John Thomson (footballer, born 1909) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Thomson | ||
| Date of birth | 28 January 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Kirkcaldy, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 5 September 1931 (aged 22) | ||
| Place of death | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.75 m | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1924–1925 | Bowhill Rovers | ||
| 1925–1926 | Wellesley Juniors | ||
| 1926–1931 | Celtic | 164 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1928–1930 | Scottish League XI | 4 | (0) |
| 1930–1931 | Scotland | 4 | (0) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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John Thomson (born January 28, 1909 – died September 5, 1931) was a Scottish football player. He was a goalkeeper for Celtic and the Scotland national football team. John sadly passed away after an accidental clash with a Rangers player during a game. This happened at Ibrox.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Starting His Football Journey
John Thomson was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, on January 28, 1909. He grew up in Cardenden, a mining town in Fife. Even when he was in high school, people could see he was a very talented goalkeeper. His school team, Auchterderran, even won a local cup!
At 14, John started working in the Bowhill Colliery coal mine, just like his dad. He worked deep underground. In the 1924–25 season, John played for Bowhill Rovers. The next season, he joined Wellesley Juniors. Local newspapers noticed his skills and predicted he would become a great goalkeeper.
Joining Celtic Football Club
The manager of Celtic, Willie Maley, heard about John's talent. Celtic signed 17-year-old John Thomson for £10. This happened on October 20, 1926.
On February 5, 1927, Celtic won a game 6–3. But their main goalkeeper let in some easy goals. So, the manager decided to give 18-year-old John a chance in the next match. John played so well that he kept his spot in the team. He helped Celtic finish second in the Scottish First Division. He also played in the 1927 Scottish Cup Final, where Celtic won 3–1.
The next season, John played amazingly in a big game against Rangers. Everyone praised his "immense" performance. On February 5, 1930, John got badly hurt during a game. He broke his jaw, fractured ribs, hurt his collar bone, and lost two teeth while making a brave save.
On April 11, 1931, John won his second medal. Celtic beat Motherwell 4–2 in the 1931 Scottish Cup Final. Over 105,000 fans watched the replay of this exciting game!
Playing for Scotland
John played his first international game for Scotland on May 18, 1930. Scotland won 2–0 against France. Back then, official "caps" (awards for playing for your country) were only given for certain matches. John got his first official cap against Wales on October 25, 1930. He played two more times for Scotland, not letting any goals in against Ireland and England.
How John Played Football
John Thomson was not very tall or big for a goalkeeper. He was only about 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall. Some people thought he didn't look like a goalkeeper because of his size and small hands. But his teammate, Jimmy McGrory, said John had "artists hands."
An author named Tom Greig wrote that John had strong, slender fingers and powerful wrists. These helped him make amazing saves and catch fast shots. Football expert Robert McElroy called him "graceful, athletic, very brave and courageous." The Celtic chairman, Desmond White, said John was the best goalkeeper he had ever seen. He said John could "rise in the air high above the opposition." This graceful way of moving made him loved by all Celtic fans.
John's Life Outside Football
In 1931, John got engaged to Margaret Finlay. He was also planning to open a tailor shop in Glasgow. He was a member of the Churches of Christ, a small Christian church.
John was not related to other Celtic players named Alec Thomson or Bertie Thomson.
John's Tragic Death
On September 5, 1931, Celtic was playing their rivals Rangers at Ibrox Park. About 80,000 fans were watching. Early in the second half, John and a Rangers player, Sam English, both went for the ball. John's head hit English's knee. This caused a serious head injury.
John was carried off the field on a stretcher. Many people thought he was just badly hurt. But some who saw his injuries knew it was worse. One person heard a "single piercing scream" from a young woman. This was believed to be Margaret Finlay, John's fiancée, who was watching the game. A Rangers player, who was also a medical student, felt John had little chance of survival. The Celtic team doctor also thought this.
After getting help, John was taken to the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow. Doctors tried an emergency operation to help him. But it was not successful. John Thomson passed away at 9:25 PM.
Remembering John Thomson
John's death shocked many people. Sam English, the Rangers player involved, was very upset by what happened. He was completely cleared of any blame for the accident. Even today, John Thomson's grave in Bowhill, Fife is visited by many Celtic fans. His gravestone reads: "They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind."
Celtic manager Willie Maley wrote about John:
Among the many talented goalkeepers Celtic has had, John Thomson was the greatest. We signed him when he was still a teenager. He quickly became our main goalkeeper and was seen as one of the best in the country.
But, sadly, his career was short. In September 1931, playing against Rangers, he had a fatal accident. Yet he had played long enough to achieve the highest honors in football. He was a very kind and humble young man, liked by everyone.
His skill as a goalkeeper shone brightly. No other keeper caught and held the fastest shots with such grace. Everything he did showed balance and beautiful movement. Among the great Celts who have passed, he has an honored place.
John Thomson was known for being incredibly agile, brave, and good at handling the ball. He made many amazing saves.
The journalist John Arlott wrote:
A great player who came to the game as a boy and left it still a boy; he had no predecessor, no successor. He was unique
About 30,000 people went to John's funeral in Cardenden on September 9, 1931. Many walked 55 miles (88 km) from Glasgow. Another 20,000 people gathered at Glasgow Queen Street station to see two trains leave, carrying two thousand fans who could afford the ticket.
Sam English was not blamed for the accident. But Scottish fans often booed him after that. A year later, he moved to play for Liverpool. However, he stopped playing football completely in May 1938. He told a friend that since John Thomson's accident, he had "seven years of joyless sport."
In recent years, a book called "My Search For Celtic's John" was written by Tom Greig. It talks about John's life and the accident. Greig started a petition to get John Thomson into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame. In November 2008, this goal was achieved!
A local group called the John Thomson Memorial Committee was also created. This group works to make sure John's name and achievements are remembered. Every year, children in the Cardenden and Kinglassie areas play for the John Thomson Trophy. This helps keep his memory alive.
In 2009, a play about John Thomson was performed by children from his village. It was even shown at the Scottish Parliament.
In September 2011, on the 80th anniversary of John's death, the John Thomson Memorial Committee and the Celtic Graves Society organized a "Pilgrimage walk." They recreated the walk many fans took 80 years earlier to attend John's funeral. The walk ended with a wreath-laying ceremony at Bowhill Cemetery.
A play about John Thomson was also performed at Glasgow's King's Theatre from September 5 to 10, 2011. The first night was exactly 80 years after John Thomson's death.
Awards and Achievements
- Celtic
- Scottish Cup: 1927, 1931
- Glasgow Cup: 1927, 1928, 1930
See also
- List of association footballers who died while playing
