Harry Thompson

[bpoolfan]

Saw on another thread where Harry Thompson gets a mention, and thought Harry deserves a thread of his own
Harry was great character, When he came onto the pitch before each game, we used to continually chant "Harry for Scotland" he loved it and would be like a conductor conducting a choir, with an imaginary baton, he also was one of the first in the country to wear white boots, he joined in the fun by prancing the length of the pitch, to howls of laughter and approval from the crowd, whilst continually pointing to each boot for every step, as he made his way towards the spion kop, and in those days it was common practice for fans to throw the old toilet rolls onto the pitch, they weren't like the soft rolls of today, and as they were thrown they would unravel like streamers and would sometimes cover the goalmouth before the match started - Harry T would pick them up and throw them back at the away supporters - great fun, I am sure there are many more memories about him that can be shared

 

[SirHarryThomson]

A real character. Saw him play for Barrow against the Cods after he left us. He was constantly having banter with the fans. When Barrow scored he shouted to the touchline get the beers in

 

[Davetomo]

Just read Hutch and Sir Harry Thompson gets a few mentions one ancdote was he fell out with his Mrs one Friday night got a little drunk and put his hand through a window
Les Shannon didn’t want to go to the Vic so got the club doctor to put stitches in
Next day we plated Chelsea and trying to protect his hand fumbled ball for Keith Weller to tap home to make it 3-3
Lost 4-3 Shannon sacked after game
Not sure if it was for trying to keep injury quiet

 

[Brazil]

Saw on another thread where Harry Thompson gets a mention, and thought Harry deserves a thread of his own
Harry was great character, When he came onto the pitch before each game, we used to continually chant "Harry for Scotland" he loved it and would be like a conductor conducting a choir, with an imaginary baton, he also was one of the first in the country to wear white boots, he joined in the fun by prancing the length of the pitch, to howls of laughter and approval from the crowd, whilst continually pointing to each boot for every step, as he made his way towards the spion kop, and in those days it was common practice for fans to throw the old toilet rolls onto the pitch, they weren't like the soft rolls of today, and as they were thrown they would unravel like streamers and would sometimes cover the goalmouth before the match started - Harry T would pick them up and throw them back at the away supporters - great fun, I am sure there are many more memories about him that can be shared

I remember a match at Oxford when Harry pulled his shorts down so the Pool fans behind his goal could have a quick peep.For a small guy he was a very good keeper.

 

[TangerineBayern]

Saw on another thread where Harry Thompson gets a mention, and thought Harry deserves a thread of his own
Harry was great character, When he came onto the pitch before each game, we used to continually chant "Harry for Scotland" he loved it and would be like a conductor conducting a choir, with an imaginary baton, he also was one of the first in the country to wear white boots, he joined in the fun by prancing the length of the pitch, to howls of laughter and approval from the crowd, whilst continually pointing to each boot for every step, as he made his way towards the spion kop, and in those days it was common practice for fans to throw the old toilet rolls onto the pitch, they weren't like the soft rolls of today, and as they were thrown they would unravel like streamers and would sometimes cover the goalmouth before the match started - Harry T would pick them up and throw them back at the away supporters - great fun, I am sure there are many more memories about him that can be shared

Also chanted 'Sir Harry Thompson' and he used to drop to one knee with his arms wide open savouring the moment and lapping it all up, he certainly did on that momentous night in April 1970! Oh happy memories of the Pickering hat trick!

 

[Trammo]

Excellent shot stopper though not tall enough to take crosses under pressure .Dropped due to poor form in his second season and left club at end of it.

 

[Westby]

Thomson

 

[bfc3pne0]

Thomson

Remember the ‘Harry, Harry’ chants to the tune of the ‘Hari Krishna’ chant that was doing the rounds at the time. Fave BFC keeper although not the greatest. A memory of happy days.

 

[bleach51]

Another with fond memories of Sir Harry……..not long after we got another small goalkeeping character…Budgie
We were blessed with some great keepers in and around that period.

 

[Ball on Fire]

Tony Green told me a similar story and he was there when it happened that Friday night before the Chelsea match. My understanding from what I was told was that Thomson’s injury was hidden from Les Shannon as surely if Shannon had known Harry would never have played in that Chelsea match. I remember Thomson really struggling to catch the ball in the second half and he never came off his line as Chelsea continually peppered the penalty area with crosses and we defended very deep to protect Thomson. If Thomson had been fully fit there is no way we would have lost that Chelsea game 4-3 after leading 3-0 at half time. I think the Blackpool 3 Chelsea 4 result was the final straw for the Blackpool Board, Shannon had to go, we had only won 2 out of the first 14 games and had won just once a home,

 

[Davetomo]

Also seen to remember him swinging from the crossbar for about a minute but only at the Kop End

 

[Gerry Ingrams Blonde Hair]

Also chanted 'Sir Harry Thompson' and he used to drop to one knee with his arms wide open savouring the moment and lapping it all up, he certainly did on that momentous night in April 1970! Oh happy memories of the Pickering hat trick!

