Jaggy Advent

[jagscast]

Hello there,

 

The Jagscast and the Jukebox Rebel have formed an alliance for the month of December to bring Jags fans an Advent Calender with a difference. Instead of getting a small bit of chocolate behind every window, we will bring you a match from that day in question that Thistle have played in, usually with a landmark involved in it. We thought this would be a way to freshen it up, rather than doing the generic "player a day" mode.

 

We hope you enjoy it and feel free to contribute with your memories from the game in question, it'd be wonderful to hear them.

 

Additionally we'll link all the days together in the opening post so you can simply click to the next one, and it'll also be available online at the Jagscast blog, which is available in my signature.

 

Happy Jaggy Advent!

 

1st December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__166469

2nd December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__166642

3rd December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__166832

4th December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__166967

5th December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__167097

6th December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__167157

7th December: http://www.wearethistle.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/8977-jaggy-advent/page__view__findpost__p__167275

8th December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__167359

9th December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__167464

10th December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__167572

11th December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__167648

12th December: http://www.wearethis...post__p__167740

Edited December 12, 2013 by jagscast

[jagscast]

Jaggy Advent

 

1st December

 

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TODAY'S GAME

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Sat-01-Dec-1979

Hibernian [a] L1-2

SFL Premier Division - game 16

venue: Easter Road

att: 20632

scorer(s): Alex O'Hara

 

GEORGE BEST'S EASTER ROAD DEBUT

 

The crowd at George Best's Easter Road debut ^ ^ ^

 

 

Build-up: This may seem like an unusual way to start a Jaggy Advent Calender but this was an unusual game. Hibs went into this game bottom of the league with 1 solitary win in their first 15 games, a victory that had come at the end of August against Dundee. However, towards the end of November, Hibs Chairman Tom Hart, received a tip off from the Edinburgh Evening News that George Best was available to sign. Discussions were had and Best was signed for Hibs on a “pay per play” deal worth around £2,000 per game. An expensive gamble from Hibs, but one that paid off instantly as Best scored on his debut in a 2-1 loss to St. Mirren. Thistle travelled through to Edinburgh from the heights of 4^th place, but in such a tight division they found themselves only 2 points ahead of 9^th place. The impact of the Best signing were evident when the team arrived in Edinburgh. The streets around Easter Road were mobbed with traffic and fans filled the pavements heading to the ground.

 

 

The Match: Thistle made two changes from the team who drew 1-1 with Dundee United the previous weekend, Ian Jardine and Ian McDonald came into the team with Jim Melrose dropping to the bench and Ian Gibson dropping out the side completely. George Best showed some magical touches early on spraying passes about and showing excellent control. Such skills were always going to lead to meaty challenges and McDonald was one who received such a ticking off. 10 minutes in and Hibs had a soft penalty. Callachan being nudged off the ball by Whittaker, giving Ally MacLeod the chance from the spot. He drove his penalty low and hard past Alan Rough giving Hibs the lead. This rejuvenated Thistle and they started to create chances. Park raced into the box but was unable to keep possession, Jardine crossed for McAdam to head just past, before Alex O’Hara missed a golden chance from a Brazil miskick, Ian Jardine setting the midfielder up. Thistle had a corner cleared off the line before an own goal doubled Hibernians lead. McNamara played a long high ball forward and, under no pressure from Hutchinson, Brian Whittaker tried to flick it back to Rough only to see it fly high into the net. Hibernian had the better of the rest of the half with Rough making a world class save from a George Best free kick. Into the second half and Hibernian continued to play well with Hutchinson heading close, while Best continued to weave his magic. In the 67^th minute Thistle got a golden opportunity when Alan Brazil handled the ball inside the box. Colin McAdam stepped up to the penalty but it was well saved by McArthur. Thistle did eventually score when O’Hara slotted home after a Melrose shot was blocked. There was to be no more scoring and Thistle lost their second away game in three.

 

Thistle Team: Rough, MacKinnon(Melrose 45), Whittaker, Campbell, Anderson, O’Hara, Park, Doyle, Jardine, McAdam, McDonald

 

 

The Aftermath: In the rush to get interviews with Best, Thistle’s manager Bertie Auld was totally ignored by pressmen, highly unusual since he was usually a pressman’s dream with some of his quotes. Thistle headed West disappointed to lose the game but with £8,500 of the gate receipts(These were the days of shared gates!), after a crowd of over 22,000 watched the game. Hibs would only go on to win another 4 games in the league all season, and were relegated with only 18 points. When Thistle returned to Easter Road in May under 1,500 watched as Alex O’Hara scored the only goal of the game to secure Thistle the points. Thistle’s season became average and they drew 6 of the next 9 league games. They eventually finished in 7^th only a point behind 4^th, and made it to the Quarter Finals of the Scottish Cup.

