johnnyk 158 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 DUP MP Gregory Campbell has tabled a parliamentary motion calling for the life of Northern Ireland footballer Sam English to be commemorated. English from Aghadowey, near Coleraine, was one of the up and coming stars of Scottish football when he moved to Rangers in the 1930s. He had marked his arrival at the club with a blistering run of goals. He would go on to set the club record for the most goals scored in one season - a record that stands to this very day. Over at Celtic, John Thompson was making a name for himself. At 22, he was already a star goalkeeper. He had been signed at just 17 years of age, and he was, in the words of football historian Robert McElroy, "graceful, athletic, very brave and courageous". The two men faced each other on the pitch on 5 September 1931 in a match which would end in tragic circumstances. Home turf for Sam English - Celtic travelled to Ibrox for a derby that was as hotly contested then as it is today. Disaster struck just five minutes into the second half. The two men met outside Thompson's goal for what everyone agrees was a 50-50 challenge. "I have seen the grainy black and white film of the incident, which shows a loose ball with the two players going for it," Mr McElroy said. "It's actually John Thompson's forward motion in diving towards the ball that his head struck Sam English's knee". John Thompson was rushed to the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow, where he died later that day. Celtic's manager at the time, Willie Maley, mourned his young star, writing after his death: "Never was there a keeper who caught and held the fastest shots with such grace and ease. "In all he did there was the balance and beauty of movement wonderful to watch. Among the great Celts who have passed over, he has an honoured place." For Sam English though, things were never the same again. Although he put 44 goals into the net for Rangers that season, he was taunted and jeered by away crowds everywhere he went. An official enquiry cleared him of any blame for John Thompson's death, but still the jeering went on. At the end of 1933, he left Rangers and headed south to Liverpool, where the taunts followed him. He gave up professional football aged 28. But some are determined that 100 years after his birth, he should be remembered for his achievements on the pitch, and not for a brilliant career cut short by tragedy. Mr Campbell, a life-time Rangers fan, has tabled a parliamentary motion calling for the life of Sam English to be commemorated. "He is a person of whom I would have thought people should be proud and his memory should be cherished," he said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7313835.stm 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainstandbear 0 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 Good post Johnny 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Gers Chat >>>>>>>>>>>>> Footy Chat 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyk 158 Posted March 27, 2008 Author Share Posted March 27, 2008 Gers Chat >>>>>>>>>>>>> Footy Chat i thought gers chat was to talk about all gers players past and present or have i got that wrong 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 i thought gers chat was to talk about all gers players past and present or have i got that wrong Didn't read it. Scanned the title and assumed it was the Healy story. Sorry boss. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyk 158 Posted March 28, 2008 Author Share Posted March 28, 2008 Didn't read it. Scanned the title and assumed it was the Healy story. Sorry boss. no worries m8 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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