[6] Soon after the Football Association carried out an investigation into the transfer practices of the club and manager Tom Maley regarding making additional payments to players to avoid the maximum wage at the time.
The investigation led to Maley receiving a life ban from the game and seventeen players were either fined or suspended.
He received his first call-up for the England team in 1907, being named as a reserve player for a match against Ireland on 16 February 1907 before making his debut against Wales the following month.
[7][9] Following the outbreak of World War I, Thornley joined the Royal Field Artillery at the age of 32 and served as a gunner until he was transferred to the army reserve in April 1917.
[10] His brother John, who played for Manchester United as an amateur, was killed during the war after succumbing to wounds he suffered during the Battle of St. Quentin during Operation Michael.