Tom Hosie

They do that and I'll start the Sack the Board campaign!

It wasn't so much as it denied us the chance to make it 2-0 it would have killed the game stone dead no matter what Ian Cameron, having scored the first one I guess he would have taken the second, did with the penalty. Score it and it is 2-0 miss it and enough time is killed to take the game to full-time. I wasn't at Hampden in 1979 so would be intersted to hear from those that were at both games. Was the non penalty or the disallowed goal in the semi-final the decision that hurt the most?

Larwood was anything but a cad but was the main 'bodyline' or leg theory bowler. Jardine was the England captain on that tour.

He was indeed President of the SFL which is why played a role in the trophy presentation. In that capacity he had an atricle in the final programme where he hoped he would be forgiven for being biased in terms of who he hoped won. Re your last point. I think that is a fantastic idea. We would, of course, have carried an obituary when he died and I interviewed him for the programme mid 90s. Well worth digging out those two articles.

Mr Aitken, and it was always Mr Aitken, was an absolute gentleman. I had the pleasure of travelling with him on the bus to away games for a number of years. One of the highlights of my time with the Thistle programme was Mr Aitken taking the time to compliment me on one of the programmes and told me how much he enjoyed reading it. Coming from a man of that stature that was high praise indeed.

Apparently this post didn't go down too well in some quarters (a bit like cider in fact ) Sorry about that. Rest assured there will be no repeat(unlike cider ) in the future.

I would guess it would be very much like the game against Cowdenbeath at Edinburgh Uni last pre-season. Not a formal fixture but stroll in and watch. Should that change I would, of course, post on here. Maybe worth checking with the Club nearer the time in any case. They will be better placed to answer than me. BTW can't think of anywhere better to enjoy a birthday weekened than St Andrews. Just about my favourite place in the world. If you do go - enjoy!

I think I deserve a 42" plasma screen TV and a month long holiday somewhere exotic but I can't afford it. Not trying to be flippant but it is the best analogy I can come up with. It doesn't happen often but WJ is on the button on this thread.

Sometimes it is a case not how much you owe but to whom you owe it. Is Dunfermline's debt not largely made up of various 'soft' loans that aren't likely to be called in? Whereas our debt is largely owed to the bank. If I owe Alison £50 she is going to moan if I don;t pay her back. If I owe the loan shark across the close £50 and don't pay it back then he is going to break my legs.

Gary Harkins?

Now, you aren't doing that rumour justice. McCall was seen having lunch with a ginger guy in Troon.

Not as much as me. A lot of my family on my father's side come from Herefordshire and Hereford have been my English team because of that. Would love Thistle to play them some time. There was a chance a few years ago but a proposed trip to the midlands fell through. Get it sorted out McCall!

There are numerous ways in which pre-season matches are arranged but they are primarily the domain of the manager irrespective of the Club’s standing in the game. I don’t think a piss up for the fans is furthermost in their thoughts when they arrange these games. Bigger clubs usually ask for a set fee for fulfilling an away fixture whereas clubs at our level quite often simply receive the takings from the away end instead of any fee (as we did at St Mirren a few years ago). If there is indeed any money involved at all. We played Blyth a couple of years ago simply because we were looking for a game on the way back from the training camp at Warwick. Last year we went to Edinburgh and played Cowdenbeath at Edinburgh Uni. The Lancaster game was a strange one – don’t know how that came about it. It’s the furthest I can recall us playing a friendly match other than when we have been away anyway. Personally, I’m no great fan of pre-season matches although no doubt I’ll, as usual, go to this season’s. They are nothing more than training games and I’ve always found it a source of irritation that too much emphasis, good or bad, is placed on the outcome of them. A poor substitute for the real thing. I’ve long thought that you are best playing the majority of them behind close doors with perhaps one exception to give the fans a look at any new signings. BTW the ar5e that had the kick-off wrong for the home game on the OS was, for the avoidance of doubt, me. Just in case anyone thought I was having a pop at anyone. Oh, and it isn’t, sadly, Hereford United that are due to visit Firhill.

A rather splendid biography of Harold Larwood by Duncan Hamilton. One for the cricket fans.

Baws. It's 7:30pm and not, as some ar5e put on the OS, 3pm. Opposition not fully confirmed but they do like cider.

Whoops. Season we won promotion from the First Division is what I meant to type but didn't for some strange reason. The way I partied the night we won promotion it could have been the World Cup we won not just drawn 0-0 with Forfar!

1991. The season we won the First Division.

Looking like Cowdenbeath for the last place in next season's First Division. Brechin 0, Cowdenbeath 3 at half-time. Forfar 1-0 up on Arbroath at half-time in the other play-off game.

Just the top.

I wouldn't worry. I heard the description and though, hmmm. Then saw it and liked it. Much more 'traditional' than I had thought and the same on the back as the front. Disclaimer: I didn't hate the jester top so perhaps my opinion should be taken with a pinch of salt. I'm sure it is anyway.

Really enjoyable night. Raised, I’m told, just short of £20K. Short of formalities which was good. The under 19 squad though were introduced to the guests which went down well and Ian Cameron said a few words. Some fantastic audio visual presentations that I would love to get my hands on. Band were excellent with plenty of dancing. Nice couple of hours in the hotel bar to round the night off and a lovely hotel breakfast the next morning helped smooth out any rough edges before heading to the cup final.

That's a very good point.

I took it to mean to Holyrood election where I do believe that the Lib Dems will get an electral kicking. Besides, if Clegg gets fed up fagging for Cameron the next election in Scotland could yet be the Westminster elections.

It is always easy to comment looking from the outside but the fact that Gus wasn't universally popular with the St Mirren fans is, to me, baffling. I know that any Thistle manager that gets us to the SPL and keeps us there for the length of time that MacPherson did would be having statues erected in his honour.

They lost Gordon to the SNP (it's Salmond's seat) at the last Holyrood election and there is no Holyrood seat of Dumfries and Galloway. Dumfries is held by Labour and Galloway & Upper Nithsdale by the tories.