Great memories of Sir Harry Thompson dropping to one knee with right arm raised as if being knighted. Add to his great personality he was a fantastic keeper. And yes, the Pickering hat trick was probably the greatest memory in all my 60 years watching the Pool.

 

[hampshire_exile]

Some of that team, it was said, were quite fond of a night out. Clearly I just was a kid hearing gossip, I have no ideas whether that’s true or not.

But we did seem to have a problem with fitness - the goals we conceded late on in home games (eg we led City 3-1 and drew 3-3) meant we could never build any sort of momentum.

 

[Threepeaksphil]

Just read Hutch and Sir Harry Thompson gets a few mentions one ancdote was he fell out with his Mrs one Friday night got a little drunk and put his hand through a window
Les Shannon didn’t want to go to the Vic so got the club doctor to put stitches in
Next day we plated Chelsea and trying to protect his hand fumbled ball for Keith Weller to tap home to make it 3-3
Lost 4-3 Shannon sacked after game
Not sure if it was for trying to keep injury quiet

Is that the game we were 3-0 up at half time. The rumor was most of the team had been to a very late party and just faded in the second half.

 

[Bluecabinboy]

Yes - I also can clearly remember him running to the kop pre-match & kneeling, milking the applause/chants. Also recall he often wore a blue jersey, in an era when goalkeepers, pretty much without exception, wore green. Quite outrageous in those pre-showman days.

A bloody good ‘keeper too….

 

[B_HenrySt]

Also seen to remember him swinging from the crossbar for about a minute but only at the Kop End

He swung from the crossbar at the Preston Kop end on that never-to-be-forgotten night

 

[Davetomo]

He swung from the crossbar at the Preston Kop end on that never-to-be-forgotten night

Let’s face it - he had bugger all else to do that night - but I’m sure he did it at home too

 

[Camberwell1]

Saw on another thread where Harry Thompson gets a mention, and thought Harry deserves a thread of his own
Harry was great character, When he came onto the pitch before each game, we used to continually chant "Harry for Scotland" he loved it and would be like a conductor conducting a choir, with an imaginary baton, he also was one of the first in the country to wear white boots, he joined in the fun by prancing the length of the pitch, to howls of laughter and approval from the crowd, whilst continually pointing to each boot for every step, as he made his way towards the spion kop, and in those days it was common practice for fans to throw the old toilet rolls onto the pitch, they weren't like the soft rolls of today, and as they were thrown they would unravel like streamers and would sometimes cover the goalmouth before the match started - Harry T would pick them up and throw them back at the away supporters - great fun, I am sure there are many more memories about him that can be shared

His gibbon impression along the cross bar which Budgie also did

 

[Camberwell1]

Is that the game we were 3-0 up at half time. The rumor was most of the team had been to a very late party and just faded in the second half.

Hatton OG (the 4th) - shambles

 

[Ball on Fire]

Thomson

Are you taking the P?

 

[1966_and_all_that]

Tony Green told me a similar story and he was there when it happened that Friday night before the Chelsea match. My understanding from what I was told was that Thomson’s injury was hidden from Les Shannon as surely if Shannon had known Harry would never have played in that Chelsea match. I remember Thomson really struggling to catch the ball in the second half and he never came off his line as Chelsea continually peppered the penalty area with crosses and we defended very deep to protect Thomson. If Thomson had been fully fit there is no way we would have lost that Chelsea game 4-3 after leading 3-0 at half time. I think the Blackpool 3 Chelsea 4 result was the final straw for the Blackpool Board, Shannon had to go, we had only won 2 out of the first 14 games and had won just once a home,

3-0 (3-1?), against West Brom. I was there. We didn't start too badly but it seemed - to my untutored 10 year old eyes - that we made too many silly mistakes. We were beating Stoke 1-0 at home and they sent in a speculative long shot that was going wide. Thomson came of his goal to catch it and spilled it. They took an unnecessary corner and scored.

 

[Ball on Fire]

3-0 (3-1?), against West Brom. I was there. We didn't start too badly but it seemed - to my untutored 10 year old eyes - that we made too many silly mistakes. We were beating Stoke 1-0 at home and they sent in a speculative long shot that was going wide. Thomson came of his goal to catch it and spilled it. They took an unnecessary corner and scored.

You have a great memory, I went to every game home and away in the 1970/71 season and had a ST in the South Stand. As you say we didn’t start too badly, in the first 5 games we Won 2 and Drew 1. It was then another 15 games before we won again and we lost 12 of those games.

 

[we_need_a_bob_hatton]

Just read Hutch and Sir Harry Thompson gets a few mentions one ancdote was he fell out with his Mrs one Friday night got a little drunk and put his hand through a window
Les Shannon didn’t want to go to the Vic so got the club doctor to put stitches in
Next day we plated Chelsea and trying to protect his hand fumbled ball for Keith Weller to tap home to make it 3-3
Lost 4-3 Shannon sacked after game
Not sure if it was for trying to keep injury quiet

I remember that game very well....bloomers was packed to the rafters....I was ten sitting on the wall near half way line...we were 3-0 up only for chelsea to come back and win 4-3 with Dave Hatton slicing into his own net for Chelseas winner.