A hugely experienced and talented midfielder who returned to Hednesford for a third spell from Leek Town in December 2022

 

Stafford-born and raised, Thorley joined Stoke City as a junior and progressed through the ranks at the Britannia Stadium after signing a one-year professional deal with the Potters in the summer of 2008. He was loaned to his hometown club Stafford for the first time ahead of the 2008-2009 campaign to gain experience, impressing at Marston Road with his neat, precise passing game. His initial one-month loan was extended by another month, with the teenager returning to Marston Road in February 2009 for another three-month spell. He helped Rangers seal their Blue Square North status for the following season with one game to spare

 

Upon his return to Stoke in the summer, he was released by his parent club and went on trial to League One side Rotherham United as he looked to seal a professional deal. However, he returned to Stafford on a permanent basis in July, despite strong interest from Blue Square South side Worcester City. Worcester felt they could offer Thorley an attractive deal due to the player attending Worcester University to complete a Sports Science degree

 

A difficult campaign for Rangers saw them once again struggle with the demands of Blue Square North football, with Thorley one bright spot in a dismal season that saw Stafford finish six points from relegation. Indeed, he was named as the club's player of the year at the end of the season by the club, adding to his growing reputation as one of the brightest talents at step two level

 

Having found travelling every day from Stone to Worcester a struggle, Thorley did make the move to St. George's Lane in the summer of 2010, finally joining Worcester on a one-year deal after City had returned to Blue Square North in a shake-up of the league structures. He continued to impress with his midfield play and helped the Dragons consolidate at sixteenth place finish

 

Having signed a new one-year deal with Worcester in the summer of 2011, Thorley was selected to play for Great Britain at the World University Games in China during July

 

Another excellent season for Worcester was once again followed by a contract extension in the summer of 2012, with Thorley playing in City's final ever game at St. George's Lane in May 2013

 

After a difficult start to the 2013-2014 season for Worcester - now playing at Kidderminster's Aggborough ground - Thorley finally decided to make the move back to Staffordshire after Hednesford had enquired about the player's availability in November 2013. He completed his switch to the Pitmen ahead of the club's home game against Colwyn Bay, where he made his debut as a second-half substitute. Made an immediate impact at the club, slotting into the midfield with ease and playing his trademark neat, tidy, simple passing game

 

His impact on the side was measured at the end of season awards as he was named as the Supporters Association and Travel Club Player of the Year, despite joining three months into the season. Gave the club a huge boost in June 2014 by agreeing a new deal to remain at Keys Park for the 2014-2015 season. Another consistent season at step two for the Pitmen saw them finish in eighth place in Vanarama Conference North

 

The summer of 2015 saw Thorley look to pastures new, agreeing a one-year deal with relegated AFC Telford in May. After playing in several pre-season games for the Bucks, Thorley sensationally quit the club just before the start of the new season and paid up his own contract after expressing a problem with his travelling arrangements. He made a swift return to Keys Park, agreeing to a new deal with the Pitmen after playing in a pre-season game against former club Stafford Rangers

 

His season at Keys Park was punctuated with a number of niggly injuries as the Pitmen struggled to maintain their status at step two. Following their relegation to the Evo-Stik Premier League, Thorley was the first player to be confirmed as a Hednesford player for the following season, with new manager Liam McDonald handing the midfielder the captain's armband in the process. Thorley's form in the first three months of the campaign was simply outstanding, as he led the line with relish alongside talented players such as George Carline and Simeon Maye in midfield

 

McDonald's departure to Solihull Moors in November 2016 left the club in tatters, with Thorley playing alongside a succession of substandard players after Maye, Carline et al had moved on. He still dragged the Pitmen through games almost single-handed and deservedly earned a clean sweep at the end-of-season awards

 

Despite several offers from step one and two sides during May 2017, Thorley surprised and delighted the Hednesford supporters by signing a two-year deal for the forthcoming season in May 2017. Once again, Thorley was one of the club's most consistent performers, continuing to lead the team through his steady hand of captaincy in a topsy-turvy season that saw the return of Rob Smith as manager after only eight games

​

Despite being only one year into his two-year contract at Keys Park, North Staffordshire-based Thorley elected to depart the club in June 2018 and rejoin Stafford after Hednesford were moved from the Northern Premier League to the Southern Premier League Central. He remained a solid, dependable quality step three player at Marston Road over the next two seasons as Rangers struggled towards the foot of the Northern Premier League table in both campaigns, with the latter 2019-2020 season ending early due to the coronavirus pandemic

​

After starting the 2020-2021 season with Rangers, Thorley made the move to Rushall in October 2020 to link up with McDonald and best friend Danny Glover once more at Dales Lane. Despite the 2020-2021 season ending early due to the pandemic once more, Thorley was quick to agree a new deal with Rushall for the 2021-2022 season and enjoyed a fine season, playing in every league game for the Pics as they finished in the play-offs at the end of the season, only to lose in the semi-final to Coalville Town

​

After playing every game of Rushall's season up to the end of October 2022, Thorley chose to take the step down to the Pitching In Northern Premier League West to sign for Leek Town, moving closer to home in the process. After five games for Blues, Thorley made a swift return to step three and rejoined Hednesford for a third spell as old friend Glover took up the managerial reins at the RACE Stadium and brought Thorley back to the club

​

Thorley's latest spell at Keys Park was punctuated by injury issues, however, as he made only eleven appearances in the second half of the season as the Pitmen were relegated to step four with several games remaining. After a stressful summer that saw the club's future taken to the brink before being rescued, Thorley agreed to a new deal with the club ahead of their Northern Premier League West campaign in 2023-2024

​