Kenneth Gordon Thomson (25 February 1930 – 15 June 1969) was a Scottish footballer, who played in the Football League for Hartlepools United, Middlesbrough and Stoke City. He made 278 appearances for Stoke.
Career Born in Aberdeen, Thomson was poised to sign for Stoke in 1946 from Scottish club Banks O' Dee but he was called up for national service in the Royal Air Force. After his demob Thomson joined his home town club Aberdeen. Stoke manager Frank Taylor finally got his signature for a fee of £22,000 in September 1952. A strong and commanding defender Thomson was soon made captain by Taylor. His first season with the club, in 1952–53, saw relegation to the Second Division. In the final match against Derby County he chose to take a penalty awarded and missed, had he scored Stoke could have stayed up.
Despite this Thomson went on to make over 300 appearances for Stoke in all competitions before new manager Tony Waddington sold him to Middlesbrough in December 1959 for £8,500. He spent two seasons with Boro and ended his career with Hartlepools United.
Personal life His career was tinged with controversy surrounding his involvement in the 1964 British football match-fixing scandal which saw him jailed for six months. Thomson died of a heart attack in 1969 at the age of 39.
Career statistics Source:
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAberdeen1948–49Scottish First Division300060901949–50Scottish First Division200000201950–51Scottish First Division400000401951–52Scottish First Division20030602901952–53Scottish First Division00006060Total29030180500Stoke City1952–53First Division38220—4021953–54Second Division40230—4321954–55Second Division41061—4711955–56Second Division37050—4201956–57Second Division40010—4101957–58Second Division37050—4201958–59Second Division38220—4021959–60Second Division7000—70Total2786241—3027Middlesbrough1959–60Second Division18010—1901960–61Second Division38010104001961–62Second Division25120102811962–63Second Division30000030Total8414020901Hartlepools United1962–63Fourth Division2821000292Career total419932120047110
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