the 1962–63 Television Tournament and, receiving 11 points start in each frame under the handicapping system used, defeated professional Rex Williams 3–0,[7] before losing 2–3 to Ron Gross.
[10] He played Maurice Parkin in the first qualifying round for the 1972 World Snooker Championship and lost 10–11, and was defeated 5–9 by Graham Miles in the first round of the 1972 World Snooker Championship.