Thompson made his debut for cash-strapped Leek on the 22nd of August as the Stafforshire outfit turned in a gutsy performance at Radcliffe Borough. That unbeaten start to the season soon ended though and by the time Thompson had made six starts for the club and left Staffordshire after a 2-0 defeat at Burscough on the 9th of September, Thompson had taken part in one win, two draws and three defeats for the club.
Workington-born Thompson left the Blues in the summer after he wasn't offered a professional deal with the club at the end of his three-year YTS contract. Neil spent little time playing for the Cumbrians youth team last season, with Adam Bradley taking the place between the United sticks for nearly the whole of the campaign, Thommo having also spent time on loan at Workington Reds earlier in his Blues career.
Thompson still got plenty of football in though as he played for Hull City on work experience for two months from August to October. Neil then going to Barrow over the Christmas period as he joined the Bluebirds for a month, again on work experience. That wasn't enough for Thommo however as he then went to Bradford Park Avenue on work experience for two months from early January to March, although he did return to Brunton Park on the 4th of February for one youth team game, filling in for Bradley who was on the first-team bench at the time.
With no professional contract in the offing Thompson was again on the move, on the 31st of March 2006, the last day of the non-league transfer window, when he went to Gateshead on the now traditional work experience basis. Neil signed for Welsh club Llanelli on non-contract terms in July and was in their UEFA Cup qualifying squad earlier this month without being called on to play, against Gefle of Sweden. Thompson wasn't offered a permanent contract with the full-time League of Wales side though and signed up on a short-term deal at Underhill, due to an injury to usual Barnet substitute goalkeeper Ross Flitney. Neil was on the bench just the once for League Two club Barnet though on non-contract terms at home to Torquay on the opening day of the season and he left North London shortly afterwards.