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Thomson, John (1926-31) 100+; Located + Pics
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Topic Started: Jan 24 2011, 09:42 PM (5,716 Views)
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Dianogah
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Jan 24 2011, 09:42 PM
Post #1
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SaintMartin
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John Thomson, Bowhill Cemetery, Cardenden, Fife

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camillo
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Originally posted by Jolly67 on CM from the Weekly News. The funeral.

weeshamrock
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What a find, have never seen that pic before - great work C.
caltonbhoy1967
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I can thoroughly recommend the Kerrydale street article (link above) that Da j Doc wrote on John Thomson - Please take a few minutes to read it.
CB that link doesn't seem to work. Do you have an alternative one?
joebloggscity
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iain
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hi just joined this site and its truly amazing what tremendous celts you are celtic memrobilia is my hobby and would love to hear from any like minded celts i have the origional sunday mail newspaper after johns death as you can imagine its a bit tattered but very readable also origional news paper of a young celt brian mcgrane death in the 70s hes buried in the cemetry in old kilpatrick and have visited his grave as he was a team mate of mine regards iain
camillo
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Putting this here for future reference
I found this bit on the Cardenden Local History Group website....
Born in Kirkcaldy in 1909, John Thomson lived with his parents and his brothers and sisters at 27, Balgreggie Park, Cardenden. He died in Ward 5, Victoria Hospital, Glasgow, at 9:25 pm on Saturday, 5th September, 1931 at the age of 22 years.
Between the posts at Parkhead He was the Prince of Men John Thomson came from Bowhill Bowhill, Cardenden
John Thomson put Bowhill on the map. As Celtic's goalkeeper he is remembered to this very day for his goal-keeping prowess.I was only nine years old when that tragic accident happened at Ibrox. Rangers were playing Celtic. It was during the second half and five minutes had gone from the restart when the ball was swung into the Celtic goalmouth. John Thomson left his goal and dived to a 50/50 ball with Sam English, the Rangers' centre-forward. Tragically, John lay still on the field and had to be carried off, badly injured. Later that evening, he died in the Victoria Hospital, Glasgow. The game ended with the score, Rangers..0 Celtic..0.
The funeral to Bowhill Cemetery took place on Wednesday, 9th September, and was the largest I have ever seen. Thirty to forty thousand people paid their last respects. Two special trains left Glasgow for Cardenden; people walked all the way from Glasgow and slept the night on the Crags and along by the bing just to be there on the day of the funeral; football supporters came from all over the country. The Bowhill Pipe Band and the Bowhill Silver Band were in attendance. An aeroplane landed in the Daisy Park and I think it belonged to one of the national newspapers. The crowd along the route from 27, Balgreggie Park to the cemetery was packed tight, some even clambering up on to the roof tops. The coffin was carried by Celtic players. Even to this day I remember one of the wreaths which was a piece of green turf with white goalposts made of white flowers. Celtic has never forgotten John Thomson. When they are playing in Fife they make a point of paying their respects at his grave and usually they lay a wreath.
It was by chance that John Thomson came to be playing for Celtic. One Saturday John was playing for Wellesley Juniors against Denbeath Star and a Celtic Scout came through to watch the goalkeeper of Denbeath Star and he was so impressed by John's skill that it was he who was signed by Celtic. His debut for Celtic was against Dundee at Dens Park...where it was said he made 20,000 friends that day ...and Celtic won 3-1.
You can read about John Thomson's footballing career but there are still people in Bowhill who can tell you about his life away from the football field. Alex Reekie, a friend of mine, who served his apprenticeship as a joiner with Sandy Arnott recalls how during the 1926 Strike he often had a chat with John Thomson at the Coup at the Jamphlars Pond when Alex would be over burning the sawdust and shavings from the joiner's shop and John would be spreading the ashes from the ash-carts.
When I was in the RAF during the Second World War, the lads from Glasgow and one from Whitburn made me promise to bring them back some granite chips from John Thomson's grave when I returned from leave. It must have cost quite a bit to replace all the granite chips which were removed by Celtic supporters over the years! Another friend treasures a horseshoe draped in Celtic colours which was given to John to bring him luck during a Cup Final. I remember John walking down through Bowhill on a Sunday going to church and he would be dressed in plus-fours.
