Jock Thomson
Encyclopedia
John Ross "Jock" Thomson (6 July 1906 in Thornton, Fife
– 1979) was a Scottish
football
player and manager.
Thomson, a wing-half, started his career with Thornton Rangers in his native Fife
, before moving to Dundee
, where he played for four years. In 1929 he moved to Everton
. His Everton career had an inauspicious start, with the club suffering relegation in his first season. The following season he gained a Second Division
winners medal as Everton made an immediate return to the top flight, and then added a First Division
medal in 1932 as Everton became champions
. Later that year he made his international debut, representing Scotland
in a 5–2 home international
defeat against Wales
, though this was to be his only international appearance. In 1933 he played in the FA Cup Final
, helping Everton to a 3–0 win against Manchester City
. Later in his time at Everton first team appearances became more uncommon for Thomson as he was displaced from the team by Joe Mercer
. Thomson retired from playing in 1938, having made 299 appearances for Everton, in which he scored five goals.
In 1947 Thomson became manager of Manchester City, replacing Sam Cowan
. IN his first season in charge the club finished tenth in the First Division, though they failed to win any of the final six games of the season. The 1948–49 season
saw a slight upturn with a seventh place finish. In October 1949 Thomson made the decision to sign goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
, attracting criticism for signing a former German paratrooper so soon after World War II
. Trautmann justified Thomson's decision by going on to play for the club for 15 years. The 1949–50 season
proved to be Thomson's last. With two thirds of the season gone City had won only five matches. Thomson was dismissed, and at the end of season the club were relegated.
After leaving Manchester City Thomson returned to Scotland, where he ran a pub
until his retirement. He died in 1979.
Thornton, Fife
Thornton is a village in Fife, Scotland. It is between Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes, and stands between the River Ore and Lochty Burn, which are at opposite ends of the main street.- Transport :...
– 1979) was a Scottish
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager.
Thomson, a wing-half, started his career with Thornton Rangers in his native Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, before moving to Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, where he played for four years. In 1929 he moved to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. His Everton career had an inauspicious start, with the club suffering relegation in his first season. The following season he gained a 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...
winners medal as Everton made an immediate return to the top flight, and then added a 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....
medal in 1932 as Everton became champions
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
. Later that year he made his international debut, representing Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in a 5–2 home international
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
defeat against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, though this was to be his only international appearance. In 1933 he played in the FA Cup Final
1933 FA Cup Final
The 1933 FA Cup Final was a football match between Everton and Manchester City on 29 April 1933 at Wembley Stadium in London. The deciding match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 62nd final, and the 11th at Wembley...
, helping Everton to a 3–0 win against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. Later in his time at Everton first team appearances became more uncommon for Thomson as he was displaced from the team by Joe Mercer
Joe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
. Thomson retired from playing in 1938, having made 299 appearances for Everton, in which he scored five goals.
In 1947 Thomson became manager of Manchester City, replacing Sam Cowan
Sam Cowan
Samuel Cowan was an English football player and manager. A relative latecomer to the sport, Cowan did not play football until he was 17 and was 22 by the time he turned professional...
. IN his first season in charge the club finished tenth in the First Division, though they failed to win any of the final six games of the season. The 1948–49 season
1948-49 in English football
The 1948–49 season was the 69th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth won the First Division title for the first time with a team of no recognised stars and very few international players. They won the league by five points from Manchester United and Derby...
saw a slight upturn with a seventh place finish. In October 1949 Thomson made the decision to sign goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
Bert Trautmann
Bernhard Carl "Bert" Trautmann, OBE is a German former professional footballer who played for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964. Brought up during times of inter-war strife in Germany, Trautmann joined the Luftwaffe early in the Second World War, serving as a paratrooper...
, attracting criticism for signing a former German paratrooper so soon after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Trautmann justified Thomson's decision by going on to play for the club for 15 years. The 1949–50 season
1949-50 in English football
The 1949–50 season was the 70th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth retained the First Division title by one of the narrowest margins in history ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C....
proved to be Thomson's last. With two thirds of the season gone City had won only five matches. Thomson was dismissed, and at the end of season the club were relegated.
After leaving Manchester City Thomson returned to Scotland, where he ran a pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
until his retirement. He died in 1979.