Eddie Thomson was born in the small Scottish village of Rosewell just outside Edinburgh. The son of a miner and youngest of seven children, he knew from an early age that football was his passport to a better life. While two brothers became doctors and another a truck driver, Thomson never had any doubts about his preferred vocation. Every Christmas he got the same present – a pair of football boots and a soccer ball made in Pakistan.

He left school at 15 to work in a tweed mill while honing his talents in pick-up games at the weekend. A tough, reliable central defender, his big break came at the age of 17 when he signed professional forms for his hometown club, Heart of Midlothian.

Thomson made his league debut in his first season, eventually gaining three caps for Scotland’s under-21 side before going on to captain Hearts for four seasons. After a three-year spell with Aberdeen, he left Scotland in 1976 to begin his travels, playing one season in the US with San Antonio Thunder before arriving in Australia in time to join Sydney City for the start of the new national league in 1977.

After winning a championship as a player in that first season, Thomson graduated to the coaching ranks in time to help Sydney City to three consecutive titles. His first title, in 1980, was his last season as a player. Although Sydney City collapsed in 1987, they are still regarded as the NSL’s benchmark club and Thomson’s contribution, which included being voted NSL Coach of the Year three times, was enormous.

In 1983 Thomson was introduced to the national team set-up as part-time assistant to coach Frank Arok. In 1990 he succeeded Frank Arok as national coach and took Australia through 59 internationals and two World Cup campaigns before resigning to accept an offer from Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 1996.

Gold Coast Football is honoured and proud that his widow, Pauline, has allowed us to acknowledge the contribution that Eddie has made to our game through the establishment of the “Eddie Thomson School of Excellence” which will help groom our future Socceroos and Matildas.