Flashback Sporting Unhappy Thomson left Saints after gaffer fall-out
Goalie dispute
St Mirren FC is a club with a proud tradition – and a history to match.
They have been at the centre of the Scottish game since their formation in 1877.
Today, we look back at the career of talented goalie Billy Thomson.
The keeper enjoyed six years of success with the Saints before it all came to an abrupt end after a falling out with manager Alex Miller
Billy Thomson had enjoyed six fruitful years in Paisley when it all came to a shuddering halt in April, 1984.
He had racked up more than 200 competitive matches for Saints when he had a fall-out with manager Alex Miller.
The talented keeper was left out for a Premier League match at Motherwell – and that looked like that for the big keeper.
Miller put Campbell Money in his place and announced that with just five games left that season, he would play Money ahead of Thomson, who was a Scotland international.
At the time, the manager said: “Thomson is on freedom of contract at the end of the season and has made it clear that he sees his future elsewhere.
“He is an ambitious young man, and I admire that, but I also have ambitions and so does this club.
“Thomson doesn’t see himself as part of our European plans so I have to find someone who does.
“Campbell Money deserves a run of four or five games in the first team to show me what he can do.
“As for Billy, his future depends on who comes in with the right offer for him.”
An unhappy Thomson said: “What is Jock Stein (the Scotland manager) going to think if I am out of the St Mirren side? It won’t do my international chances any good.
“The manager has given his reasons for dropping me, but I think it might just be personal thing.”
Thomson, born in Linwood, did indeed miss out against Motherwell, hot on the heels of being dropped against St Johnstone, and Saints lost both games against the league’s two bottom sides.
The goalkeeper responded to accusations that he ‘wasn’t interested’ in playing for St Mirren.
He said: “I’ve been very happy at St Mirren, and feel it’s only fair that the fans, who have been very good to me, know my position.
“Twice recently, I’ve approached St Mirren regarding a new contract. I instigated the move – but, as of this moment in time, I have heard nothing back.
“Being left out of the team is a mystery to me because I haven’t done anything wrong.
“I train hard and I’m pleasant enough to the boss. But really I just think it’s a personal thing.”
Thomson added: “Campbell is a very good goalkeeper. He has been in much the same situation as I was when I was understudy to Alan Rough at Partick Thistle.”
By not playing Thomson, and skipper Mark Fulton, who was also heading towards freedom of contract, Miller riled a section of the Saints support.
They felt he had thrown away four points against Motherwell and St Johnstone that they needed to grab a place in Europe.
As it transpired, Thomson moved to Dundee United shortly afterwards, and played in the side which contested the UEFA Cup final against Gothenburg, when he almost lost an ear in a sickening clash.
He went on to play for Rangers, Motherwell and Dundee, and made seven appearances for Scotland.
The manager has given his reasons for dropping me, but I think it is a personal thing