- Craig Thomson (footballer)
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Craig Thomson Personal information Date of birth 17 April 1991 Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Playing position Right back Club information Current club Heart of Midlothian Youth career Heart of Midlothian Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2009– Heart of Midlothian 47 (1) 2011 → FBK Kaunas (loan) 14 (5) National team Scotland U19 2 (0) 2010- Scotland U21 2 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 November 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).Not to be confused with Craig Thomson (referee).Craig Thomson (born 17 April 1991 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a right back for Scottish Premier League club Hearts. He has also played at left back and on the right wing. Thomson was loaned to Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas after he was convicted of indecent behaviour. Thomson has also represented the Scotland national under-21 football team.[1]
Contents
Career
Hearts
Thomson made his competitive debut for Hearts on 27 August 2009 in the Europa League against Dinamo Zagreb; Thomson was named as the man of the match on the official Hearts website.[2] He made his SPL debut 3 days later at McDiarmid Park in a 2–2 draw with St. Johnstone, and was again named as the man of the match by the official Hearts website.[3] Thomson earned praise from teammate Marius Zaliukas,[4] and won the SPL young player of the month award for September 2009.[5] Thomson impressed with his crossing ability and delivery from corners and free kicks.[6] On 31 July 2010, Thomson scored two goals with direct free-kicks in a 3-2 victory over Millwall at the New Den in a pre-season friendly.[7] On 23 April 2011, Thomson scored his first competitive goal for Hearts from the penalty spot, as the Jambos surrendered a three goal lead to draw 3–3 with Motherwell at Tynecastle.[8]
After he was convicted of lewd behaviour, Thomson was loaned to Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas.[9] He returned to Scotland at the end of the Lithuanian football season in November 2011, but was not invited to train with Hearts.[9][10] Thomson is unable to play for a club until January 2012 because of the transfer window rules.[9]
FBK Kaunas
On 10 July 2011, Hearts announced that Thomson would leave the club imminently, following his conviction for indecent behaviour.[11] Thomson made 52 appearances in all competitions for Hearts. He was loaned to FBK Kaunas, another club owned by Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, on 31 July.[12] This meant that Thomson became the first Scottish footballer to play in Lithuania.[12] Thomson played for Kaunas until the end of the 2011 Lithuanian season, in November.[9][13]
International career
Having featured for Scotland U19, Thomson made his Scotland U21 debut in a 3–1 victory over Northern Ireland U21 at Firhill on 17 November 2010.[14] His second appearance at under-21 level came in a friendly 1–0 defeat to Belgium U21, after which he was singled out for praise by manager Billy Stark.[15]
Career statistics
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Heart of Midlothian 2009–10 20 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 23 0 3 2010–11 27 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 - - - 29 1 4 Total 47 1 6 0 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 52 1 7 Personal awards and achievements
- Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Month: September 2009[16]
Personal life
In June 2011, Thomson was put on the sex offenders' register for 5 years and fined £4,000 after he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent behaviour.[17] The charges were related to "sexual conversations" that he had had with two underage girls over the internet.[18] Despite calls from fans for Thomson to be dismissed,[19] the club after a full investigation[20] opted to allow Thomson to stay at the club, acknowledging that his actions were unacceptable but claiming that there were sufficient mitigating circumstances.[21] Hearts' decision was criticised by the mother of one his victims[22] and a children's charity,[23] while a water supplier withdrew their sponsorship of the club.[24] Days after their decision to retain Thomson, Hearts suspended him.[25]
Hearts announced on 10 July that Thomson would leave the club, following a further disciplinary meeting with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.[26] It was not apparent, however, whether Thomson will be released by Hearts, or transferred to another club.[27][28] On 31 July, he was loaned to FBK Kaunas, another club controlled by Romanov.[12] Thomson returned to Scotland at the end of his loan spell.[10]
References
- ^ "Hearts Team Profile". http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/craig-thomson-hearts_2241487_48439. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- ^ Hearts 2–0 Dinamo Zagreb, Heartsfc.co.uk, 27 August 2009.
- ^ St Johnstone 2–2 Hearts, Heartsfc.co.uk, 30 August 2009.
- ^ "Zal Praise For Thomson". http://www.scotsman.com/heartofmidlothianfc/Hearts-Zaliukas-is-39very-proud39.5670976.jp. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- ^ "Beckham inspires awardee Thomson". BBC News. 11 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/8300721.stm. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
- ^ Bending it like Beckham, Heartsfc.co.uk, 11 October 2009.
- ^ Match Report: Millwall 2-3 Hearts, Heartsfc.co.uk, 31 July 2010.