Only now in 1993 has a street been called after him...Thomson Court. Why have they waited so long?
In the old part of Bowhill Cemetery, not far from the gate, you can see the memorial(jpg 19.8Kb) erected in his memory. The inscription reads:-
IN MEMORIAM
JOHN THOMSON SCOTLAND'S INTERNATIONAL GOALKEEPER who died 5th September 1931 aged 22 years The result of injuries received at Ibrox Park beloved son of John and Jean Thomson. "Honest and upright he played the game Beloved and respected he made his name".
INTERNATIONAL HONOURS
France 1930 England, Wales, Ireland 1931 English League 1929-30-31 Irish League 1929
WITH CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB
Scottish Cup Medals 1927-31 Glasgow Cup Medals 1927-28-30
This memorial was erected by public subscriptions from friends and admirers the world over.
"They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind". many thanks to Tom Kirk for this contribution.
The same website gives this astonishing list of professional footballers who hailed from the small mining town of Cardenden....
John ThomsonGoalkeeperCeltic and Scotland J. KellyGoalkeeperArbroath *A. BlakeFull BackCrewe T. GilliesFull BackLeith Athletic P. MartinFull BackDundee United W. KirkerFull BackSouthend *J. McFarlaneWing HalfCeltic and Scotland *H. McFarlaneWing HalfHibernian *W. BlakeWing HalfAirdrie *A. HerdWing HalfHearts and Scotland *W. AirdWing HalfSt.Bernards & Sc.League J. MurrayCentre HalfPlymouth Argyle A. ArnoldCentre HalfDundee United J. MathiesonWingerMorton M. PatrickWingerYork City R. ChristieWingerPartick Thistle W. InnesWingerDunfermline Athletic H. ClarkWingerDundee United *Alec HerdInside ForwardManchester City and Scotland *W. FaganInside ForwardCeltic and Scotland A. KirkInside ForwardArbroath D. McCormickCentreLeith Athletic James Russell?Raith Rovers/Dundee Utd/Preston North End Alex James?Raith Rovers 1945 - 1995 NamePosition PlayedFootball Club W. MathiesonFull BackRangers and Scotland G. RobertsonWing HalfAberdeen K. BainWing HalfDundee and Scotland U/21 W. FinlayCentre HalfEast Fife *P. AirdCentre HalfHibernian and Scottish League W. JohnstoneWingerRangers and Scotland T. HutchisonWingerCoventry and Scotland Hank HepburnCentreDumbarton P. RodgersWingerCeltic A. MackieCentre HalfCowdenbeath D. StarkWing HalfRaith Rovers *R. FaganInside ForwardWolverhampton N. MillerInside ForwardWolverhampton R. DuncanWing HalfSouthend J. RitchieGoalkeeperBrechin *P. RitchieGoalkeeperArbroath *L. RitchieWingerSouthhampton G. ArthurGoalkeeperForfar J. BrownWing HalfRaith Rovers G. TaitWing HalfDunfermline Athletic Veterans NamePosition PlayedFootball Club Sailor HunterFull BackMiddlesborough D. BlakeFull BackCowdenbeath J. DuncanWingerLochgelly United Contributed by John (Lanky) Murray
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and this
We have gathered together some of the reviews of 'My Search for Celtic's John'.
A fascinating read for any fan, Greig’s tribute is an essential part of the reading list for any Celtic supporter. Scotland on Sunday, 2.11.03
Beautifully written...a valuable publication...a must for anyone who wants to know about this tragic moment in our history. Celtic View, 19.11.03
This book is quite simply a masterpiece, and for anyone with a slightest interest in Celtic, Scottish football or Fife, it is a must read. David Potter, Celtic Historian
Greig's attention to detail here is stunning. It's first class reporting of the like we rarely see these days. It's a book that will make you feel pride and sorrow at the same time. E-Tims website review
Unputdownable! Eugene MacBride
Absolutely engrossing...one of the most enjoyable books I have read for a long time. Vincent McSherry (owner of 166 Celtic books!)
