The former Twin City Wanderers junior said he would look to use his new ambassadorial role with the A-League powerhouse to bring some star power to Albury-Wodonga.

“I'd love to bring the team to Wodonga, I don't think they would have played up there before,” Thompson said.

“It'd be great to get them there, I don't know that they would have travelled that far to a regional area.

“We'd get a massive response from the football community.

“Now that I'm playing that ambassador's role I'll have some more input into where we travel, hopefully I can pick out a few good regional spots.

“I know Josh Kennedy has done a lot of things back home, I’d like to start doing the same.” 

Though Thompson is keen to return to the Border in some capacity, the former A-League champion said it was unlikely to be with the Wanderers after signing for NPL outfit Heidelberg

“Maybe one day I’d like to organise an exhibition game (with Twin City),” Thompson said.

“It’d be nice to give back.

“It all starts with grassroots football and that’s part of the reason I’m with Heidelberg now, they’re a great family club.

“I come from big family where we all played, that was our Sunday thing.

“Some of the best moments from my childhood were from when I was playing in Wodonga.

“Playing now, I feel like a big kid again, getting out of the car with my kit on and getting straight onto the pitch.

“I was blessed to be involved in a professional setup for so long, but you do take some things for granted.

“It’d be great to get the boys up to Albury-Wodonga just so they can remember what it’s like before you have all these resources at your disposal.”