The John Thomson Memorial Committee have received charitable status and have launched ambitious plans to build a multi-purpose Sports Centre in memory of the former Celtic goalkeeper.
Charitable status has been awarded as the 80th anniversary of the keeper’s death approaches with a play celebrating the life and times of Thomson going on stage at Glasgow’s Kings Theatre.
A dedicated group of Celtic fans in Fife have kept the name of Thomson active with an annual football tournament that will take place for the 28th time this year involving 3,000 boys and girls.
To gain charitable status the committee had to meet strict criteria on community development, provision of recreational activities and the advancement of citizenship with committee member Mark Cameron thrilled by the recognition.
He said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received charitable status in such a short time. We knew we would meet the OSCR criteria and it was then a case of ensuring all documentation and accounts were up to date”
“We are pushing ahead with plans for the construction of a much needed sports and recreational centre. It will be built in memory of John and will be available to all in the community.
“We are delighted to have on board organisations who have a proven track record of delivering community based projects and with the community goodwill and hard work of the JTMC we are sure we will succeed.”
Thomson’s death at Ibrox shocked the whole of Scotland with thousands of fans walking from throughout the Glasgow area to his funeral in Fife.
This year a group of around 60 enthusiasts will take part in the John Thomson 80th anniversary Memorial Pilgrimage walk from Celtic Park, Glasgow to Cardenden.
Including members of JTMC and Celtic Graves Society they will re-create the steps that many took to attend John’s funeral in September 1931 with all proceeds from this years pilgrimage being donated towards the sports complex.
The walk will commence in Glasgow on Friday September 2nd and aims to arrive in Cardenden on the morning of Sunday 4th September to coincide with the JTMC’s annual football held in John’s memory.
The annual primary schools football tournament will provide the cornerstone of a weekend of celebrations of John’s life. The tournament will take place on Sunday 4th September from 11.00 am at Moorside Park, Dundonald where primary school children from Cardenden, Bowhill, Dundonald and Kinglassie will compete for the coveted John Thomson Memorial Trophy.
Now in its 28th year and with over 3000 school boys and girls having taken part, the tournament is a major event in the Central Fife area.
The tournament is followed by a prize giving ceremony in Bowhill War Memorial Club at 3.00 pm with a wreath laying ceremony will take place at John’s graveside in Bowhill Cemetery at 4.15 pm.
CLICK HERE for John Thomson committee website
CLICK HERE for Euan Norris’ refereeing statistics
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