Robert "Bertie" Thomson
Robert Thomson, known as Bertie, was born in Johnstone in Renfrewshire, his father a Mason cum Railway Porter cum Plasterer from Dumfries-shire, his mother from Kirkcudbright. But it is likely he learned his football in Glasgow for by thirteen his mother is keeping house for an uncle in Blytheswood, which is where Bertie would die young after a short and turbulent life.
His football, as a skilful right winger, began with Glasgow Perthshire, from where in 1929 he was signed by Celtic. There he would be in the teams that won the Scottish Cup in 1931, plus a single Scottish cap, and again in 1933.
But after only four years at Parkhead and only twenty-five he was on his way, having seemingly a poor attitude to training and falling out with Willie Maley, and on what can only be a rapid slide. He spent a year at Blackpool in the English Second Division with no impact and another at Motherwell from where he was released in 1935. Meantime, in 1930 he had married Susan Conway again in Glasgow and they were to have two children, a girl and a boy.
But the husband/wife relationship was clearly on the rocks. He would be charged three times with assault and convicted for stabbing her. Moreover it became clear that he was and perhaps for some time had been suffering from heart problems, which led in 1937, just past his thirtieth birthday, to collapse and death in his mother's arms.
He was buried back in Renfrewshire in Elderslie, there to be joined by his parents, his siblings and their family but not Susan, despite she passing away just two after him in 1939.
Birth Locator:
1907 - 5, Buchanan St., Johnstone, Renfrewshire
Residence Locations:
1911 - 5, Buchanan St., Johnstone, Renfrewshire
1930 - South York St., Glasgow
1937 - 327, Argyle St., Glasgow
Death Locator:
1937 - 327, Argyle St., Glasgow
Grave Locator:
Abbey Cemetery, Elderslie, Renfrewshire
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