Adrian Thorne played for Exeter City between 1963 and 1965. He joined the club from Plymouth Argyle and later played for Leyton Orient. He was a member of the team that won promotion in 1963/64.

He began his career with Brighton Grammarians in the Sussex County League. Signed by Brighton and Hove Albion, and playing for the club's junior sides, he eventually signed a full contract in August 1954. He went on to score 38 goals in 76 league matches having, in only his fifth match for the first team, netted five goals in a 6-1 home win over Watford to equal a club scoring record that had stood for 37 years. He then moved to Plymouth Argyle in June 1961 for a fee of £8,000, but only played 11 league matches (two goals).

He signed for Exeter City in December 1963 for a fee of £1,500 and made his debut for the Grecians in a 4-1 home win over Bradford City. Helping Exeter to promotion, he was an ever present for the rest of the season either wearing the number seven, nine or eleven shirt. He also weighed in with six goals.

Not playing in any of the first twenty-one games of 1964/65, he then featured in seventeen of the remaining twenty-five games scoring a couple of times at Christmas. Moving to Leyton Orient for a single season in the summer of 1965, he was later to gain a degree in exercise physiology whilst playing non-league football with Barnet, and Cheltenham Town. He subsequently became head of department at a school in Maida Vale, London.