THE lot of a Crystal Palace fan may not be a happy one at the moment, but spare a thought for the lowly Dumbarton supporter. In fact, Dale's usual keeper, Neil Edwards, a pounds 25,000 signing from Stockport, has been one of the few plus points of a particularly forgettable season.Still, most of those who witnessed it will still be there when next season kicks off, following Dale's ups and downs, should they be so lucky. Just like the legendary figure who was famous for considering football to be more important than life and death. Asked whether there was truth in the rumour he'd taken his wife to watch Rochdale on his wedding anniversary, Bill Shankly allegedly replied: "It was actually her birthday - I'd nivver have wed during the football season - and it wis nae Rochdale, it was Rochdale reserves.".

Hence the reason why highly rated 16-year-old keeper Stephen Bywater was sold to West Ham earlier this season, even if the fee was far less than the pounds 2m widely quoted. The reality is that Bywater will have to captain England while he's still a Hammer for Dale to reap a substantial reward, and as Wild says, "we all know the chances of that happening".Bywater wasn't even a regular; his only appearance came in a 6-1 Auto Windscreens Shield thrashing at Carlisle. It does not take a rocket scientist to work out that gate receipts alone will not suffice.Of course, on-the-field flair doesn't necessarily have to be sacrificed in favour of off-the-field affluence (as Spurs fans will argue). But when you're as precariously poised as Rochdale you have to cut your cloth accordingly. Mind you, it has to be prudent considering they have an estimated weekly wage bill of pounds 13,000, the cheapest tickets (pounds 8) in the League and an average home gate of 1,400 (down from the 2,700 average three seasons ago), of which 400 are season tickets holders. I wore a neck brace for nine months - I had about six of them so I could wash them and so on.

I'd just left school and it was a bit worrying."My family were a great help. A couple of surgeons said that my career was over, but I always thought I would come through. Now I only think about it when journalists ask me."Of the four in the car, Thompson, though the most grievously injured, is the only one still playing professional football. He came back to play for Newcastle alongside schoolfriend Steve Watson but, after just 16 League games, Kevin Keegan let him go to Bolton for pounds 250,000 in the summer of 1993. In September 1990, when he was a 16-year-old apprentice with Newcastle United, he broke his neck in a car crash on the A1 while travelling back from a reserve match at Leeds."I was," he said, "in a bad way I had two operations and was out for 22 months. He gets in position but he wants to burst the ball when there are times when you have to stroke it in. He does have great attacking ideas, he wants to get forward, but he always gets back as well."In some ways it is a miracle Thompson is playing at all.

He was a bit immature and still is to a degree but he is learning all the time. He is a gifted player and one of those I would always have in my side. He has energy and endeavour, a will and desire to stay in the Premiership with Bolton Wanderers."He should be our top scorer [he has seven goals to Nathan Blake's 12]. His international career has stalled after being sent off on his second Under-21 appearance and the days when he was being considered as a late contender for Euro 96 seem long ago."I've recommended him to Glenn Hoddle and I'm sure his time will come," said Colin Todd, the Bolton manager, who has moved Thompson from the wing into midfield "He is beginning to blossom now.

"I can spend time in the morning with her before training and a few hours afterwards."The timing might also be perfect for his career. Thompson, now 24, has been regarded as promising since the days he was England Schoolboys captain and he is reaching the stage where potential needs to be turned into performance. A goal against Liverpool in the Coca-Cola Cup final a few years ago reminded people of his talent as did another, against the same opponents, which could be named Goal of the Month on tonight's Match of the Day In between, however, many believe he has underachieved. "It does make a difference once you're married."It probably helps, too, that his daughter sleeps "from seven at night to six in the morning" and that Thompson appreciates the luxury of a footballer's life for a new father "It's brilliant," he said. Thompson is now approaching the second anniversary of his wedding to Joanne and enjoying the company of a five-month-old daughter. Although he has still been sent off once since her arrival, at the home of today's opponents, Blackburn, in December, his once-grim disciplinary record is gradually improving as is his dedication off the pitch."I'm getting older and wiser," he said when we met after training in Cheshire this week. It became something of a club joke until a team-mate, David Lee who is now at Wigan, introduced Thompson to his sister.