Prince of Goalkeepers - John Thomson

Prince of Goalkeepers.​

John Thomson (28 January 1909 – 5 September 1931)​

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On 5 September 1931, 82 years ago Celtic were playing our oldest rivals Rangers at Ibrox Park in in front of 80,000 fans. When early in the second half Thomson and a Rangers player, Sam English, went for the ball at the same time. Thomson's head collided with English's knee, fracturing his skull and rupturing an artery in his right temple.​

Most people assumed that he was just badly concussed. One report stated, "There were gasps in the main stand, a single piercing scream being heard from a horrified young woman", this was believed to be the scream of 19-year-old Margaret Finlay, his fiancée who was watching with John’s brother Jim.​

After having treatment Thomson was taken off on a stretcher and rushed to the Victoria Infirmary. According to The Scotsman he was "seen to rise on the stretcher and look towards the goal and the spot where the accident happened". A section of the Rangers support were unaware of the seriousness of the injury and cheered until they were silenced by one of the Rangers players. Chic Geatons took over in goal and the game finished 0–0.​

A depression in Thomson’s skull of 2” in diameter resulted in a major convulsion at 5pm. Immediately hospital staff carried out an emergency operation to try and relieve the pressure caused by the swelling on the brain. Tragically their efforts failed and John was pronounced dead at 9.25pm.​

Disturbingly poignant "The Glasgow Observer" stated that just prior to the match Thomson had written to a friend in the States and signed off in the letter: "Off now to Ibrox to meet the great Rangers, a death or glory affair..."​

An estimated 40,000 attended his funeral on 9 September 1931. His coffin carried by his devastated team mates. Many attending the funeral incredibly had walked the entire 55 mile journey from Glasgow. A further 20,000 people were at Glasgow Queen Street station to pay their respects as two trains set off with two thousand passengers who could afford to pay the four shillings return fare.​

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His death shocked many people. English, who was deeply traumatised by the event, was totally cleared of any responsibility for the accident. But he was jeered by opposition fans afterwards and moved south a year later to play for Liverpool. However he quit football altogether in May 1938 after stating that since the accident that killed John Thomson he had "seven years of joyless sport". He was said to have become a haunted man.​

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juUGNUfCpSc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juUGNUfCpSc[/ame]​

John Thomson was born on 28 January 1909 in Kirkcaldy, to John and Jean and grew up in the mining community of Cardenden in Fife, Aged just 14 he joined his father at Bowhill Colliery and worked,underground. In addition John played for two youth football teams.​

During the 1924–25 season, Thomson played for Bowhill Rovers. The following season he moved to Wellesley Juniors, where his talent was spotted by the local press who predicted that he would become a very good goalkeeper in the future.​

Celtic’s chief scout, Steve Callaghan had been sent up by Celtic manager Willie Malley to watch another star keeper who was playing for Denbeath Star but after he returned with raving reviews about Thomson, Celtic had no qualms about signing up the promising 17 year old for the princely sum of £10.​

Thomson made his debut aged just 18 against Dundee in season 1926-27. A match Celtic won 2-1. Thomson was very small and thin, standing at only 5 ft 9. He has been described as having artists hands by team mate Jimmy McGrory But his impressive performance in that match led to him holding down the regular number 1 spot. His first winners medal came in the Scottish Cup Final of 1927 as Celtic beat East Fife 3-1. He was to win his second medal in another Scottish Cup Final. This time being the 1931 replay against Motherwell in front of over 105,000 spectators with Celtic winning 4-2.​

John made his first international appearance against France on 18 May 1930 in a 2–0 win his second was against Wales on 25 October 1930. He made another two international appearances for Scotland, keeping clean sheets against England & Ireland. Thomson was known for his incredible agility, bravery and safe handling. John Thomson made 211 appearances for Celtic between 1927 and 1931 and became affectionately known as the ‘Prince of Goalkeepers’.​

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Celtic had built a new stand which had opened in 1929 and at the time there was massive speculation that manager Willie Maley was intending to sell him and Jimmy McGrory to pay for it. Thankfully, John like Jimmy McGrory, didn't go nor did either want to. Both loved Celtic and were firm fans favourites.​

In 1931, Thomson became engaged to Margaret Finlay and also started making plans to open a tailor shop in Glasgow. Thomson was also a member of the Church of Christ, a small Protestant Evangelical church,where members took services. By playing for Celtic, he was though unsurprisingly labelled and called a "* *" by a number of opposition players and fans. But John showed great humour in coping with the sectarian taunts as the following exchange of banter with the legendary Jimmy McGrory shows,​

John Thomson bemoaning on being called a "* *" by an opposition player despite being a church going Scottish Protestant.
Jimmy McGrory: "John, I get called that every game I play."
John Thomson: "I know. It's all right for you. You are one!"​

After Thomson’s death Celtic manager Willie Malley wrote, “Among the galaxy of talented goalkeepers whom Celtic have had, the late lamented John Thomson was the greatest. His merit as a goalkeeper shone superbly in his play. Never was there a keeper who caught and held the fastest shots with such grace and ease. In all he did there was the balance and beauty of movement wonderful to watch. Among the great Celts who have passed over, he has an honoured place."​

A petition to have John Thomson inducted into the Scottish Football Association Hall of Fame was successful in November 2008.​

2011 marked the 80th anniversary of John's death and the John Thomson Memorial Committee together with the Celtic Graves Society embarked on a "Pilgrimage walk" from Glasgow to Cardenden. Their aim to echo the walk that many fans took 80 years ago to attend John's funeral.. ​

A play, The Prince – The John Thomson Story, was performed at Glasgow's King's Theatre from 5th to 10th September. The opening night fell on the 80th anniversary of John Thomson's death. I was there that night and unashamedly to a man there was not a dry eye in the theatre.​

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBN7_yvR_pU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBN7_yvR_pU[/ame]​

In 2012, Celtic’s 125th Anniversary year, Neil Lennon Celtic’s manager, his backroom staff and players travelled to the graveside and paid an emotional tribute to the man who epitomised what being a Celt meant. Both Lennon and Scott Brown, Celtic’s captain laid wreaths.​

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To this very day Thomson's grave in Bowhill, Fife remains a place of pilgrimage for Celtic fans from all over the world. The epitaph on Thomson’s gravestone simply reads,​

"They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind".​

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