Bert Thomson

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Bert Thomson

• Bert Thomson, 1952 (HA) Bertram Thomson was born on Monday, 18th February, 1929, in Glasgow. The 5' 10 (11st 4lbs) midfielder signed for Davie Meiklejohn's Thistle on Thursday, 18th November, 1948, having most recently been with Springburn United. Aged 19, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 8th January, 1949, in a 3-2 win away to Albion Rovers in the SFL First Division. Bert scored his only goal for Thistle on Saturday, 26th February, 1949, in a 4-2 defeat away to Aberdeen in the SFL First Division. He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 23rd February, 1957, in a 5-1 defeat away to Dundee in the SFL First Division, having clocked up 150 appearances as a Jag. His club-list included Springburn United, Partick Thistle, Yeovil Town, Rochdale and San Francisco Scots. Bert died in 2011, aged 81 or 82. * * If you can help us to improve any of these marked points on The Thistle Archive, then please do get in touch →

Bio Extra

'Bertie' as he was often known, spent 9 seasons at Firhill, all under the tutelage of Davie Meiklejohn. Right half was his specialist position, but he could never truly make it his own during an exceptionally strong period for the club, jostling with Willie Crawford and then John Harvey for the #4 shirt. As regular starts began to thin, a sense of adventure kicked in, and Bert signed with Southern League outfit Yeovil Town in the close season of 1957. He switched to Rochdale the following season, where he played a prominent role for them in the newly formed Football League Third Division. At Spotland, he experienced relegation for the first time, but stuck with them for a full season in the 4th tier, 1959-60. As he entered his 30s, his next move was a surprising one, crossing the Atlantic where he played at a high level with San Francisco Scots.

(WS)

Every Goal

compiled from our All Games criteria.

20y, 0m, 8d		26.02.1949 Aberdeen [a] L2-4 (SFL Division A - game 23)

Thistle Honours

	1949 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP Winner
	1951 - GLASGOW CUP Winner
	1951 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP Runner-up
	1952 - GLASGOW CUP Winner
	1953 - LEAGUE CUP Runner-up
	1954 - LEAGUE (1st tier) Third place
	1954 - GLASGOW CUP Winner

the decisive games…

1949 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP Sat-07-May-1949 [n] W2-1* Celtic (Glasgow Charity Cup Final) * after extra-time (1-1, 90 mins) Hampden. Howitt opened the scoring (17) when he guided a shot blocked by the keeper into the net. Celtic equalised (28) and it remained 1-1 into extra time. Walker raced on to a MacKenzie cross, beat a defender and scored (97). Thistle were the better team, their young players unphased by the occasion. Davie Meiklejohn

1951 - GLASGOW CUP Mon-26-Mar-1951 [n] W3-2 Celtic (Glasgow Cup Final replay) Hampden. 51,300 braved wind, rain and sleet and saw a 1st-time shot by Walker from a corner put Thistle ahead (2). Celtic equalised then they went ahead. With Crawford limping on the wing, Forsyth scored with his only goal and pen for the club (hotly disputed, 80) then Walker got the winner from a Sharp pass (88). Davie Meiklejohn

1951 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP Mon-07-May-1951 [n] L0-2 Rangers (Glasgow Charity Cup Final) Hampden. Thistle survived a double scare in the first minute. Rangers were far from impressive but they scored (19) with a lob that deceived Ledgerwood. A Howitt free-kick went just over. The game was “shockingly bad” (GH) but Rangers headed in (56). Apart from MacKenzie, the forwards were poor. Davie Meiklejohn

1952 - GLASGOW CUP Mon-29-Sep-1952 [n] W3-1 Rangers (Glasgow Cup Final) Hampden. Thistle were the more skilful side and Howitt was the best forward on view. Rangers scored (21) but Howitt levelled (43) then he dummied a defender and shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 (67). Rangers hit the bar (85) before MacKenzie picked his spot (89) with the Rangers' defence AWOL. Davie Meiklejohn

1953 - LEAGUE CUP Sat-24-Oct-1953 [n] L2-3 East Fife (League Cup Final) Hampden. A freak shot from the goal line (3) and a trundler following the break of the ball (7) shocked Thistle until h-t. MacKenzie played one of his best ever games and Walker shot home his cross (47). MacKenzie himself crashed home the equaliser (74) but a fine 20-yard shot (87) - one of the few East Fife had - won it. Davie Meiklejohn

1954 - SFL DIVISION A Sat-24-Apr-1954 [h] W5-1 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 30) A pen (23) cancelled out Wright's header (16). In the 2nd half Thistle hit the woodwork 4 times. McInnes scored direct from a corner (71), Kerr (pen, 75), Wright (77) and Sharp scored just on the final whistle for an easy win. 3rd place confirmed 2 days later after Rangers v Hibs 2-2 draw. Thistle finished top (yes, top!) scorers with 76 goals. Davie Meiklejohn

1954 - GLASGOW CUP Mon-27-Sep-1954 [n] W2-0 Rangers (Glasgow Cup Final) Hampden. After the equivalent of 17 games in 45 days, and against the odds, Thistle were “overwhelmingly superior” (GH) yet they were without the injured Bell for most of the 2nd half. They should have been 2-up before McParland's glorious 18-yard drive (18). Harvey's 25-yarder (81) made sure for the young JAGS side. Davie Meiklejohn

• Listed per out Honours list criteria.
• Players who have contributed an appearance in any given tournament are included.

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