 

 

Other results on 1^st December:

 

 

Sat-01-Dec-2012 Dunfermline Athletic [h] L0-1 (Scottish Cup 4th Round)

venue: Firhill, att: 3197, scorer(s): -

Sat-01-Dec-2007 St Johnstone [h] D2-2 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Firhill, att: 2368, scorer(s): Scott Chaplain, Mark Roberts

Sat-01-Dec-2001 Ross County [h] D0-0 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 3589, scorer(s): -

Tue-01-Dec-1992 Dundee United [a] L1-2 (SFL Premier Division - game 20)

venue: Tannadice, att: 5241, scorer(s): Gerry Britton

Sat-01-Dec-1990 Forfar Athletic [h] W3-2 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 2900, scorer(s): David Elliot (3)

Mon-01-Dec-1986 Preston North End [a] L3-4 (Friendly)

venue: Deepdale, att: 1000, scorer(s): Jim Creaney, Eddie Gallagher (2)

Sat-01-Dec-1984 Ayr United [h] W2-0 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 1501, scorer(s): Kenny Watson (2)

Sat-01-Dec-1979 Hibernian [a] L1-2 (SFL Premier Division - game 16)

venue: Easter Road, att: 20632, scorer(s): Alex O'Hara

Wed-01-Dec-1971 Hibernian [h] L0-1 (SFL First Division - game 13)

venue: Firhill, att: 10000, scorer(s): -

Sat-01-Dec-1962 Airdrieonians [h] W3-0 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Firhill, att: 12000, scorer(s): Joe Hogan, Gordon Whitelaw, Billy Hainey

Sat-01-Dec-1956 Dunfermline Athletic [a] L1-2 (SFL First Division - game 10)

venue: East End Park, att: 7000, scorer(s): Alex Wright

Sat-01-Dec-1951 Celtic [a] L1-2 (SFL Division A - game 12)

venue: Celtic Park, att: 30000, scorer(s): Alex Stott

Sat-01-Dec-1945 Heart of Midlothian [a] L1-4 (Southern League, Division A - game 17)

venue: Tynecastle, att: 12000, scorer(s): Willie O'Donnell

Sat-01-Dec-1934 Falkirk [a] W2-1 (SFL First Division - game 18)

venue: Brockville, att: 4000, scorer(s): Willie Miller, Sandy McLennan

Sat-01-Dec-1928 St Mirren [h] L2-4 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Firhill, att: 10000, scorer(s): William Fraser, John Ballantyne

Sat-01-Dec-1923 Hibernian [h] W1-0 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 7000, scorer(s): John Ballantyne

Sat-01-Dec-1917 Third Lanark [a] W1-0 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Cathkin Park, att: 6000, scorer(s): Neil Harris

Tue-01-Dec-1914 Celtic [a] L1-2 (War Fund Shield Quarter Final replay)

venue: Celtic Park, att: 2000, scorer(s): Willie Whittle

Sat-01-Dec-1906 Celtic [a] L1-4 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Celtic Park, att: 8000, scorer(s): John Campbell

Sat-01-Dec-1900 Celtic [h] L2-6 (SFL First Division - game 13)

venue: Meadowside, att: 5000, scorer(s): Tom Hyslop, John Muirhead

Sat-01-Dec-1894 Abercorn [h] V4-4 (SFL Second Division - voided game)

venue: Inchview, att: 2500, scorer(s): William Hyndman, ?, ?, ?

Sat-01-Dec-1888 Clyde [h] W1-0 (Glasgow Cup Semi Final replay)

venue: Inchview, att: 6000, scorer(s): Bob Marshall

Sat-01-Dec-1883 Johnstone [a] L2-4 (Friendly)

venue: Cartbank Park, att: ?, scorer(s): ?, ?

 

 

 

Match details courtesy of the Evening Times and Glasgow Herald.

