In acknowledgement of their roots the street was named St Marnock Road[2] ( the company had started in Kilmarnock).

George Thomson's business prospered and the family lived in the prestigious Monteith Row,[3] but as the industrialisation of Glasgow continued a pace, the Thomsons like many others moved from the grime and dirt of the east end to the leafier suburbs of Glasgow's West end, in the Woodlands area.

Thomson was selected to play in the first international rugby match in 1871 between Scotland and England.

Certain records for the match indicate that he played for Glasgow Academicals[4][5][6][7] at the time, whilst others suggest that he was a University of St Andrews RFC player.

[9] In Francis Marshall's 1892 publication, Football; the Rugby union game, he is listed as playing for St Andrews as well, although on one occasion he is referred to as J Thompson in a picture of the 1871 Scotland side[10] and on another occasion he is referred to as W Thomson.