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Stone Condition: Broken Material: Sandstone Height: 0.38 Breadth: 0.51 Depth: 0.02 Inscription Condition: Clear but worn Inscription Technique: Incised Mason: Not known Pre 1855 no. N/A ( What's this? )

Monument Inscription

[  ] Memory
of
THOMAS KIRKWOOD
WHO DIED IN THE VICTORIA INFIR[ MARY ]
GLASGOW
24TH OCTOBER 1923, AGED 25 y[ ]

_ . _

A TOKEN OF RESPECT FROM
MEARNS POLLOK F.C. COMM[ITTEE]
AND SUPPORTERS

Family History

The monument listed above was discovered discarded in a waste area of the graveyard in a sorry condition. Made of marble in the form of a plaque it comprises a shield pattern shape on which are inscribed the circumstances of it having been placed there.

It commemorates the death of a young man by the name of Thomas Kirkwood, who died in the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, on 24th October, 1923. The plaque was donated, not by his family, but by the committee and supporters of Mearns Pollok Football Club.

Thomas Kirkwood lived at 104 Main St, Newton Mearns, with his parents Robert and Mary. His father was a contractor’s carter by occupation and Thomas was employed as a road surfaceman. Thomas’s father was a native of the village of Newton while his mother, whose full maiden name was Mary Allen Colligan, came from East Kilbride.

Thomas, it appears, was a part-time football player with the aforementioned football team. Mearns Pollok Football Club was founded in 1878 and during the year of its formation won the Renfrewshire Cup. At that time it was within the grouping collectively referred to as Scottish Senior Football Clubs. The year after Thomas’s death Mearns Pollok Football Club ceased to exist. Its replacement Mearns Amateurs were founded in 1929 and continues to present times.
As to the history of Thomas’s footballing career, time has erased its memory so nothing can be further noted in that respect.

The cause of death given for Thomas Kirkwood was lobar pneumonia. Whether Thomas is actually buried in the graveyard is uncertain as the plaque has obviously been moved from its original position and may have been placed in the graveyard of Mearns merely as a tribute to a local sporting hero.