| The Soul of Celtic | About Celtic | Games | Players | Managers | The Board |
(by TheHumanTorpedo)
His tragic and untimely death while wearing the shirt of the Bhoys is enshrined in the club’s history. He is remembered in story and in song. Even today banners proudly pay tribute to the popular keeper and the story of his death still brings tears to the eyes of supporters whom weren’t even born until a generation after his passing.
Born in Kirkcaldy in 1909 John Thomson grew up in Fife’s close knit mining communities and was raised in Bowhill, Cardenden. A fine sportsman he was recommended to Willie Maley in 1926 by a friend of the Celtic manager from Fife who had spotted him playing for Wellesley Juniors while scouting the opposing (Denbeath Star) keeper.
When Maley saw Thomson in action he was so impressed was that he signed the keeper immediately, when John was still in his teens. Within a year, and after a loan spell at Ayr United, he would be Celtic’s regular goalkeeper and widely recognised as one of the most promising performers in Scottish football. John would quickly fulfil his potential.
A most athletic and graceful keeper, some commentators said he appeared to be able to change direction mid dive. His acrobatic saves seemed to defy physics and he would catch the fiercest of shots with an arrogant ease which belied his humble off field persona. This grace and athleticism was coupled with a bravery which made him the most complete of keepers. It was a bravery which would result him being concussed on successive Saturday’s in December 1929. It was a bravery which would ultimately cost him his life.
By 1931 John had two won two Scottish Cup winners medals and was firmly established as the number one keeper for Celtic and Scotland. His unassuming nature and wonderful ability had made him a hugely popular character. He was someone who was both loved and respected. So much so that the events of September 5th 1931 would leave a whole nation numb with shock.
John Thomson would take to the field for the final time on that date as Celtic travelled to Ibrox for a league clash with Rangers. The crowd of 80,000 witnessed a goalless first half. Five minutes after the re-start Rangers launched an attack on the Celtic goal. A ball was played into the Celtic goalmouth and John raced from his goal-line to dive at the feet of the onrushing Sam English. The knee of the Rangers’ centre-forward accidently connected with John’s head. The young keeper lay still on the field. The concerned English, who was totally blameless, and John’s Celtic team-mates quickly called for help.
Initially the Rangers support heckled and booed the Celtic keeper. For those on the pitch it was however clear that the injury to John was serious. As the Rangers support continued with their catcalls David Miklejohn, realising the seriousness of the situation, went over to the crowd and urged them to be quiet. A hush fell over the stadium.
His head wrapped in bandages, John was carried off the park on a stretcher and taken to Glasgow’s Victoria Hospital where he would die later that evening.
The funeral of John Thomson took place on Wednesday, 9th September. A short service in the garden of the Thomson home was followed by burial at Bowhill Cemetery. An estimated forty thousand people had gathered in the small Fife town to pay their last respects. Huge crowds lined the road between the Thomson home and the cemetery. They climbed walls, sat high upon rooftops as John’s team-mates carried his coffin through the crowded streets.
Nothing would deny the heartbroken Celtic support the chance to bid farewell to their beloved John. Two special trains had left Glasgow for Cardenden that morning while hundreds had walked from Glasgow to Fife, sleeping in fields just to be there on the day of the funeral
Celtic has never forgotten John Thomson. Celtic Park houses a beautiful mirrored tribute to this young hero. His grave is a place of pilgrimage.and an annual football tournament is held in his honour. In a memorial card handed out by Willie Maley, who was devasted by the loss of the young keeper, soon after John’s death there was a simple message – “They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind”. How true those words have proved.