It’s an incident from what should be a long forgotten football age but few groups of supporters know and honour their history like Celtic fans.
Even 86 years after his tragic death, John Thomson is a name that looms large over the club with new generations finding out about the Prince of Goalkeepers from Fife. He died on the football pitch at the age of 22.
His graveyard in Bowhill remains a shrine looked after by local supporters with a number of community events keeping his name alive and celebrated.
RIP John Thomson
28.01.1909 – 05.09.1931
aged 22 @celticfc pic.twitter.com/kTv9qUDy7t— Baz (@BarryMcGonigle) September 5, 2017
John Thomson’s Parents pic.twitter.com/onvuucAfS1
— Celtic Collectibles (@CollectCelticFC) September 5, 2017
On this day 86 yrs ago the prince of goalkeepers, Celtic’s John Thomson tragically died from a head injury. Never forgotten. #RIP pic.twitter.com/fzSj69PY5h
— ally begg ???? (@ally_begg) September 5, 2017
‘They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind’
86 years today
John Thomson, The Prince of Goalkeepershttps://t.co/TknjEB2V86 pic.twitter.com/3X5aoRgBVA
— The League Magazine (@Theleaguemag) September 5, 2017
John Thomson Song – The Wakes
From defeat he saved the Celtic oh but what a price he paid https://t.co/T9O3D763dC
— Claire Walker Music (@ClaireW93) September 5, 2017
Remembering ‘The Prince Of Goalkeepers’ John Thomson who died on this day Sept 5th 1931. YNWA pic.twitter.com/Ra5aebrAzn
— Grimsby Emerald CSC (@paulread14) September 5, 2017
JOHN THOMSON, 1909-1931…https://t.co/lr2cT5eCGI pic.twitter.com/3adQ491dfn
— CQN Magazine (@CQNMagazine) September 5, 2017
have had this years, is this 1927 or 31 Cup winning team with John Thomson in the back middle ? pic.twitter.com/OaEilrVFOZ
— Dominic Toye (@djcrtoye) September 5, 2017
#JohnThomson #Celtic The making of a martyr #MarshallCavendish 1971 pic.twitter.com/PxdaJOp7IK
— Scots Footy Cards (@ScotsFootyCards) September 5, 2017
#JohnThomson – his courage cost him his life #Celtic #CBFM 1967-09 pic.twitter.com/r2eOEjn7jC
— Scots Footy Cards (@ScotsFootyCards) September 5, 2017
So come on you Glasgow #Celtic , stand up and play the game, for between the posts there stands a ghost, John Thomson was his name pic.twitter.com/AezdAZe42S
— Willie Conlon (@WillieC1888) September 5, 2017
Thomson’s story is typical of the romance and tragedy of Celtic football club with his life ending in a collision at Ibrox due to his own bravery to keep his goal intact.
As he was stretchered off the pitch fans wondered about the extent of the injury to the popular young goalkeeper, later than night the newspapers revealed that he had lost his life in Glasgow’s Victoria Infirmary.
The extent of the tragedy is difficult to imagine, even in the grim thirties thousands walked from Glasgow for the funeral.
Celtic played on, Joe Kennoway was recruited from North America to take over in goals but the depth of grief can only be imagined.
As another anniversary passes the legend of Thomson shows no sign of fading, if anything it becomes more vivid with the Kings Theatre hosting a play in 2011, the 80th anniversary of his death.