Edited December 17, 2013 by jagscast

[JeanieD]

Lucky white heather - they get an own goal and a penalty - we miss a penalty and get beat - remember it well - arrived very early and the place just kept filling and filling - was at the back of their old main stand and most of the fans about us were only there to see George - who ran the game but in truth was only marginally better than Jamie Doyle!.

 

Always liked George despite his many many difficulties and (perhaps) faults.

[jagscast]

Jaggy Advent

 

2nd December

 

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TODAY'S GAME

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Sat-02-Dec-1950

Celtic [h] L0-1

SFL Division A - game 11

venue: Firhill

att: 40000

scorer(s): -

 

 

LAST 40,000 CROWD AT FIRHILL

 

Build-up: Thistle went into this Glasgow derby having lost three of their previous four matches. Their only win in that run being an extraordinary 5-4 defeat of Hearts after Thistle keeper Tommy Ledgerwood got injured, was then forced onto the wing and scored a goal. Thistle were the very definition of a Jekyll and Hyde team in those opening 10 league matches of 1950/51, having won 5 and lost 5. Celtic came into the clash at Firhill in third position and hoping to push on in the league.

 

 

The Match: Few details are known about the match but the Glasgow Herald reports as follows “Even the most rabid Celtic supporter at Firhill Park must have sympathised with Ledgerwood when the ball was scrambled past him after he had for 80 minutes defied the Parkhead attack. In a phenomenal display of goalkeeping, which should have inspired his colleagues, he disposed of fast and tricky shots from all angles. Despite it’s one-sidedness the game was highly entertaining. On the frostbound pitch the pace seldom slackened, mainly because the Celtic wing halves, swift and sure in the tackle and persistant in attack, directed the ball into open positions; which simplified the forwards problem of acceleration. Thus the Parkhead forwards appeared to be surer-footed. They were certainly the more effective striking force with Collins and Weir(who scored) providing most of the excitmenet. Thistle’s only forward contributions were fleeting raids carrying no particular threat except when McKenzie or Walker had the ball. Apart from weakness at inside forward Thistle had shortcomings at wing-half. It was fortunate for the team that Forsyth, the backs, and the goalkeeper were in their most resolute form.”

 

Thistle Team: Ledgerwood, McGowan, Gibb, Davidson, Forsyth, Hewitt, McKenzie, McCallum, O’Donnell, Sharp, Walker

 

 

The Aftermath: Thistle bounced back from this defeat with wins against Airdrie and Third Lanark. Indeed Thistle would go on to lose only 4 of their remaining 19 league games as they finished 6^th in the league, one place above Celtic. Thistle’s journeys in the Scottish Cup and League Cup would end in disaster crashing out in the First Round and in the Group Stages respectively, but it was in the Glasgow Cup they would enjoy most success. Third Lanark and Rangers were both defeated, Rangers through the toss of a coin, as Thistle secured their place in the final. The final was drawn 1-1 with Celtic on the 25^th of September, but it would be until the 26^th March 1951, Easter Monday, before Thistle prevailed 3-2. Thistle’s crowd of 40,000 for the game focused on today was not the norm for us, indeed it was our first home crowd that big in 5 years. It was a Glasgow derby, and maybe Rangers fans inflated the crowd, hoping to see Celtic lose, that argument loses validity when you realise they were playing away to Clyde on the same day. Sadly the days of getting a crowd that size for a Thistle home game are long gone.

 

 

Other results on 2^nd December:

 

 

Sat-02-Dec-2006 Queen of the South [h] D1-1 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Firhill, att: 2533, scorer(s): Simon Donnelly

Sat-02-Dec-2000 Forfar Athletic [a] W1-0 (SFL Second Division - game 17)

venue: Station Park, att: 1052, scorer(s): Martin Hardie

Sat-02-Dec-1995 Aberdeen [h] W1-0 (SFL Premier Division - game 16)

venue: Firhill, att: 4286, scorer(s): Tom Smith

Sat-02-Dec-1989 Ayr United [h] L1-2 (SFL First Division - game 18)

venue: Firhill, att: 3592, scorer(s): David Craig

Sat-02-Dec-1972 Kilmarnock [a] W3-2 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Rugby Park, att: 3500, scorer(s): Denis McQuade, Joe Craig, Steve Chalmers

Sat-02-Dec-1967 Dundee [a] W4-3 (SFL First Division - game 13)

venue: Dens Park, att: 6000, scorer(s): Tommy Rae, Tommy Gibb, George O'Neill, John Flanagan