Splendid! Dominic Currie
A recommended addition to your Celtic bookshelf...it's brilliant! Not the View Fanzine
I have just had the greatest pleasure in reading your excellent book. I started reading it mid-afternoon Saturday and did not put it down until I had finished it at 1.30am on Sunday morning. Peter Sweeney
It was the first time that I had ever written to the author of a book that I had enjoyed so much, and I have already re-read the book since I wrote to you. Dave Makin
Congratulations on the best football biography I have ever read.....a real masterpiece. A lot of painstaking research enabled you to bring the magic of Johnny Thomson back to life. Ian Fraser, Lochgelly, Fife
Tom Greig also appeared on the BBC's radio programme "Past Times" in the spring of 2004, interviewed by Mark Steven at Ibrox and Parkhead Stadia. He was also interviewed by Dave Marshall on Saga Radio in late autumn 2004.
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Thirty thousand mourners attended the funeral service in Cardenden. The Thomson family were members of the Church of Christ, a small denomination without ministers, and it was an elder of that church who conducted the funeral service in the garden of the Thomson home. Descriptions of these proceedings continue to have a deeply poignant impact, not least because the name and images of John Thomson have remained so alive throughout these 75 years.
(5) Nick Hazlewood, In the Way! Goalkeepers: A Breed Apart? (1996)
More than 80,000 were at Ibrox to witness an event that has remained imprinted on the Scottish football psyche ever since. With the second half barely five minutes old, Rangers striker Sam English broke free and lined up to shoot from near the penalty spot. He seemed certain to score, when Thomson launched one of his do-or-die head-first saves at the attacker's feet. It was Thomson's trademark save - in February 1930 against Airdrie he'd been injured doing exactly the same thing, fracturing his jaw and injuring his ribs. This time there was an even more sickening crunch, Thomson's head colliding with English's knee at the moment of greatest impact. It was no longer a do-or-die moment, it was a do-and-die. The ball ran out of play, English fell to the ground and rose limping, Thomson lay unconscious, blood seeping into the pitch.
The dazed English was the first to realise the seriousness of the blow and hobbled over to the unmoving keeper, waving urgently for assistance. Celtic fans were cheering the missed goal, Rangers fans were taunting the injured keeper, but the gravity of the situation was soon upon them. Rangers' captain Davie Meiklejohn raised his arms to implore the home fans to be silent. A hush descended over the ground. In the stands Margaret Finlay, Thomson's fiancee, broke down as she saw him borne from the ground, head wrapped in bandages, body limp...
What followed was an outpouring of public grief that, it is said, briefly united communities across the sectarian divide. In Bridgeton, Glasgow, traffic was brought to a halt by thousands of pedestrians walking past a floral tribute to Thomson, placed in a shop window by the local Rangers supporters club. And at Glasgow's Trinity Congregational Church there were unruly scenes when thousands struggled to get into Thomson's memorial service. Women screamed with alarm at the crush and only swift action by police cleared a passageway and stemmed the rush. Celtic right-half Peter Wilson, who was due to read a lesson, failed to gain entrance and found himself stranded outside the church for the ceremony.
Tens of thousands went to Queen Street station to see the coffin off on its train journey home to Fife. Many thousands more made the same journey: by train, by car and by foot. Unemployed workers walked the 55 miles, spending the night on the Craigs, a group of hills behind Auchterderran. In Fife, local pits closed down for the day and it seemed as if the whole of Scotland had swelled the small streets of Cardenden. Thomson's coffin, topped by one of his international caps and a wreath in the design of an empty goal, was carried by six Celtic players the mile from his home to Bowhill cemetery, where he was laid to rest in the sad and quiet graveyard populated by the victims of many, many mining disasters.
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Camillo
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Sep 5 2012, 10:48 AM
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JOHN THOMSON - A CHRONOLOGY
28th Jan 1909 - Born in Kirkcaldy
May 1909 - Thomson family move from Kirkcaldy to Denend, Auchterderran Parish
1914 - Started at Denend Primary School
1st Jan 1921 - Transferred to Auchterderran High School
1923 - Johnny left school aged 14
1923 - Starts work at Bowhill Colliery, Pit No.2 as an Oncost Worker
1924-5 Played for Bowhill Rovers, Cardenden
1925-6 Played for Wellesley Juniors, Methil
30th Oct 1926 - Wellesley v Denbeath Star (East Fife Cup replay) observed by Celtic scout Steve Callaghan and player Alec Thomson; signed forms to join Celtic on fusebox in Gallatown, Kirkcaldy
1st Nov 1926 - Signing forms lodged with SFA (aged 17 years, 9 months)
Dec 1926 - Played 2 games as loan keeper to Ayr United's reserve team
12th Feb 1927 - JT makes debut for Celtic v Dundee at Den's Park in Scottish League (aged 18 years, 15 days). Celtic won 2-1
16th May 1927 - JT wins Scottish Cup winners medal in Cup Final v East Fife, Hampden. 3-1 win. (7 months after signing, still aged 18!!)
