An annual primary school football tournament held in memory of one of Fife’s most famous sons has had to be cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
Organisers of the John Thomson Football Tournament are said to be “gutted” at having to shelve this year’s event, which would have seen hundreds of boys and girls from Cardenden and the surrounding villages take to the field on September 6.
The annual event is held to celebrate the life of former Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson, who died after colliding with Rangers player Sam English on September 5, 1931.
Thomson was stretchered off the pitch and died later that evening in hospital aged just 22.
Football fans visit his grave in Bowhill every year and villagers in Cardenden pay their own tribute to their local hero by hosting the football tournament.
Alec Burns, chairman of the John Thomson Memorial Committee, said: “Due to ongoing health and safety concerns surrounding Covid-19 the committee agreed that due to current restrictions that are in place it is not possible to make the appropriate arrangements that are required to host this event.
“This isn’t a decision that was taken likely and it is with a heavy heart that the committee have concluded that this is the safest option available to them at this time.”
Mr Burns paid tribute to the local community for their continued support since the tournament was first held in the 1980s and to Dundonald Bluebell, which has provided playing facilities and warm hospitality each year.
“Despite the tournament running for the past 36 years, volunteers and committee members were often met with potential waterlogged pitch disasters hours before kick off,” Mr Burns added.
“This often provided them with the dilemma of having to cancel the event at short notice but they were always able to pull together and make the pitch playable in time for the start of the tournament.
“But it is in the interest of public safety and wellbeing that due to the current Covid-19 outbreak the tournament will need to be cancelled until next year.”
