Honour For Gers Striker English

[ian1964 10,419]

Feb 27 2009

 

THE Rangers player involved in one of Scotland' most tragic football accidents was honoured yesterday by his home town.

 

Members of Sam English's family travelled to Northern Ireland as guests of theMayor of Coleraine, to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth.

 

English was involved in a clash with Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson in a match at Ibrox in September 1931.

 

Thomson bravely dived at English's feet, and the goalie's skull was accidentally fractured by the striker's knee. Thomson died later from his injury.

 

Although Engl i sh was absolved of any blame, he was left a broken man.

 

In season 1931-32, English hit 44 league goals for Rangers, a record which stands to this day.

 

He gave up playing aged just 28 and died in 1967 from motor neurone disease - the same condition which claimed the life of Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone.

 

English's family, including daughters Charlotte and May, from Clydebank, attended the civic reception and the unveiling of memorial plaques yesterday.

 

Son-in-law Ronnie said: "Sam was a shy man. He would have been more pleased for his daughters."

 

Last year, Fife-born Thomson was inducted into the SFA Hall of Fame after a campaign supported by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/02/27/honour-for-gers-striker-english-86908-21156310/

[Norris Cole 0]

Why do they have to open with "The Rangers player involved in one of Scotland' most tragic football accidents" and not "Rangers record-breaking goalscorer..."

 

I can't think of Sam English without rage building inside me over the conduct of that scumbag Maley.

 

Nice gesture from Coleraine though.