I get excited by quite simple things, so this excited me. Again strolling through our local cemetery in Camelon I came across a gravestone I really did not expect to see. I came across that of Thomas Smith, a solid Left-Half for about a season and a half in the early 1890s. I did not expect to see it not only because it is the earliest grave of a Falkirk player I have yet seen [they become harder to find the further back because of possible exhumation] but also because I know that Tommy and his family were not from Falkirk, but from Carronshore, so thought he might be buried in Stenhousemuir [even Bothkennar at a push] not Falkirk.
It seems to be the original stone [but I am no graveologist so cannot say]
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There is not much to say about his career, he started with his local club - Gairdoch - and showed so much promise as an eighteen year old in a match v Falkirk that Falkirk decided to 'borrow' him for an end of season charity match. He was in the starting line-up the next season, and became a regular in one of the club's more successful seasons. But for whatever reason during the next season he was gradually replaced by 'Paddy' Wemyss at Left-Half, and soon returned to "his first love".
What is quite strange is that no clue was given as to why he died so young in either of the local papers, another mystery for me to keep chasing.
Thomas Smith
b 31st October 1872, Carronshore, Stirlingshire
d 14th February 1895, Carronshore, Stirlingshire
Debut – Wednesday May 25 1891 v Falkirk District XI (H) Benefit Match
Positions – Left-Half
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup RU 1891/92, Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1891/92, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1891/92
Scottish Cup Matches /Goals [2/-]
Scottish Federation Matches/Goals [17/-]
Stirlingshire Cup Matches/Goals [6/1]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [3/-]
Other Matches/Goals [20/1]
Total Matches/Goals [48/2]
Known Career – Gairdoch [1890/91], Falkirk [1890/91-1892/93], Gairdoch [1893/94-1894/95]
Played for Gairdoch v Clackmannan, Friendly at Gairdoch Pk, Carronshore, 27th August 1892
Played for Gairdoch v Grangemouth, Friendly at Caledonian Pk, Grangemouth, 28th January 1893
It seems to be the original stone [but I am no graveologist so cannot say]
Camelon Cemetery
There is not much to say about his career, he started with his local club - Gairdoch - and showed so much promise as an eighteen year old in a match v Falkirk that Falkirk decided to 'borrow' him for an end of season charity match. He was in the starting line-up the next season, and became a regular in one of the club's more successful seasons. But for whatever reason during the next season he was gradually replaced by 'Paddy' Wemyss at Left-Half, and soon returned to "his first love".
What is quite strange is that no clue was given as to why he died so young in either of the local papers, another mystery for me to keep chasing.
Thomas Smith
b 31st October 1872, Carronshore, Stirlingshire
d 14th February 1895, Carronshore, Stirlingshire
Debut – Wednesday May 25 1891 v Falkirk District XI (H) Benefit Match
Positions – Left-Half
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup RU 1891/92, Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1891/92, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1891/92
Scottish Cup Matches /Goals [2/-]
Scottish Federation Matches/Goals [17/-]
Stirlingshire Cup Matches/Goals [6/1]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [3/-]
Other Matches/Goals [20/1]
Total Matches/Goals [48/2]
Known Career – Gairdoch [1890/91], Falkirk [1890/91-1892/93], Gairdoch [1893/94-1894/95]
Played for Gairdoch v Clackmannan, Friendly at Gairdoch Pk, Carronshore, 27th August 1892
Played for Gairdoch v Grangemouth, Friendly at Caledonian Pk, Grangemouth, 28th January 1893