John Thomson (footballer)

John Thomson ( born January 28, 1909 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, † September 5, 1931 in Glasgow ) was a Scottish football goalkeeper for Celtic FC and the Scottish national football team who died in a collision during a football game.

He grew up in the county of Fife in the embossed mines place Cardenden. Thomson was in 1926 with 17 years bound by its strong goalkeeping performances from Celtic Glasgow, where he soon conquered a permanent place.

At 18 he was the first time in a game against FC Dundee for the first team of Celtic Glasgow in the gate; the game ended 2-1 to Celtic. He won in his short career with Celtic in 1927 and 1931 the Scottish FA Cup. He was careful in four games of the Scottish national team goal, with him many observers predicted a great career.

In an Old Firm match against arch-rivals Glasgow Rangers on September 5, 1931 Thomson dived for a ball and collided with the knee of the Rangers striker Sam English. Thomson suffered a fractured skull and died the same day in hospital, without regaining consciousness. At his funeral, 40,000 people had appeared; his teammates carried the coffin.

His grave in Fife is still a place of pilgrimage for Celtic fans. Supporters of Celtic FC hold Thomson for the best goalkeeper, the Celtic ever had and call him " The Prince of Goalkeepers ". He is its own anthem of the Celtic fans dedicated to "The John Thomson Song."