Edinburgh Evening News - Tuesday June 19th 1894
This is the closest thing to an obituary I have found for the former King's Park & Falkirk FC centre-forward George Thallon. His inclusion in the papers [it was also in the Scotsman] leaves a lot of questions unanswered. I won't even go there, although I'm pretty sure there is a report I'd like to read somewhere in the archives of the Glasgow Police.
Born in Stirling to a Railway family, George was however brought up in Leith, and soon after school became a clerk with the North British Railway Company. It was through this employment, as Goods Clerk, that he moved first to Stirling Station, then to Falkirk Grahamston Station. In 1889 it was reported that the NBR had moved him back to Edinburgh.
During his time in Falkirk not only did he play football, but was active with the two main cross-country clubs, Clydesdale Harriers and Falkirk Heavy Weather Club, even playing football for both against senior opposition.
Which brings me back to his end, I mean he was missing for more than a month, then dead, says neither suicide nor homicide, more like misadventure.
The only picture I have of him, from an 1885/86 King's Park team photo.
George Thallon
b 23rd January 1863, Stirling, Stirlingshire
d 17th June 1894, Glasgow
Known Debut - Saturday September 5th 1885 King's Park v Partick Thistle (H) Friendly
Competitive Debut – Saturday September 12th 1885 King's Park v Campsie Avondale (H) Scottish Cup 1st Rd
Falkirk Debut – Saturday April 16th 1887 v Alloa Athletic (H) Friendly
Falkirk Competitive Debut – Saturday May 4th 1887 v East Stirlingshire (A) Falkirk District Charity Cup Semi-Final
Positions – Centre-Forward [occ Goalkeeper]
Known King's Park Career
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals 2/1
Stirlingshire Cup Matches/Goals 5/5
Other Matches/Goals 7/1
Known Norton Park Career
Other Matches/Goals 1/-
Known Falkirk Career
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals 2/1
Falkirk District Charity Cup Matches/Goals 2/1
Other Matches/Goals 11/7
Known East Stirlingshire Career
2nd XI matches only.
Known Career
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals 4/2
Stirlingshire Cup Matches/Goals 5/5
Falkirk District Charity Cup Matches/Goals 2/1
Other Matches/Goals 21/8
Known Career – King's Park [1885/86], Norton Park [1886/87], Falkirk [1886/87-1888/89], East Stirlingshire [1888/89]
Played for Falkirk Heavy Weather v Kilsyth Wanderers XI, Friendly at Garrell Garden Pk, Kilsyth, 12th May 1888
Played for Clydesdale Harriers [Falkirk] v Falkirk FC, Friendly at Brockville Pk, Falkirk, 5th January 1889