- ^ "Hearts 3–3 Motherwell". BBC Sport (BBC). 23 April 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9464359.stm.
- ^ a b c d "Hearts sex offender Craig Thomson’s future in limbo as loan deal ends". Edinburgh Evening News (Johnston Press). 10 November 2011. http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/other-sport/hearts_sex_offender_craig_thomson_s_future_in_limbo_as_loan_deal_ends_1_1958600. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Hearts' Craig Thomson in limbo after return from Kaunas". STV. 9 November 2011. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/hearts/278385-craig-thomson-in-limbo-after-return-from-kaunas/. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ "Craig Thomson Statement". Hearts News. Hearts Fc. July 10, 2011. http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110710/craig-thomson_2241384_2389813. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Pirmą kartą Lietuvoje rungtyniaus škotas". FBK Kaunas. 31 July 2011. http://www.fbk.lt/index.php/naujienos/pirma_karta_lietuvoje_rungtyniaus_skotas/6533. Retrieved 31 July 2011.(Lithuanian)
- ^ "Craig Thomson leaves Hearts for Kaunas". STV. 31 July 2011. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/hearts/264481-craig-thomson-leaves-hearts-for-kaunas/. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ "Young Scots overcome NI". Sky Sports. 17 November 2010. http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3338220,00.html.
- ^ "Tommo's top display". Heart of Midlothian F.C.. 25 March 2011. http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110325/tommos-top-display_2241384_2323922.
- ^ "Young Player Award". http://www.cbfootball.co.uk/monthlyarchive.aspx?MonthID=9&SeasonID=3. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
- ^ "Footballer placed on sex offenders register". BBC News (BBC). 17 June 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13808562. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ Gyford, Sue (17 June 2011). "Hearts' Craig Thomson guilty of preying on underage girls". The Scotsman (Johnston Press). http://www.scotsman.com/news/Hearts39-Craig-Thomson-guilty-of.6786618.jp. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Hearts fans demand sacking". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 18 June 2011. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/06/18/hearts-fans-demand-sacking-of-pervert-craig-thomson-after-he-uses-internet-to-prey-on-girls-86908-23209319/. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Craig Thomson". Heart of Midlothian F.C.. 24 June 2011. http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110624/craig-thomson_2241384_2381621. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ Gunn, David (24 June 2011). "Craig Thomson to stay". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/Craig-Thomson-to-stay-at.6790728.jp. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ Crooks, Lauren (26 June 2011). "Victim's mum reveals full horror of Hearts star Craig Thomson's depravity". Sunday Mail (Trinity Mirror). http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/06/26/victim-s-mum-reveals-full-horror-of-hearts-star-craig-thomson-s-depravity-86908-23228208/. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Hearts urged to sack online sex offender Craig Thomson". BBC News (BBC). 26 June 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13918842. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Craig Thomson row: Drinks sponsor macb ends Hearts deal". BBC News (BBC). 27 June 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13927452. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ "Hearts suspend sex offender Craig Thomson". BBC Sport (BBC). 28 June 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13941955.stm. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ McLauchlin, Brian (10 July 2011). "Convicted defender Craig Thomson to part with Hearts". BBC Sport (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14099136.stm. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ Press Association (11 July 2011). "Hearts urged to clear up Thomson's position". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/hearts-urged-to-clear-up-thomsons-position-2311880.html. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ Anderson, Barry (12 July 2011). "Kaunas no go for disgraced Hearts star Thomson". Edinburgh Evening News (Johnston Press). http://www.scotsman.com/heartofmidlothianfc/Kaunas-no-go-for-disgraced.6800102.jp. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
External links
Heart of Midlothian F.C. – current squad 1 Balogh · 2 Hamill · 3 Grainger · 4 Jónsson · 5 Barr · 6 Webster · 7 Suso · 8 Black · 9 Kyle · 10 Elliott · 11 Driver · 12 Templeton · 13 Obua · 15 Sutton · 16 Stevenson · 17 McGowan · 18 Novikovas · 19 Skácel · 21 Taouil · 22 Smith · 23 Glen · 25 Kello · 26 Žaliūkas · 27 Robinson · 30 MacDonald · 31 Mrowiec · 34 Stewart · 49 McHattie · C. Thomson · Manager: Sérgio
Categories:- 1991 births
- Living people
- People educated at Lasswade School
- Association football defenders
- Heart of Midlothian F.C. players
- Scottish footballers
- Scottish Premier League players
- Scottish Premier League young player of the month awards
- Scottish sex offenders
- People educated at Lasswade High School Centre
- FBK Kaunas footballers
- Scottish expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Lithuania
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