TRAGIC Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson is set to be inducted into The Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

In a break with tradition, the Hall of Fame trustees have announced his inclusion ahead of what will be the fifth induction to be held at a gala dinner in the Glasgow Hilton in November.

Thomson had seemed set for a glittering career after having already established himself as Celtic and Scotland No.1 But he died at the age of 22 after diving at the feet of Rangers' striker Sam English in the Old Firm derby on September 5, 1931. The accidental clash left him fatally injured with a compressed fracture of the skull.

The induction of the Scotland international, famed for his bravery and agility, comes after a two-year campaign which has had the backing of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Alex Burns, president of the John Thomson Memorial Committee and a founder member of the John Thomson Action Group, which led the Hall of Fame campaign was delighted.

He said: "This has been a long time coming. We have been campaigning for since the first intake into the Hall of Fame four years ago. It is wonderful news."

Thomson was born in the Fife mining village of Cardenden in 1909 and played for Bowhill Juniors and Wellesley Juniors where he was spotted by Celts.

He was signed for Celtic in 1926 on a tram ride by the famous Parkhead scout Steve Callaghan, who was so keen to claim Thomson's signature that he made him sign by the side of a road leaning on a fuse box.

Thomson made his debut as an 18-year-old against Dundee in 1927 in the first of what was to be 211 appearances that included 70 clean sheets.

He went on to win four caps for Scotland, made four appearances with the Scottish League select and was a Scottish Cup winner in 1927 and 1931 and a Scottish Cup finalist in 1928 with his beloved Celtic.

An estimated 30,000 travelled to Cardenden in Fife to pay their respects at his funeral as the Old Firm divide was transcended in the most poignant fashion.

English never came to terms with the incident and retired in 1938. He said: "To choose (to continue playing) was possibly not sensible. To have done anything else would have seemed like running away.

"I was not to know that the news vendor's cry John Thomson dead' would become almost as much my epitaph as his."

The Hall of Fame is a permanent feature in the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park. Tables for the dinner can be secured by calling 0141 309 1438.