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They Walked All The Way From Glasgow

Robbie Kennedy Bennett

Sunday, December 31st, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Scotland and Celtic’s Prince of Goalkeepers
John Thomson
1909-1931

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 They knew they had to be there,
They had little time to prepare.
Some walked all the way from Glasgow,
With bonnets, scarves and flowers.
They walked all the way from Glasgow,
They carried their gifts for hours.
They slept all night on the Crags,
A wee bit of grub in their bags.
They had little time to prepare,
All they knew was they had to be there.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 A keeper of goal was John Thomson
In his prime with the utmost respect,
This challenge he made was fatal
His goal he was trying to protect.
For a handful of leather not hitting the net,
The young still listen and never forget.
An Old Firm game in bygone time,
He died defending his line.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 The game of football was physically stunned,
His club and his country did mourn.
Some walked all the way from Glasgow,
To Fifeshire where he was born.
A journey for John’s courageous save,
For a hand full of leather an early grave.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 They buried John Thomson in his native land
Musicians from the Bowhill Pipe and the Silver Band,
Led the procession that day
Through the crowded streets they made their way.
They came from afar and they stood there in awe
They looked at the sky
They stared at the floor,
The year was 1931
But his story never grows old,
Each generation hears of the sad tale
Every day a new listener is told.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 In Cardenden lies a religious brave man,
His courage merits this praise.
This mining community witnessed the grief,
One of footballs tragic sad days.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Robbie Kennedy Bennett 2006

Notes

Celtic v Rangers
Ibrox
5 September 1931
John Thomson died after diving at the feet of Rangers forward Sam English.
The epitaph on John Thomson’s gravestone,
‘They never die who live in the hearts they leave behind’

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/they-walked-all-the-way-from-glasgow/