Samuel English was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, on August 18th 1908. In 1924 his family moved to Dalmuir and for a time he worked at the John Brown & Company Shipyard.
English, a goalscoring centre-forward, played football for Yoker Athletic before signing for Bill Struth as a professional for Rangers in July, 1931.
What an impact he made right from the start. His debut on August 8th 1931 saw him score twice in a home 4-1 victory over Dundee. He then hit five in his next game, a birthday demolition of Morton. By the time of the first Old Firm clash of the season at Ibrox on September 5th, he had scored 12 times in his first 6 appearances, scoring at least once in every game.
But that afternoon saw the tragedy that would cast a shadow over the rest of his career.
In front of an 80,000 crowd early in the second half Sam English raced through the Celtic defence and looked certain to score, when Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson dived at his feet. Thomson's head collided with English's knee and he was taken unconscious from the field. According to The Scotsman, Thomson "was seen to rise on the stretcher and look towards the goal and the spot where the accident happened". Sadly, Thomson was taken to the Victoria Infirmary but he had fractured his skull and he died at 9.25 that evening.
English was cleared of any blame in a consequent enquiry but never fully recovered from what happened and was severely traumatised. Not helped by scandalous and wicked comments made by Celtic manager Willie Makey who stated he "hoped" the incident was an accident, Sam English endured jeers by Scottish crowds during future games, with Celtic fans calling him a murderer. Sam showed incredible mental strength to complete a record breaking debut season with the club, scoring a record 54 goals in just 46 competitive starts, his 44 league goals from just 35 games is still the club record. In that quite incredible season, he hit 5 goals once, 4 goals once and no fewer than 6 hat tricks, with 3 of these in successive matches against Brechin, Ayr and Raith Rovers. Amazingly, despite the avalanche of goals scored, English didn't win the league that season, Motherwell being champions for the only time in their history. He did score in the 3-0 Scottish Cup Final replay win over Kilmarnock.
But the anguish he felt over the Thomson tragedy had left a sadness Sam could never shake off. Season 1932-33 did see him win a league medal, but the goals rate dropped off as he tried to conquer the demons inside him that were still being encouraged from various opposition terracings. 16 goals in 33 games was still a healthy return, but he only managed 4 in his final 16 games that season. In the summer of 1933 Sam left Ibrox to join Liverpool, still only 24 years old. A very decent 21 goals in his first season followed, but Sam drifted slowly out the game, retiring at just 29 years old in May 1938 after spells with Queen of the South and Hartlepool United.
He told a friend that since the accident that killed John Thomsonhe had "seven years of joyless sport". He worked as a coach for Duntocher Hibernians and Yoker Athletic before finding employment in a shipyard.
Sam English was forced to retire early when he developed motor neurone disease. He died in the Vale of Leven Hospital, in West Dunbartonshire in April 1967.
The former striker’s family donated a bowl in his name to the club in 2009 and it is now presented annually to the club’s leading goalscorer.
Placed inside the accolade is a small ball for each goal English scored in that 1931-32 campaign.
Kris Boyd was the inaugural recipient of the Sam English Bowl, having scored 31 times in the 2008/09 SPL and Scottish Cup-winning season. By coincidence, Boyd shares a birthday with Sam, being born on August 18th 1983.
Sam English, Rangers Hall of Fame legend.
Record holder for league goals in a single season.
Rangers appearances 79
Rangers goals 70
1 league medal
1 Scottish Cup medal
2 caps and 1 goal for Ireland
English, a goalscoring centre-forward, played football for Yoker Athletic before signing for Bill Struth as a professional for Rangers in July, 1931.
What an impact he made right from the start. His debut on August 8th 1931 saw him score twice in a home 4-1 victory over Dundee. He then hit five in his next game, a birthday demolition of Morton. By the time of the first Old Firm clash of the season at Ibrox on September 5th, he had scored 12 times in his first 6 appearances, scoring at least once in every game.
But that afternoon saw the tragedy that would cast a shadow over the rest of his career.
In front of an 80,000 crowd early in the second half Sam English raced through the Celtic defence and looked certain to score, when Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson dived at his feet. Thomson's head collided with English's knee and he was taken unconscious from the field. According to The Scotsman, Thomson "was seen to rise on the stretcher and look towards the goal and the spot where the accident happened". Sadly, Thomson was taken to the Victoria Infirmary but he had fractured his skull and he died at 9.25 that evening.
English was cleared of any blame in a consequent enquiry but never fully recovered from what happened and was severely traumatised. Not helped by scandalous and wicked comments made by Celtic manager Willie Makey who stated he "hoped" the incident was an accident, Sam English endured jeers by Scottish crowds during future games, with Celtic fans calling him a murderer. Sam showed incredible mental strength to complete a record breaking debut season with the club, scoring a record 54 goals in just 46 competitive starts, his 44 league goals from just 35 games is still the club record. In that quite incredible season, he hit 5 goals once, 4 goals once and no fewer than 6 hat tricks, with 3 of these in successive matches against Brechin, Ayr and Raith Rovers. Amazingly, despite the avalanche of goals scored, English didn't win the league that season, Motherwell being champions for the only time in their history. He did score in the 3-0 Scottish Cup Final replay win over Kilmarnock.
But the anguish he felt over the Thomson tragedy had left a sadness Sam could never shake off. Season 1932-33 did see him win a league medal, but the goals rate dropped off as he tried to conquer the demons inside him that were still being encouraged from various opposition terracings. 16 goals in 33 games was still a healthy return, but he only managed 4 in his final 16 games that season. In the summer of 1933 Sam left Ibrox to join Liverpool, still only 24 years old. A very decent 21 goals in his first season followed, but Sam drifted slowly out the game, retiring at just 29 years old in May 1938 after spells with Queen of the South and Hartlepool United.
He told a friend that since the accident that killed John Thomsonhe had "seven years of joyless sport". He worked as a coach for Duntocher Hibernians and Yoker Athletic before finding employment in a shipyard.
Sam English was forced to retire early when he developed motor neurone disease. He died in the Vale of Leven Hospital, in West Dunbartonshire in April 1967.
The former striker’s family donated a bowl in his name to the club in 2009 and it is now presented annually to the club’s leading goalscorer.
Placed inside the accolade is a small ball for each goal English scored in that 1931-32 campaign.
Kris Boyd was the inaugural recipient of the Sam English Bowl, having scored 31 times in the 2008/09 SPL and Scottish Cup-winning season. By coincidence, Boyd shares a birthday with Sam, being born on August 18th 1983.
Sam English, Rangers Hall of Fame legend.
Record holder for league goals in a single season.
Rangers appearances 79
Rangers goals 70
1 league medal
1 Scottish Cup medal
2 caps and 1 goal for Ireland
