Jim Thomson (footballer, born 1971)

James Thomson (born 15 May 1971) is a Scottish footballer. Nicknamed 'JT', Thomson was a central defender. Thomson's greatest achievements were during his 358 appearances for Queen of the South, where he was club captain. Thomson also enjoyed some success in shorter periods at Clyde and Arbroath and also played for Stenhousemuir.[2] Thomson had a short spell as caretaker manager of Queen of the South during November and December 2016 and is currently player-manager of Kilsyth Rangers in the SJFA West Region Championship.

Jim Thomson
Personal information
Full name James Thomson
Date of birth (1971-05-15) 15 May 1971
Place of birth Stirling, Scotland
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Kilsyth Rangers (player-manager)
Youth career
1987–1991 Campsie Black Watch
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1996 Clyde 151 (11)
1996–1997 Stenhousemuir 13 (0)
1997–1999 Queen of the South 65 (3)
1999–2001 Arbroath 44 (2)
2001–2010 Queen of the South 242 (7)
2018– Kilsyth Rangers
Total 515 [1] (23)
Teams managed
2016 Queen of the South (caretaker)
2018– Kilsyth Rangers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:42, 25 September 2018 (UTC)

Playing career

Clyde

Thomson began his senior football career at Clyde in 1991. Thomson made 151 league appearances and scored 11 goals. Clyde were Scottish Football League Division Two Champions in 1992–93 when Thomson was at the club and clinched the title at Palmerston Park, Dumfries away to Queen of the South, with a 3-2 win.[2]

Stenhousemuir

Thomson then had a short spell with Stenhousemuir during season 1996-97 [2] making thirteen league appearances and scored no goals.

Queen of the South

Thomson first joined Dumfries club Queen of the South as the club were rebuilding in 1997 in the post Harkness era. New chairman Norman Blount was getting the wheels moving on the club's revival.[3] In 1997 the club reached the Scottish Challenge Cup Final for the first time. Second Division Queens lost 1–0 to First Division Falkirk,[2] despite a rousing Queens display at Motherwell's Fir Park, a performance that included the man of the match award going to Queens veteran central midfield playmaker Tommy Bryce and an early career appearance for Jamie McAllister.[4] A late effort from Derek Townsley denied Queens an equaliser, as his gilt-edged chance went over the bar.[5]

Thomson made 65 league appearances during his first spell for Queens and scored 3 goals.

In a later interview on the club website, reflecting on his time at Queens, McAllister listed Thomson among the best players that he played with at the club.[4][2]

Arbroath

Thomson next went to Arbroath making 44 league appearances and scored 2 goals. He then followed in the footsteps of another distinguished player, Jimmy Binning, by leaving Arbroath to join Queen of the South. Thomson and his teammates ended the season in a promotion spot in the league.[2]

Return to Queen of the South

He was 'player of the season' three times over a ten-year period for the Dumfries club.[6] In late August and early September 2006 Thomson had a 'clean up' operation on his knee but came back successfully, including scoring with an overhead kick.

Thomson made his 300th Queens appearance on 20 October 2007 in a First Division match against St Johnstone and is one of the select players to have made more than 300 appearances for Queen of the South.[2]

Thomson captained Queens during the 2007–08 Scottish Cup 4–3 semi-final victory against Aberdeen (the club he supported as a child);[7] he was the first man to captain Queens in a Scottish Cup semi-final victory.[8] As well as captaining the side in the final, Thomson also scored Queens' equaliser to bring the game against Rangers to 2–2. Despite Queens' battling second half display, Rangers eventually ran out 3–2 winners.[3][2][9] As Scottish Cup runners-up, Queens qualified for the 2008–09 UEFA Cup. Thomson captained the team in their second qualification round games against Danish side FC Nordsjaelland.[3][10]

When Tommy Bryce[5] was interviewed for the Queen of the South website, he named Thomson as being among the best players he had played beside at Queens. Thomson was also commended for his efforts when Andrew Coltart was interviewed for the club website.[11]

Thomson was given a testimonial by Queens on 18 July 2010. The result was a 1–0 win for Rangers.[12] Thomson was retained as a player for the 2009–10 season after making 358 first team appearances and scoring a dozen goals. Thomson is 11th in the club's all time appearances list and also coached the under-19s team for the 2010–11 season.[13] In his second spell at Queens, Thomson made 242 league appearances and scored 7 goals.

Thomson overall played in 307 league matches and scored 10 league goals in his combined spells in Dumfries.

Career after playing

Thomson was appointed commercial manager at Queens on 1 June 2011, succeeding Mark McMinn .[14]

Thomson was appointed football development manager during May 2016.[15]

After Gavin Skelton left the club in November 2016, Thomson was appointed caretaker manager.[16] Thomson reverted to his club role as football development manager after Gary Naysmith was appointed manager on 1 December 2016, alongside his assistant Dougie Anderson.[17]

In the summer of 2018, Thomson was appointed team manager of his hometown club, Kilsyth Rangers.[18]

Managerial statistics
As of 13 December 2016
Team Nat From To Record
GWDLWin %
Queen of the South 12 November 2016 3 December 2016 4 1 0 3 025.00
Total 4 1 0 3 025.00
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References
  1. Jim Thomson at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  2. "QosFC: Legends - Jim Thomson".
  3. "Club History". qosfc.com.
  4. "QosFC: Jamie McAllister".
  5. "QosFC: Legends - Tommy Bryce".
  6. 2005–06 Player of the Year Awards Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Queens official website, 3 May 2006.
  7. "Scottish Cup splits duo's loyalties". BBC Sport. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  8. "Queen of the South 4–3 Aberdeen". BBC News. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  9. "Queen of the South 2–3 Rangers". BBC Sport. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  10. "Queen of South 1–2 Nordsjaelland". BBC Sport. 14 August 2008.
  11. "QosFC: Andrew Coltart".
  12. "Qosstats.info". Archived from the original on 31 July 2010.
  13. 'Jim Thomson's new role' www.qosfc.com
  14. "QosFC: Club Staff - Season 16/17".
  15. http://www.westsoundradio.com/localnews/queen-of-the-south-appoint-gavin-skelton-as-new-manager/
  16. "Queen of the South: Gavin Skelton exits as manager after six months". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  17. "Gary Naysmith: Queen of the South appoint East Fife boss as new manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  18. MacLean, Ian (26 July 2018). "Kilsyth Rangers boss Thomson targets League Cup progress". Cumbernauld News. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
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