8th Oct 1927 - plays in Glasgow Cup Final victory v Rangers. 2nd medal in first season.
14th April 1928 - plays in Scottish Cup Final v Rangers. Loser's medal.
6th Oct 1928 - plays in Glasgow Cup Final victory v Queen's Park - 2nd successive winners medal in this comp.
31st Oct 1928 - played for Scottish League v Irish League at Firhill; won 8-2.
7th Nov 1928 - played for Scottish League v English League, Villa Park, Birmingham; lost 2-1.
2nd Nov 1929 - played for Scottish League v English League, Ibrox; won 2-1
5th Nov 1929 - played for Scottish League v English League, White Hart Lane; lost 7-3.
5th Feb 1930 - Seriously injured in match v Airdrie (fractured jaw, fractured ribs, damaged collarbone, lost 2 teeth - hospitalised; accidental clash with McGonagle)
18th May 1930 - earned first Cap for Scotland v France, Paris; won 2-0. Aged 21.
25th Oct 1930 - earned second Cap for Scotland v Wales, Ibrox;
11th Oct 1930 - plays in Glasgow Cup Final victory v Rangers. Ten men Celtic win.
21st Feb 1931 - earned third Cap for Scotland v N. Ireland, Belfast; 0-0.
28th Mar 1931 - earned fourth Cap for Scotland v England, Hampden Park; 2-0 win
11th April 1931 - plays in Scottish Cup final v Motherwell. Draw
15th April 1931 - plays in Scottish Cup final replay. Wins 2nd SC winners medal.
13th May 1931 - left with Celtic party on Caledonia for tour of USA
5th Sept 1931 - Died in Glasgow aged 22
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Camillo
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Sep 5 2012, 10:57 AM
Post #3
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The laddie frae Cardenden by Douglas Robb. Rushed out a few weeks after his death
http://media.raretunes.org/raretunesrobb_vbr.mp3
Edited by Camillo, Sep 5 2012, 11:01 AM.
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tollcross
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Nov 23 2015, 10:58 PM
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- Camillo
- Sep 5 2012, 10:57 AM
That very same disc was presented today by Packie Bonnar to the Hampden Museum on behalf of Terry Dick.
It was given to Terry by a very old collector friend who says that's only one of two he knows of in existence, As you say came out a few weeks after his death.
Before anybody asks i offered it to my club and they knocked it back
http://www.celticfc.net/news/9581
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tollcross
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Nov 23 2015, 11:15 PM
Post #5
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Richard McBrearty certainly runs a well oiled machine,
Sky tv, Stv, Celtic tv and others i never recognised. A room full of media with more than a dozen redtops and a few others on laptops.
Packie & Gerry got a book to sell, Terry wanting the disc he got framed at great cost put on display. Win Win Win except CELTIC.
rant over
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joebloggscity
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Jul 23 2017, 06:26 PM
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be late to post this, but @clarktommyc (on twitter) has got a collection of John Thomson pictures, if any of interest we can ask him to scan a good pic for your reference:
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tollcross
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Jul 24 2017, 12:21 PM
Post #7
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- joebloggscity
- Jul 23 2017, 06:26 PM
be late to post this, but @clarktommyc (on twitter) has got a collection of John Thomson pictures, if any of interest we can ask him to scan a good pic for your reference:  That's a cracking wee collection, i would be asking him to scan them all which you can post on the wiki, if its no too much trouble
Here's one of Chick Geaton's after he went in goals that fateful day, Sam English looking on.
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joebloggscity
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Jul 24 2017, 09:03 PM
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okay, i've posted to the guy, hopefully he can help :
https://twitter.com/clarktommyc
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joebloggscity
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Jul 24 2017, 11:11 PM
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Thomas Clark @ClarkTommyc 57m57 minutes ago Replying to @joebloggscity
No problem, I'll see about getting them scanned in. Happy to share and always looking to add to my wee collection if anyone can help
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