277 Bob Thomson

Biography

Experienced Scottish left back Thomson joined the Tigers in August 1934, signed by his former Newcastle United team-mate turned Hull City manager Jack Hill. He started the first three games of the season but quickly drifted into the reserves, making only one more first team start and leaving the club at the end of 1934.

Thomson was born in Falkirk and was an accomplished tennis player as well as footballer in his younger years. He played junior football for West End Amateurs, Laurieston Villa and Falkirk Amateurs while working as an apprentice electrician at the Grahamstown Foundry in Falkirk. He signed professional terms for Falkirk in August 1925 and quickly established a reputation for sound defending. This form was recognised in March 1927 when he was selected for a Scottish League select side who took on their English equivalents at Leicester City’s Filbert Street. A month later in April 1927 Thomson was selected to play for Scotland against England in the Home international tournament, a game England won 2-1. This growing reputation led to a move south, Sunderland securing Thomson’s services later in April 1927 for a £5,000 fee. Thomson played one full season at Roker Park, making 19 starts, before he made the switch from Wear to Tyne, signing for Newcastle United in October 1928 as part of a player swap deal. Thomson was a first team pick for the Magpies for two seasons, making 30 and 29 starts respectively, but drifted into the reserve side as the 1930s progressed and left in 1934 for the Tigers.

On leaving Hull in December 1934 Thomson embarked on a footballing odyssey that may be quite typical for today’s global game, but was anything but in the mid-20th century. Thomson moved to Olympique Marseille for the remainder of the 1934/35 season, then spent 1935/36 season with Racing Club de Paris. He returned to England in July 1936 to sign for Ipswich Town, who were managed by Thomson’s former Hull City team-mate Mick O’Brien. He played regularly in the 1936/37 season, then just once the following season as he transitioned from player to coach. He served the Royal Air Force during the Second World War then resumed his coaching role at Ipswich until 1950 when he improbably took over as first team manager at Ajax Amsterdam, a job that he fulfilled until 1953. No further trace of his football career or life can be found after his departure from the Dutch giants.

As explained above, Thomson won one full Scotland international cap against England in April 1927.

Details

Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 24 October 1905, Falkirk
Hull City First Game: 29 August 1934, Birmingham City A (Division Two), 28 years, 309 days old
Hull City Final Game: 3 November 1934, Burnley H (Division Two), 29 years, 10 days old

Clubs

West End Amateurs, Laurieston Villa (1923-1924), Falkirk Amateurs (1924-1925), Falkirk (1925-1927), Sunderland (1927-1928), Newcastle United (1928-1934), Hull City (1934), Olympique Marseille (1934-1935), Racing Club de Paris (1935-1936), Ipswich Town (1936-1938)

Hull City Record

Career: 4 apps, 0 goals

Bob Thomson
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
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EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1934/3540--------

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