Craig Thomson (footballer, born 1991)

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For other people of the same name, see Craig Thomson.

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Craig Thomson
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-04-17) 17 April 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
 Newtongrange Star
Youth career
Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Heart of Midlothian 47 (1)
2011 → FBK Kaunas (loan) 14 (5)
2012 → FK Sūduva (loan) 16 (3)
2014 Arniston Rangers
2014– Newtongrange Star
International career
2009 Scotland U19 2 (0)
2010 Scotland U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:30, 5 August 2014

Craig Thomson (born 17 April 1991) is a Scottish footballer, who plays as a right back for Newtongrange Star in the Scottish Junior Football Association, East Region. He has also played at left back and on the right wing. Thomson started his career in the Scottish Premier League with Heart of Midlothian, but was loaned to Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas after he was convicted of indecent behaviour involving children. Thomson has also represented the Scotland under-21 team.[1]

Club 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 team-mate 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 Hearts surrendered a three-goal lead to draw 3–3 with Motherwell at Tynecastle.[8]

Thomson was convicted on 17 June at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after admitting 'lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour' towards two girls aged 12 and 14. He admitted to showing them male genitalia, asking the older one for sex and engaging them in sexual chat. He was fined £4,000 and placed on the sex offenders register for five years. 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 was unable to play for a club until January 2012 because of the transfer window rules.[9] After making no appearance for the club in the 2012-13 season, Hearts announced that Thomson has been released and cutting his £1,500 weekly salary from the club's wage bill.[11]

FBK Kaunas

On 10 July 2011, Hearts announced that Thomson would leave the club imminently, following his conviction for indecent behaviour.[12] 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.[13] This meant that Thomson became the first Scottish footballer to play in Lithuania.[13] Thomson played for Kaunas until the end of the 2011 Lithuanian season, in November.[9][14] On 31 July 2011, Thomson made his debut for Kaunas and provided assist for Evaldas Razulis in a 3-1 win over FK Kruoja Pakruojis. On 28 August 2011, Thomson scored his first goal in A Lyga league and scored again in a 2–1 win over Sūduva Marijampolė. On 17 September 2011, Thomson scored his third goal in a 4–3 win over FK Atlantas. seven days later on 24 September 2011, Thomson scored twice in a 3–2 loss against FK Mažeikiai. Thomson made 14 league appearance and scored five goals for FBK Kaunas.[citation needed]

FK Sūduva

On 9 March 2012,[15] Thomson signed for Lithuanian A-Lyga side FK Sūduva on loan.[16] On 17 March 2012, Thomson scored on his debut for FK Suduva, in a 4–1 win over FK Tauras Tauragė.[citation needed] In August, Thomson made a return to Hearts after his loan spell at Sūduva had ended.[17]

Career After Hearts

Following his release from Hearts, Thomson moved to Cypriot side AEP Paphos.[18] However, the move was broken down after the club found out his conviction for sexual offences.[19] After being without a club for some time, Thomson returned to the game in March 2014 with local Junior side Arniston Rangers.[20][21] He moved on to Newtongrange Star in July 2014.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24]

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

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.[26] The charges were related to "sexual conversations" that he had had with two underage girls over the internet.[27] Despite calls from fans for Thomson to be dismissed,[28] the club after a full investigation[29] opted to allow Thomson to stay at the club, acknowledging that his actions were unacceptable but claiming that there were sufficient mitigating circumstances.[30] Hearts' decision was criticised by the mother of one his victims[31] and a children's charity,[32] while a water supplier withdrew their sponsorship of the club.[33] Days after their decision to retain Thomson, Hearts suspended him.[34]

Hearts announced on 10 July that Thomson would leave the club, following a further disciplinary meeting with majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.[35] It was not apparent, however, whether Thomson would be released by Hearts, or transferred to another club.[36][37] On 31 July, he was loaned to FBK Kaunas, another club controlled by Romanov.[13] Thomson returned to Scotland at the end of his loan spell.[10] He has since been released by Hearts.

In November 2011, Thomson was arrested and charged with grooming offence once again after "trying to lure a 12-year-old girl into meeting up with him more than two years ago."[38] After a year being charged, Edinburgh Evening News reported that Thomson has been cleared for his actions on grooming, due to lack of evidence.[39] Upon his release, Thomson continues to remain as a sex offenders register for another three years.[11]

In late 2013, Thomson is facing police charge after being reported by Midlothian Council officials for working as an unlicensed window cleaner.[40]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Hearts 2–0 Dinamo Zagreb, Heart of Midlothian FC, 27 August 2009
  3. ↑ St Johnstone 2–2 Hearts, Heart of Midlothian FC, 30 August 2009.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Bending it like Beckham, Heart of Midlothian FC, 11 October 2009
  7. ↑ Match Report: Millwall 2-3 Hearts Heart of Midlothian FC, 31 July 2010
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ „Sūduvą“ papildė škotas FK Sūduva, 9 March 2012
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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