Place of birth Linwood, Scotland Name Billy Thomson Career end 1997 1975–1978 Partick Thistle Career start 1975 | Years Team Height 1.88 m Playing position Role Footballer Position Goalkeeper | |
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Full name William Marshall Thomson Date of birth (1958-02-10) 10 February 1958 (age 57) | ||
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William Marshall Thomson (born 10 February 1958) is a Scottish former footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. He collected seven full international caps for Scotland between 1980 and 1983. At club level, Thomson played for Partick Thistle, St Mirren, Dundee United, Clydebank, Motherwell, Rangers and Dundee. He played for Dundee United in the 1987 UEFA Cup Final and two Scottish Cup finals.
Contents
- Bubble toes by billy thomson w nothin but trouble cat s eye pub january 20
- Ain t no sunshine by billy thomson w nothin but trouble cat s eye pub january 20
- Partick Thistle
- St Mirren
- Dundee United
- Later playing career
- Scotland
- Coaching
- Honours
- References
He is now a goalkeeping coach with Kilmarnock.
Ain t no sunshine by billy thomson w nothin but trouble cat s eye pub january 20
Partick Thistle
Thomson started his pro career at Partick Thistle. The youngster was highly regarded and given first team experience in League Cup and Glasgow Cup games. He also collected his first two Scotland under 21 caps. In August 1978 a bid was made for him of £40,000 that was considered remarkable for a 20 year old reserve at a relatively unfashionable club at the time. Thistle accepted the bid. He played only once on league duty there as understudy to Alan Rough.
St Mirren
Jim Clunie signed the 20 year old for St Mirren for £40,000 in August 1978. He played for the Paisley club for six seasons making 317 first team appearances. His debut was against Dumbarton in the league cup. He broke through to the Scotland squad and was to collect seven full caps. All were when he was with Saints. Thomson enjoyed good form at club level being well remembered particularly for UEFA Cup saves from AS Saint-Étienne's Johnny Rep and Laurent Roussey.
In season 1983/84 he was fined by St Mirren for critical remarks regarding wages and conditions. Alex Miller was manager and said Thomson would never play for Saints again. Thomson was sold for £75,000 in June 1984.
Dundee United
He signed for Jim McLean at Dundee United in 1984 and spent the first season as cover for Hamish McAlpine. Thomson began the 1984-85 season as first choice. However McAlpine had re-established himself in the team by the end of September. After injury to McAlpine in October 1985, Thomson took over in goal in October 1985 and was first choice until the early 90s.
United made it to the final of the 1986–87 UEFA Cup. En route they defeated Terry Venables' F.C. Barcelona side featuring Gary Lineker and Mark Hughes at home and away in the quarter finals. Kevin Gallagher scored the only goal in the first leg at home. Ian Redford delivered the free kick headed home by John Clark for a 2nd leg equaliser at Camp Nou. This prompted Lineker to prophetically say to one of the United players, ‘this mob’ll just chuck it.’ Iain Ferguson then scoded a second for United nodding in Paul Sturrock's cross to win 3-1 on aggregate. In the semi final they drew 0-0 at home to Borussia Monchengladbach. In the return leg in Germany they inflicted Borussia's first home defeat in Europe in 55 games going back to 1970. Ferguson put United ahead just before half time. Redford capped the United performance with a last minute goal to seal a 2-0 win. In the final against Göteborg, Thomson was injured after five minutes of the first leg diving at the feet of Lennart Nilsson and needed five stitches for a blow just behind his left ear. Some reports said Thomson almost lost his ear. Thomson though repelled attack after attack and was beaten only once when Stefan Pettersson scored. McLean described Thomson's performance as "magnificent". Despite Clark scoring in the final in the 1-1 second leg draw at Tannadice, United lost 2-1 on aggregate.
Thomson also played in two consecutive Scottish Cup Finals for United in 1987 and 1988. In the 1987 semi final 3-2 win against Dundee Thomson pulled off numerous saves in a display described in The Guardian as "fantastic".
Thomson eventually lost his place to Alan Main who played in goals in the 1991 Scottish Cup Final 4-3 defeat to Motherwell.
Later playing career
He left for Motherwell in 1992 spending two years with the Steelmen.
Aged 36 he moved to Rangers followed where the experienced keeper spent two years as backup.
His final club was Dundee where he played six league games in 1996/97.
Scotland
Thomson made his full international debut for Scotland, against Northern Ireland in Belfast on 16 May 1980. Scotland lost 1–0 to a goal from Billy Hamilton. Thomson was mainly second choice goalkeeper, to Alan Rough, during this period. His next two caps were also against Northern Ireland. The middle of the three was a 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier and not the Home Internationals. Hamilton gave the Irish the lead in the 70th minute. John Wark equalised in a 1-1 draw.
With Scotland already qualified for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, Thomson played in the last qualifier against Portugal in Lisbon. Scotland lost 2–1, despite Paul Sturrock scoring the opening goal. Thomson didn't make the squad for the finals, with Jock Stein selecting Rough, George Wood and a then uncapped Jim Leighton.
His fifth cap was another Home International match against Northern Ireland, which ended goalless. He also played in a 2–0 win in Vancouver against Canada. His seventh and last cap was in another dead rubber when Scotland finished their poor UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying campaign. They lost 2–1 to East Germany in Halle, with Eamonn Bannon scoring the Scottish goal.
Coaching
After retiring, Thomson joined Dundee's coaching staff before returning to Rangers as goalkeeping coach in May 2001, remaining until August 2007, when he left with no reason for his departure. Two months later, Thomson took up a similar, part-time role with Kilmarnock.