Hibs legend Jimmy “Tiger” Thomson dies

JIMMY “Tiger” Thomson, a team-mate of Hibernian’s Famous Five in the 1950s, has died in ­Edinburgh.

Thomson signed from ­Edinburgh City in 1953 and made his debut the following March against Sheffield United. He was largely a fringe player during a highly successful ­period for Hugh Shaw’s team but enjoyed a prolonged run of games in the 1955-56 season – representing Hibs as the first club in Britain to play in the European Cup. He played in their historic first tie, a 4-0 win away at Rot-Weiss Essen, and featured in all five additional matches in a run to the semi-finals, where Hibs lost 3-0 on aggregate to French side Stade de Reims. Thomson scored eight times in 69 appearances for Hibs – the last of them coming in a remarkable 5-5 draw at home to St Mirren. He was in good company – the other scorers that day were Eddie Turnbull (2), Willie Ormond, and an up-and-coming young Joe Baker.

After leaving Easter Road in 1958, Thomson had spells with Ayr United, Cowdenbeath and Vale of Leithen.