John Thomson: a Celtic legend
‘They never die who live in the
hearts they leave behind’
SEVENTY-FIVE years ago today, at the age of just 22, John Thomson died following a tragic accident during a game against Rangers at Ibrox.
The Celtic goalkeeper, already acknowledged as the best in the country, suffered serious head injuries following a collision with Rangers’ centre-forward Sam English, and he died later that night in Glasgow’s Victoria Infirmary.
It still remains rare for a footballer to die as a result of injuries sustained on the field of play, and it why the tragic events of September 5, 1931 still have that ability to shock supporters.
John Thomson was born on January 28, 1909 and made his debut for Celtic on February 12, 1927, having just turned eighteen two weeks beforehand. It was an away league match against Dundee and Celtic won 2-1.
Over the next four-and-a-half years, he went on to play 188 times for the club (league and Scottish Cup), recording 64 shut-outs. He also made a further 23 appearances in the Glasgow Cup and Charity Cup. He won four international caps for Scotland and also played four times for the Scottish League. His only honours for Celtic were two Scottish Cup medals - in 1927 and 1931.
John Fallon was a Celtic goalkeeper for 14 years between 1958-72 and made 184 appearances for the club. And, having been brought up a Celtic supporter, he was in no doubt as to the importance of John Thomson in the club’s history
“It is true what they say,” Fallon said.. “His spirit lived on at Celtic Park.
“You walked in there as a young goalkeeper and the first thing that you used to think of was John Thomson.
“There was actually a big mirror that was positioned right at the front door of the park and the first thing that you saw when you walked in was the John Thomson memorial ‘shamrock’ mirror.
“But also I remembered my Granda and my father talking about how great a keeper he was and the things that he could do, so I already knew about John Thomson.”
Jims_a_tim
op Tuesday 05 September 2006 - 11:36:27
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