David Potter’s Celtic Player of the Day, No.86 – John Thomson

The circumstances of the death of John Thomson after an accidental collision with a Rangers player at Ibrox on 5th September 1931 are well known. Fewer people are aware of just how good a goalkeeper he was, for those who saw him play will now be all gone.

Born in Kirkcaldy in 1909, John joined Celtic in autumn 1925 from Wellesley Juniors, and made his debut against Dundee in February 1927.

By the end of the season, he had won a Scottish Cup medal, and from then on, his career, in spite of a bad injury in 1930 was one of unbroken success, twice on English soil, being described as “the only Scottish success” as the Scottish League were hammered by their English equivalents.

 2nd August 1931 Photo imago/Colorsport John Thomson – Celtic. 

He made his debut for Scotland in France in May 1930 in a game played on a Sunday – something that shocked Presbyterian Scotland!

His ability to save a ball was quite outstanding, and some people claim that he was able to turn in mid-air!

  2nd August 1931 Photo imago/Colorsport John Thomson – Celtic. 

It was spring 1931 that saw him at his peak with John playing in the Scottish team that beat England 2-0 and being introduced to Ramsay MacDonald, the first Labour Prime Minister, then the famous Scottish Cup win against Motherwell, before touring the USA and Canada in the summer.

Everything was looking so rosy for John…until the 5th day of September in 1931.

David Potter

Photograph taken in Detroit while on their visit to play Michigan all Stars who they beat 5-0 at the University of Detroit Stadium. While in the city they were given a tour of the famous Ford Motor Works.

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About Author

David was a distinguished Celtic author and historian and writer for The Celtic Star. He lived in Kirkcaldy and followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. He was a retired teacher and his other interests were cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns. David Potter passed away on 29 July 2023 after a short illness. He was posthumously awarded a Special Recognition award by Celtic FC at the club's Player of the Year awards in May 2024. David's widow Rosemary accepted the award to huge applause from the Celtic Supporters in the Hydro.

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