Career
He was capped by Scotland at schoolboy and U23 levels and made two appearances for the Scottish League XI. Heart of Midlothian
A left back, Thomson began his career with Edinburgh & District Junior League side Edinburgh City and joined Scottish League Division A club Heart of Midlothian in April 1953. He had to wait until February 1957 to make his debut, which came in a 1–1 Division One draw with Falkirk. He went on to make six further appearances during the 1956-1957 season and was thereafter a regular in the team until his departure in November 1960.
He was a fixture in Hearts" 1957-1958 and 1959-1960 Division One title-winning teams, featuring as an ever-present in the latter triumph.
He also played in both the 1958 and 1959 Scottish League Cup finals, winning on both occasions. Thomson made 157 appearances and scored 17 goals during three and a half years as a first team player at Hearts.
Everton
Thomson and Hearts teammate Alex Young moved south to join English Division One club Everton in an £55000 deal in November 1960. In Thomson"s two-and-a-half seasons with the club, he failed to hold down a place in the side, but managed to make 20 appearances during the club"s championship-winning season in 1962-1963.
He made 77 appearances and scored one goal for the club before departing Goodison Park in late 1963.
Brentford
Thomson joined newly-promoted Division Three side Brentford late 1963, making his debut in the same match as his former Scotland Schoolboys teammate Chic Brodie. He played on for four-and-a-half seasons (suffering relegation to Division Four in 1966) before retiring at the end of the 1967-1968 season. Thomson represented Scotland at schoolboy and U23 level
While with Hearts, he made two appearances for the Scottish League XI against the Irish League XI.
Thomson attended Craiglockhart Primary School, Tynecastle High School and Slateford School.
As a player he was nicknamed "007" because of his looks. Heart of Midlothian
Scottish League Division One (2): 1957-1958, 1959-1960
Scottish League Cup (2): 1958-1959, 1959-1960
East of Scotland Shield (2): 1957-1958, 1959-1960
Everton
Football League Division One (1): 1962-1963.