Charlie Thomson
Encyclopedia
Charlie "Chic" Thomson (2 March 1930 – 6 January 2009) was a Scottish
football
goalkeeper who played for Clyde
, Chelsea
and Nottingham Forest
. He was born in Perth, Scotland
.
Thomson began his career with Clyde, and one of his first appearances for the club came in the Scottish Cup
against Rangers
at Hampden Park
, though his side lost 4–1. He stayed with the club until October 1952, when he became one of the first signings of new Chelsea
manager, Ted Drake
. Thomson was a member of Chelsea's 1954–55
league title-winning side, playing in the final 16 games of the run-in, including the title decider against Chelsea's main rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers
, during which he made a crucial last-minute save to secure a 1–0 win.
He struggled to retain his position as first-choice goalkeeper at Chelsea, however, losing out to Bill Robertson
, and signed for Nottingham Forest
in 1957 having made 59 appearances for Chelsea. Two years later, he was a member of Forest's FA Cup
-winning team, helping preserve their 2–1 lead over Luton Town
in the final minutes at Wembley
. He remained at Forest until 1961, making 136 appearances, and joined lower league side, Valley Sports
, where he ended his career. He died on 6 January 2009 in Nottingham
.
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...
goalkeeper who played for Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. He was born in Perth, Scotland
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
.
Thomson began his career with Clyde, and one of his first appearances for the club came in the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
, though his side lost 4–1. He stayed with the club until October 1952, when he became one of the first signings of new Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
manager, Ted Drake
Ted Drake
Edward Joseph "Ted" Drake was an English football player and manager. As a player, he first played for Southampton but made his name playing for Arsenal in the 1930s, winning two league titles and an FA Cup, as well as five caps for England. He was also a cricketer, but only ever played sparingly...
. Thomson was a member of Chelsea's 1954–55
1954-55 in English football
The 1954–1955 season was the 75th season of competitive football in England, from August 1954 to May 1955:-Overview:* Chelsea win the League Championship for the first time.* Newcastle United win the FA Cup....
league title-winning side, playing in the final 16 games of the run-in, including the title decider against Chelsea's main rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, during which he made a crucial last-minute save to secure a 1–0 win.
He struggled to retain his position as first-choice goalkeeper at Chelsea, however, losing out to Bill Robertson
Bill Robertson (Scottish footballer)
William Gibb "Bill" Robertson was a Scottish professional footballer, who played in the Football League for Chelsea and Leyton Orient. He played as a goalkeeper, and played in 26 matches in the 1954–55 season when Chelsea won the First Division championship.-External links:* on Chelsea F.C....
, and signed for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in 1957 having made 59 appearances for Chelsea. Two years later, he was a member of Forest's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
-winning team, helping preserve their 2–1 lead over Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in the final minutes at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. He remained at Forest until 1961, making 136 appearances, and joined lower league side, Valley Sports
Rugby Town F.C.
Rugby Town F.C. is a football club based in Rugby, Warwickshire, which plays in the Southern Football League Division One Central. It is nicknamed The Valley, and plays its home matches at Butlin Road...
, where he ended his career. He died on 6 January 2009 in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.