He broke Rangers' scoring record in the 1931-32 season with 44 league goals but his accidental collision with Celtic goalkeeper, John Thomson, on September 5,1931 changed English's life forever. a b c d e f g h i "Sam English". Spartacus Educational. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013 . Retrieved 31 March 2014. Thomson's head collided with English's knee which ruptured an artery in his right temple which led to Thomson's death. I always wondered how he could end up as Rangers record goalscorer in that first season (he netted 44 times in 35 league games in the 1931/32 season). How could he do that with the death of John Thomson preying on his mind? It would eventually finish him. But it was because he had a lot of sympathy at the start. It got worse and worse and worse.” In the first-half, Sam went up with the keeper John Falconer for a ball and accidently caught him in the jaw with his head. Falconer went down motionless. As soon as it happened the celtic players got a hold of English. But the keeper got up and played on.”

English was cleared of any malicious intent by a fatal accident inquiry and graciously absolved of any blame by Thomson’s grieving family. Psychologically, however, he was deeply traumatised by the tragic death of his brilliant opponent. It would haunt him for the remainder of his days. Only Sandy Archibald, who wasn’t playing, managed a joke. He told wee Alan Morton 'if you behave yourself, son, we’ll mebbe let you have a game with the big yins today'. Five minutes after the re-start, Celtic were pressing high in an attempt to get an opener. The ball was in Rangers’ quarter of the field when Marshall managed to steal possession. He transferred at right angles to Meiklejohn, who slipped it forward to Fleming, standing on the touchline a few yards on the Celtic side of the halfway line. McGonagle came tearing across, but Fleming dodged him and sent the ball low up the centre to be chased by English.In recognition of his prolific goal-scoring exploits during his two seasons at Rangers, English was added to the club's Hall of Fame in 2009. [7] Members of his family and Rangers supporters also commissioned silversmith Cara Murphy to produce a commemorative silver bowl containing 44 silver balls, each ball representing the 44 goals English scored in his record-setting first season at Ibrox. [7] [8] [9] The Sam English Bowl was then presented to Rangers and is now awarded yearly to the club's top-scorer in a season. [7] [9] The first winner of the bowl was Kris Boyd in May 2009. [9] Honours [ edit ] An ill-considered comment by Willie Maley, the celtic manager who hadn’t witnessed what happened in the fateful Old Firm game from his vantage point in the main stand, inadvertently turned many of those who stood on the terraces at Parkhead against English.

Cree, who married one of English’s three daughters, revealed they had pursued the forward after he had left Scotland. “He told me that celtic supporters used to travel down to England so they could jeer him at matches,” he said. “Even when he moved to Hartlepool, who were in the bottom league, they were down there giving him a hard time.” The Rangers striker would endure open hostility towards him on the park as well as some brutal treatment following the death of Thomson. It started when he returned to action in the Glasgow Cup semi-final against celtic at Parkhead a few weeks later.On all accounts, they would come away both disappointed and disgruntled, as though being cheated out of something. And no wonder. Of thrills there were none, of scientific football a complete absence, of craft and cleverness hardly a hint, but there were never any guarantees when the Old Firm met. What they did see, though, according to a Sunday Mail reporter was "stuff that was a blot on the fair name of sport". Little, who retired from football in 2018 and is now a Rangers youth coach, is delighted he managed to etch his name in the Ibrox club’s history books during his time there. He would slump into a state of depression every September around about the time of the game and refuse to speak to anyone. He never spoke about football, never spoke about his career, never spoke about that incident.” I achieved far more than I ever expected and I loved every minute of my time with Rangers and Northern Ireland. It was incredible and gave me experiences to cherish for the rest of my life.

English won two full international caps in 1932 for Ireland. He made his debut in a home game at Windsor Park, Belfast on 17 September 1932, losing 4–0 to Scotland. English won his second and last cap on 7 December 1932, in a 4–1 defeat away against Wales with English scoring Ireland's goal. [6] Later life and legacy [ edit ] If you had told me when I signed for Rangers at 17, what I would achieve and experiences what I have done in professional football, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he said. The reporter added: "Early in the game the old Celtic–Rangers weakness of 'footbody' instead of football was evident. It didn’t creep into the proceedings: it completely enveloped them from the outset, and not a minute passed without the referee’s whistle blowing for some sort of infringement or other. Trainers and assistant trainers were the busiest men on show." WHEN Jeff Holmes started the research for his biography of the Rangers legend Davie Meiklejohn, the author had, like so many people over the decades, a preconceived idea about who his team mate Sam English had been.English died in the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria, at the age of 58 after battling motor neurone disease. [2] [3] Although not selected on the opening day of the following season, he then had a run of 11 consecutive matches in which he hit the netthree times before losing his place in the side. His appearances after that were restricted and he played his final game for Liverpool in the penultimate First Division fixture of the 1934-35 season, away to Tottenham. It is such a gorgeous, unique trophy,” said Holmes. “There are 44 balls, which signify each goal he scored in the 1931/32 season, on a silver rose bowl. It is really beautiful. His family absolutely love it. Roses were his passion.”