Billy Thomson

William Marshall Thomson (10 February 1958 – February 2023) was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Thomson played for Partick Thistle, St Mirren, Dundee United, Clydebank, Motherwell, Rangers and Dundee. He played for Dundee United in the 1987 UEFA Cup Final and two Scottish Cup finals. He won seven international caps for Scotland between 1980 and 1983.

Thomson was a goalkeeping coach with Dundee, Rangers, Kilmarnock and Stranraer.

Playing career Partick Thistle Thomson started his pro career at Partick Thistle. The youngster was highly regarded and given first team experience in League Cup and Glasgow Cup games. He also collected his first two Scotland under 21 caps. In August 1978 a bid was made for him of £50,000 that was considered remarkable for a 20-year-old reserve at a relatively unfashionable club at the time. Thistle accepted the bid. He played only once on league duty there as understudy to Alan Rough.

Dundee United Thomson signed for Jim McLean at Dundee United in 1984 and spent the first season as cover for Hamish McAlpine. Thomson began the 1984–85 season as first choice. However McAlpine had re-established himself in the team by the end of September.

Thomson also played in two consecutive Scottish Cup Finals for United in 1987 and 1988, though both resulted in narrow defeats (the first to former club St Mirren). spending three years with the Steelmen in which he replaced Ally Maxwell but then lost his place to Sieb Dijkstra. Aged 36, he moved to Rangers where the experienced keeper spent two years as backup to Andy Goram. His final club was Dundee.

International Thomson made his full international debut for Scotland, against Northern Ireland in Belfast on 16 May 1980. Scotland lost 1–0 to a goal from Billy Hamilton. Thomson was mainly second choice goalkeeper, to Alan Rough, during this period. His next two caps were also against Northern Ireland (the middle of the three was a 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifier and not the Home Internationals). Hamilton gave the Irish the lead in the 70th minute. John Wark equalised in a 1–1 draw. remaining there until his departure in August 2007. Two months later, Thomson took up a similar, part-time role with Kilmarnock.

Thomson died on 6 February 2023, at the age of 64.

Career statistics

Honours Dundee United UEFA Cup: runner-up 1986–87 Scottish Cup: runner-up: 1986–87, 1987–88