Bobby Thomson (footballer born 1937)
Encyclopedia
Robert Gillies McKenzie "Bobby" Thomson (born 21 March 1937) is a Scottish former professional Association footballer who played as a forward. He played most of his professional career in the West Midlands
, making over 300 appearances in total for the two Birmingham
clubs, and is probably best known for his four years at Aston Villa
.
, Scotland
. He began his football career as an amateur
first with Albion Rovers and then Airdrieonians
. Following successful trials he moved to First Division
champions Wolverhampton Wanderers
in 1953 and signed professional forms in 1954. During Thomson's five years at the club, Wolves won the League twice more and never finished below sixth. However, he was unable to establish himself as a first-team player and managed just one League first-team appearance, scoring in a 2–0 win over Newcastle United
on 13 April 1957.
He transferred to Aston Villa
, newly relegated to the Second Division
, in 1959 for a fee of £
8,000. Here, he made an immediate impact, scoring 22 goals in his first season, which made him the club's top scorer and helped them to the 1959–60 Second Division championship. He followed this up with 18 goals the next season and another 18 in 1962–63.
He played in the final of the inaugural League Cup
competition in 1960–61 in which Aston Villa beat Rotherham United
. Two years later he scored in the first leg of the 1963 League Cup Final
against Birmingham City
, but in the second leg he was marked out of the game by former England
centre-half Trevor Smith
, a significant factor in Birmingham retaining their 3–1 lead.
In September 1963 Thomson moved to Birmingham City. In his first season he was used in a variety of positions, eventually settling in at centre-forward alongside the newly-arrived and prolific Geoff Vowden
. Their goals failed to prevent relegation to the Second Division in 1964–65. In his last full season he played successfully at right half in place of captain Ron Wylie
who had broken his leg. Wylie's return to fitness and the arrival of former England centre-forward Fred Pickering
left no place for Thomson, so in December 1967 he moved to Third Division
Stockport County
, and then into non-league football
with Bromsgrove Rovers
.
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
, making over 300 appearances in total for the two Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
clubs, and is probably best known for his four years at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
Biography
Bobby Thomson was born in DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He began his football career as an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
first with Albion Rovers and then Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
. Following successful trials he moved to First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
champions Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in 1953 and signed professional forms in 1954. During Thomson's five years at the club, Wolves won the League twice more and never finished below sixth. However, he was unable to establish himself as a first-team player and managed just one League first-team appearance, scoring in a 2–0 win over Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
on 13 April 1957.
He transferred to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, newly relegated to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, in 1959 for a fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
8,000. Here, he made an immediate impact, scoring 22 goals in his first season, which made him the club's top scorer and helped them to the 1959–60 Second Division championship. He followed this up with 18 goals the next season and another 18 in 1962–63.
He played in the final of the inaugural League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
competition in 1960–61 in which Aston Villa beat Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
. Two years later he scored in the first leg of the 1963 League Cup Final
1963 Football League Cup Final
The 1963 Football League Cup Final, the third to be staged since the competition's inception, was contested between local rivals Birmingham City and Aston Villa over two legs. Aston Villa had won the inaugural competition in 1960–61, and had beaten Birmingham 4–0 in their most recent...
against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, but in the second leg he was marked out of the game by former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
centre-half Trevor Smith
Trevor Smith (footballer)
Trevor Smith was an English footballer, who played as a centre half for Birmingham City and the England national football team.- Biography :...
, a significant factor in Birmingham retaining their 3–1 lead.
In September 1963 Thomson moved to Birmingham City. In his first season he was used in a variety of positions, eventually settling in at centre-forward alongside the newly-arrived and prolific Geoff Vowden
Geoff Vowden
Geoffrey Alan "Geoff" Vowden is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Nottingham Forest, Birmingham City and Aston Villa, and in the North American Soccer League for the New York Cosmos.-Career:Vowden was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire and raised...
. Their goals failed to prevent relegation to the Second Division in 1964–65. In his last full season he played successfully at right half in place of captain Ron Wylie
Ron Wylie
Ronald M. Wylie is a Scottish former football player, coach and manager. He played as a right half or inside forward for Notts County, Aston Villa and Birmingham City, making more than 550 appearances in the Football League, and more than 700 in all competitions...
who had broken his leg. Wylie's return to fitness and the arrival of former England centre-forward Fred Pickering
Fred Pickering
Frederick "Fred" Pickering is an English former professional footballer. He played as a forward.-Domestic career:...
left no place for Thomson, so in December 1967 he moved to Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, and then into non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Bromsgrove Rovers
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C. were a non-League football club from the town of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. The peak of the club's success was in 1993 when Rovers finished runner-up in the Football Conference...
.
Honours
- with Aston Villa
- Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions 1960 - Club's top scorer 1960
- League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
winners 1961 - League Cup runners up 1963
- Second Division