Godsahibby
18-06-2013, 04:41 PM
I haven't seen this posted anywhere else (apologies if i have missed it) but this is taken from today's Herald.
Jimmy "Tiger" Thomson, who has died age 80, made his first team debut for Hibs in April 1954 facing Celtic.
Hibs lost that Easter Road clash 3-0 but like Celtic boss Jock Stein in 1967, Thomson covered himself in European Cup glory in 1955-56 when he was a stalwart of a Hibernian squad that became the first British team to compete in and reach the semi-finals of that inaugural European club tournament.
Geographically, Thomson should have been a diehard Hearts fan as he was raised in the Gorgie/Dalry area and was a fellow classmate at Tynecastle Secondary School of future Maroons star Jimmy Murray, who made his own contribution to Scottish football history by scoring Scotland's first World Cup goal in Sweden in 1958.
After a successful and prolific spell as a goal-scoring forward with Edinburgh junior team Edinburgh City, Thomson was signed by Hibs manager Hugh Shaw who subsequently helped him find his true midfield metier. This occurred when an injury to established first team right-half Archie Buchanan paved the way for Thomson to emerge as a member of Hibs' youngest half-back line of Thomson, Plenderleith and Preston in the historic season of 1955-56. Thomson not only appeared 25 times but earned his "Tiger" tag by providing the power to Hibs midfield while Plenderleith and Preston contributed footballing flair and goal-scoring elan.
So it was that in the club's first European Cup tie in Essen, West Germany, in September 1955 the stocky, tigerish Thomson revelled in the rain-soaked, muddy conditions by playing a key role in the team's four-goal victory as they swept to an impressive win over German opponents Rot Weiss of Essen.
Similarly, Thomson and his two midfield colleagues Plenderleith and Preston received the post-match plaudits from the media and the 30,000 home fans alike when they inspired Hibs to a 1-1 draw with the skilful Germans – despite three Hibs legends, Yonger Reiily and Smith, being absent from the team.
Thomson was also a standout in the subsequent European Cup game against Swedish side Djurgardens. The Easter Road team beat them 4-1 over two legs, ensuring Hibs became Britain's first European Cup semi-finalists.
Again, when Hibs faced the French side Stade de Rheims in Paris on April 4, on paper it was an immense task for the Edinburgh men as Rheims contained legendary French centre-forward, Raymond Kopa, and other outstanding players. Once again, thanks to the outstanding midfield play of Thomson and his colleagues, most critics agreed that Hibs had been far from outclassed with Thomson not looking out of place in such august continental company.
Injury robbed Thomson of playing in the second leg of the semi-final at Easter Road which Hibs lost narrowly by a single goal to exit the competition.
Incidentally, it was a matter of pride to Thomson that despite the tough, uncompromising, tackling style that earned him the Tiger soubriquet, he never received as much as a caution from a referee in his four-season career with Hibs.
Nevertheless, in the following season Thomson's first team appearances diminished significantly until two years after starring in that epic European Cup team midfield, he only made five first team appearances.
Yet he left for new team Ayr United in early 1958 with a bang rather than a whimper as he scored one of five goals in a 5-5 draw with St Mirren at Easter Road.
Thomson deserves to be remembered and celebrated in Hibernian FC history because in 69 first team games he made a huge contribution to the Edinburgh team's history – most of all by being a key member of the European Cup semi-finals team of 1955-56.
He is survived by wife Lucy, daughter Elaine and a brother and sister.
Jimmy "Tiger" Thomson, who has died age 80, made his first team debut for Hibs in April 1954 facing Celtic.
Hibs lost that Easter Road clash 3-0 but like Celtic boss Jock Stein in 1967, Thomson covered himself in European Cup glory in 1955-56 when he was a stalwart of a Hibernian squad that became the first British team to compete in and reach the semi-finals of that inaugural European club tournament.
Geographically, Thomson should have been a diehard Hearts fan as he was raised in the Gorgie/Dalry area and was a fellow classmate at Tynecastle Secondary School of future Maroons star Jimmy Murray, who made his own contribution to Scottish football history by scoring Scotland's first World Cup goal in Sweden in 1958.
After a successful and prolific spell as a goal-scoring forward with Edinburgh junior team Edinburgh City, Thomson was signed by Hibs manager Hugh Shaw who subsequently helped him find his true midfield metier. This occurred when an injury to established first team right-half Archie Buchanan paved the way for Thomson to emerge as a member of Hibs' youngest half-back line of Thomson, Plenderleith and Preston in the historic season of 1955-56. Thomson not only appeared 25 times but earned his "Tiger" tag by providing the power to Hibs midfield while Plenderleith and Preston contributed footballing flair and goal-scoring elan.
So it was that in the club's first European Cup tie in Essen, West Germany, in September 1955 the stocky, tigerish Thomson revelled in the rain-soaked, muddy conditions by playing a key role in the team's four-goal victory as they swept to an impressive win over German opponents Rot Weiss of Essen.
Similarly, Thomson and his two midfield colleagues Plenderleith and Preston received the post-match plaudits from the media and the 30,000 home fans alike when they inspired Hibs to a 1-1 draw with the skilful Germans – despite three Hibs legends, Yonger Reiily and Smith, being absent from the team.
Thomson was also a standout in the subsequent European Cup game against Swedish side Djurgardens. The Easter Road team beat them 4-1 over two legs, ensuring Hibs became Britain's first European Cup semi-finalists.
Again, when Hibs faced the French side Stade de Rheims in Paris on April 4, on paper it was an immense task for the Edinburgh men as Rheims contained legendary French centre-forward, Raymond Kopa, and other outstanding players. Once again, thanks to the outstanding midfield play of Thomson and his colleagues, most critics agreed that Hibs had been far from outclassed with Thomson not looking out of place in such august continental company.
Injury robbed Thomson of playing in the second leg of the semi-final at Easter Road which Hibs lost narrowly by a single goal to exit the competition.
Incidentally, it was a matter of pride to Thomson that despite the tough, uncompromising, tackling style that earned him the Tiger soubriquet, he never received as much as a caution from a referee in his four-season career with Hibs.
Nevertheless, in the following season Thomson's first team appearances diminished significantly until two years after starring in that epic European Cup team midfield, he only made five first team appearances.
Yet he left for new team Ayr United in early 1958 with a bang rather than a whimper as he scored one of five goals in a 5-5 draw with St Mirren at Easter Road.
Thomson deserves to be remembered and celebrated in Hibernian FC history because in 69 first team games he made a huge contribution to the Edinburgh team's history – most of all by being a key member of the European Cup semi-finals team of 1955-56.
He is survived by wife Lucy, daughter Elaine and a brother and sister.