Capital-born ref Thomson passes on

EDDIE THOMSON, the first Edinburgh-born referee in modern times to handle a championship match between Hibs and Hearts, has died at the age of 82.

Prior to that 1975 match at Easter Road, which Hibs won thanks to a Joe Harper goal, the Scottish League had looked elsewhere for someone to control the Capital derby.

A top-grade referee for more than 15 years, Thomson took charge of one of Scottish football's most historic matches, Berwick Rangers' stunning Scottish Cup victory over Rangers on January 28, 1967.

A civil servant, Thomson was forced to retire when the SFA adopted a FIFA recommendation that referees should quit at the age of 50.

It was, however, a ruling with which Thomson, who was three years on the FIFA list, agreed, insisting it would give younger men the chance of quicker promotion as he moved on to become a referee supervisor.

Thomson died in an Edinburgh hospice in the early hours of yesterday morning. He is survived by his wife Norma and their daughters Carol and Fiona.