Billy Thomson, former Scottish footballer and former goalkeeper for St. Mirren, Dundee United and Kilmarnock FC has reportedly passed away. He died on February 6, 2023, however details regarding his cause of death is still unknown.
Kilmarnock Football Club announced his passing via a statement which reads, ” We were deeply saddened to learn that our renowned former goalkeeping coach Billy Thomson had passed away. Our thoughts are with Thommo’s friends and family at this difficult time.”
Thomson began playing professionally with Partick Thistle. The youthful player received first-team experience in League Cup and Glasgow Cup contests and was well-rated.
He also earned Scotland’s first two under-21 caps. It was extraordinary for a 20-year-old reserve at a then-relatively unfashionable team to receive a bid of £50,000 for him in August 1978.
Thistle agreed to the offer. He served as Alan Rough’s backup there for just one league game. The 20-year-old was acquired by Jim Clunie for St Mirren in August 1978 for £50,000.
He spent six seasons with the Paisley club, appearing 317 times for the first squad. His League Cup debut came against Dumbarton.
He made it onto the Scotland team and won seven full caps while playing for the Saints.
Thomson succeeded at the club level and is notably renowned for his UEFA Cup saves of AS Saint-Étienne players Laurent Roussey and Johnny Rep.
St. Mirren penalized him during the 1983–84 season for disparaging comments about his pay and working conditions.
As a manager, Alex Miller predicted that Thomson wouldn’t ever play for the Saints again. In June 1984, Thomson was sold for £75,000.
After retiring, Thomson joined Dundee’s coaching staff; in May 2001, he made his way back to Rangers as a goalkeeping coach.
He was there up until August 2007, when he left. Thomson began part-time employment with Kilmarnock in a comparable job two months later.
In June 2021, Thomson accepted the post of goalkeeping coach at Stranraer shortly after leaving Kilmarnock. In February 2023, he passed away at the age of 64.
