Tragic tale of Sam English strikes a chord with another Ibrox goalscorergoalscorer
● Former Rangers striker Andy Little – the club’s most prolific forward in 2013 – is intrigued to discover the parallels between himself and the man involved in the infamous incident which led to the death of Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson, writes Jeff Ho
Winning the Sam English rose b owl was t h e c a t a l y s t f o r Andy L i t t l e t o d i g into the histor y of the former Rangers record holder. And he was stunned to learn of the parallels bet ween the t wo goal-grabbing centre-forwards.
They were both born in the north of Ireland, represented their country, and both realised a long-held dream of crossing the Irish Sea to play for Rangers. But it wasn’t all good news. There was also a real undercurrent of sadness and tragedy interlinked in both careers.
Little, now 31, said: “Sam was involved in the incident which led to the great y o u n g S c o t t i s h k e e p e r, John Thomson losing his life after he suffered a fractured skull. It was such a tragedy.
“Of course, there was no blame attached to Sam, b u t t h a t o n e m o m e n t s e e m e d t o d e f i n e h i s entire career.
“Sam, of course, played on, but was eventually forced to walk away from the game he loved at just 28 as it had all taken such a heavy toll on him.”
Fast for ward to June, 2017, and after leaving R angers, Andy was taking par t in a routine training session with Stirling Albion when an accidental clash with a team-mate’s knee left him unconscious on the pitch for fully five minutes.
T h e s i c ke n i n g c l a s h l e f t h i m wi t h a depressed skull fracture, a fractured eye today. It was an astonishing return for a Kenny Miller and Nikica Jelavic, socket and two cracked bones in his neck. 22-year-old lad just out of junior football. and of course Alfredo Morelos and
It was a horrendous time for the player In 2008, the Rangers Supporters AssociJermain Defoe have now been addand his family. ation commissioned a stunning rose bowl ed, so I’m in good company.
Little had previously suffered a broken – Sam’s favourite flower – from a talented “If you had told me when I signed cheekbone and broken jaw while playing Northern Irish silversmith, and Little won f o r R a n g e r s a t 17, t h a t I wo u l d for Rangers against Dunfermline. the award in 2013 – although it came as a c h i e ve a n d ex p e r i e n c e wh a t I
He s a i d : “O bv i o u s l y S a m’s s i t u a t i o n something of a shock to him. have done in professional football, was far more serious than mine, as John He explained: “I was at the end-of-seaI wouldn’t have believed you. Thomson lost his life, but when you suffer son Player of the Year dance, and as I was “I achieved far more than I everr a really serious injur y it puts ever ything off on holiday soon after, I was enjoying a expected and I loved every minute off into perspective. few rum and cokes. Then I got a tap on the my time with Rangers and Northernn
“I was rushed to the Forth Valley Hospishoulder, ‘you’re up next, Andy!’ Ireland. It was incredible and gavee tal, and then spent ten days in the Western “I thought Lee Mcculloch had won the me experiences to cherish for thee General, in Edinburgh. race for top scorer, as I didn’t realise the rest of my life.
“I didn’t remember a ti-hingabouttheawardwasforleaguegoalsonly.youcan“butihaveneverregrettedmydeci incident. d imagine my speech! sion to retire. The enjoyment had
“My former Rangers team-mate, Ross “I went up to collect the award, which gone out of football, and once you ggo Perr y, s p e nt the night at the ho spital, was this absolutely stunning silver rose part-time, after being at a club likke which was great, but he must have been bowl and I was as proud as punch. IroniR angers, you really need to enjoy sick of me repeatedly asking him what cally I scored 22 goals that season – half the what you’re doing. happened.” total Sam managed. “But by winning awards like the Sam
Little then headed home to Enniskillen “But to think that I’d won such a beautiEnglish rose b owl, it means there will to recuperate. ful trophy at the club I’d loved since I was a always be a little bit of me in the magnif
Sam English scored 44 league goals in wee boy was just such a wonderful feeling. icent trophy room at Ibrox – and that’s his first season at Ibrox – still a record “Previous winners include Kris B oyd, something special.”
“Obviously Sam’s situation was far more serious than mine, as John Thomson lost his life, but when you suffer a really serious injury it puts everything into perspective. I was rushed to the Forth Valley Hospital, and then spent ten days in the Western General”
ANDY LITTLE