John Thomson

Early life and career

Thomson was born on 28 January 1909 in Kirkcaldy, to John and Jean Thomson. He grew up in the mining community of Cardenden in Fife, and was educated at Denend Primary School and Auchterderran Higher Grade School. By the time he reached High School he was already seen as a talented goalkeeper and was part of the Auchterderran school team that won the Lochgelly Times Cup. At the age of 14, he became an oncost worker at Bowhill Colliery, where his father also worked. He worked 300 yards below the pithead surface, uncoupling the chain clips of the waggons that carried the coal up from the mine. During the 1924–25 season, Thomson played for Bowhill Rovers in the Fife Junior Football League. 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 future.

Celtic

Celtic manager Willie Maley sent his chief scout Steve Callaghan to watch the Denbeath Star goalkeeper but instead Callaghan came back with a rave review about Thomson. After watching him playing against Denbeath Star on 20 October 1926, Celtic signed 17-year-old Thomson for £10. On 5 February 1927, Celtic beat Brechin City 6–3, but Maley was concerned by the fact his first choice 'keeper, Peter Shevlin, had conceded three soft goals so decided to give 18-year-old Thomson a chance in the next game, which was against Dundee. He kept his place in the team after this match, and…

John made his first international appearance against France on 18 May 1930 in a 2–0 win. This was in the time before caps were awarded for matches other than Home Internationals, so Thomson was awarded his first physical cap against Wales on 25 October 1930. He made another two international appearances for Scotland, keeping clean sheets against Ireland and England.

Thomson was very small and thin, standing at only 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m). Many people thought that he did not look like a goalkeeper due to his diminutive stature, and small hands. Although his team-mate Jimmy McGrory described him as having "artists hands". In his biography of Thomson, author Tom Greig described him as having strong, slender fingers and powerful wrists and forearms. Saying that "The combination of these physical attributes was the basis for his extraordinary shot-saving and clutching capabilities." Football historian Robert McElroy, described him as being "graceful, athletic, very brave and courageous". Celtic chairman Desmond White said that Thomson was the best 'keeper he had ever seen, and described him as having "the ability to rise in the air high above the opposition. It was this almost ballet-like ability and agility which, in his tremendous displays, endeared him to the hearts of all Celtic supporters."

In 1931, Thomson got engaged to Margaret Finlay and also started making plans to open a tailor shop in Glasgow. He was a member of the Church of Christ, a small Protestant Evangelical church. He was not related to Celtic teammates and fellow Scotland internationals Alec Thomson (a forward who was also from Fife and joined the club from Wellesley Juniors) or Bertie Thomson (a winger who died aged 30).