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“Sair grief has entered mony a hert Frae mony an e’e the tear draps start,” Notes from David Potter’s ‘Superb’ John Thomson Talk

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Celtic Historian David Potter gave a talk on Saturday evening to the Celtic Pilgrims who had completed day 2 of their walk from Celtic Park to Cardenden to mark the 90th Anniversary of the young Celtic goalkeeper’s tragic death playing for Celtic on 5 September 1931 at Ibrox.

“A real privilege to hear David Potter speak about John Thomson. You think you know about Celtic then you listen to people like David. Just superb,” said the Celtic Graves tweet on Saturday evening. Here’s that tweet which includes a photograph of David taken as he talked so brilliantly about John Thomson. You will notice that David has some notes in his hand which he referred to throughout the talk, basically bullet points for him to refer to as he talked from the heart about the Celtic legend.

Well, as David is from this Parish, we thought we’d ask for a copy of the notes to share with you this afternoon and here they are…

JOHN THOMSON – David Potter’s Notes 

The place it was Ibrox, the weather was hot

The two teams they gave it all that they’d got

The first half was even, the referee blew

For a break for the warriors in green and blue

The teams got a cheer as they went for their rest

With Celtic’s young keeper far brightest and best

The teams reappeared, the Rangers on top

As they tried to score but Celtic made them stop

Then runs on English with the ball at his feet

And Thomson came out the challenge to meet

The players collided, English didn’t score

But we never saw John Thomson no more.

1. Higher English 1965 (presumably the above).

2. 74 Balfour Street, Kirkcaldy

3. Cardenden and Wellesley Juniors Alec Thomson

4. Debut v Dundee February 12 1927 – Brechin, FB and RN

5. Scottish Cup medal 1927, and would have won a couple more in 1928, but for Tommy McInally and his antics. How did John cope with Tommy?

6. Building of new stand – attempt to sell McGrory and Thomson

7. 1930 injury to collar bone on February 5 v Airdrie

8. League Internationals – and Villa Park 1-2, Ibrox 2-1, White Hart Lane 3-7

9. Jack Harkness tea break

10. International debut in France on SUNDAY May 18 1930, then three games in 1930/31 – March 28 1931 presented to Ramsay MacDonald – both in awe of each other. 1-1 v Wales at Ibrox, 0-0 with NI in Belfast, 2-0 v England – Stevenson and McGrory.

11. Scottish Cup final v Motherwell

12. Tour of USA and Canada – meeting a man called Joe Kennaway

13. September 5 1931
Davie Meiklejohn, Peter Wilson, Jimmy Simpson, Chick Geatons, Sam English MND, Willie Maley, Jack Harkness.

14. September 12 1931 Celtic 2 QP 2 Falconer in goal and Jerome Solis for Peter Scarff. Heart not in it. Band played “Flowers o The Forest” and “Lead, Kindly Light” as crowd stood bare-headed. John’s mother sent a Best Wishes telegram to Sam English Partick Thistle 1 Rangers 3.

 Sair grief has entered mony a hert Frae mony an e’e the tear draps start

Sweert we are at ha’en tae part

Wi him sae fresh and handsome

Na mair well see him lichtly dart

He’s gane, has Johnny Thamson.

As guid a chiel that kick’d a ba

Has answered noo his Maker’s ca

Ower the vale he’s gone awa.

O wad Death tak a ransom

We’d gladly gather ane and a

Tae bring back Johnny Thamson!

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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