Sat-02-Dec-1961 Celtic [a] L1-5 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Celtic Park, att: 20000, scorer(s): Davie McParland

Mon-02-Dec-1957 Glasgow Select [h] W3-2 (Jimmy McGowan Testimonial)

venue: Firhill, att: ?, scorer(s): Andy Kerr (2), Davie McParland

Thu-02-Dec-1954 Derby County [a] W3-1 (Friendly)

venue: The Baseball Ground, att: ?, scorer(s): Bobby Howitt, Alex Wright (2)

Sat-02-Dec-1950 Celtic [h] L0-1 (SFL Division A - game 11)

venue: Firhill, att: 40000, scorer(s): -

Sat-02-Dec-1944 Dumbarton [h] L1-2 (Southern League - game 16)

venue: Firhill, att: 5000, scorer(s): Willie Sharp

Sat-02-Dec-1939 Ayr United [a] L0-7 (Regional League, Western Division - game 7)

venue: Somerset Park, att: ?, scorer(s): -

Sat-02-Dec-1933 Dundee [a] W2-1 (SFL First Division - game 19)

venue: Dens Park, att: 2000, scorer(s): Davie Ness, George Wyllie

Sat-02-Dec-1922 Heart of Midlothian [a] L0-3 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Tynecastle, att: 20000, scorer(s): -

Sat-02-Dec-1916 Ayr United [a] D0-0 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Somerset Park, att: 2000, scorer(s): -

Sat-02-Dec-1911 Airdrieonians [h] L1-2 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Firhill, att: 8000, scorer(s): George Elmore

Sat-02-Dec-1905 Hibernian [a] D1-1 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Easter Road, att: 4000, scorer(s): Robert Gray

Sat-02-Dec-1899 Hamilton Academical [h] W3-0 (SFL Second Division - game 13)

venue: Meadowside, att: 2000, scorer(s): David Proudfoot, William Freebairn, John Blackwood

Sat-02-Dec-1893 Clyde [h] L1-2 (Friendly)

venue: Inchview, att: 1500, scorer(s): William Freebairn

Sat-02-Dec-1882 Johnstone [a] W2-0 (Friendly)

venue: Cartbank Park, att: ?, scorer(s): ?, ?

 

 

Edited December 17, 2013 by jagscast

[jagscast]

Jaggy Advent

 

3rd December

 

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TODAY'S GAME

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Sat-03-Dec-1994

Hibernian [h] D2-2

SFL Premier Division - game 16

venue: Firhill

att: 6048

scorer(s): Wayne Foster, Isaac English

 

 

THE GRAND OPENING OF THE JACKIE HUSBAND STAND

 

The Jackie Husband Stand jam-packed with fans ^ ^ ^

 

Build-Up: The way Thistle fans have watched games at Firhill has changed dramatically since we first moved there in 1909. In the early days at Firhill, spectators would watch the match standing in uncovered terraces in rain or shine. It was during these days that the home record attendance for Thistle was set – 49.838 crammed in for a 1-0 league defeat to Rangers. In 1927 the Main Stand was constructed and the terraces improved allowing the ground records attendance of 54,728 to be set in a Home Championships Game between Scotland and Ireland. In 1954 a roof was inserted above the terracing to create the shed, before in 1977 the Safety of Sports Grounds Act meant Firhill’s capacity was halved to 20,500. The implications of the Taylor Report recommended that all major stadia comply to all seated and the Jackie Husband Stand was constructed in only 8 months. It was named after Jackie Husband, a centre half who played over 350 games for the club and spent, apart from a brief spell to manage Queen of the South, over 50 years at Thistle. King of the throw-in, He did all the jobs at Thistle from playing to coaching, being a physio to just organising the kit. Sadly he passed away in 1992, but the stand ensures his memory lives on.

 

The Match: Hibernian were the opponents as the Jackie Husband Stand was open for the first time. The game saw the debut of Nicky Walker and Wayne Foster, who had been involved in a swap deal with Craig Nelson and Willie Jamieson. Wayne Foster netted himself a debut goal in the first half, but the tables were turned in the second half when McGinlay and O’Neill gave Hibs the lead. It looked like they were going to take all three points from Firhill until Isaac English, in his last game for the Jags, came off the bench to grab a late equaliser giving Thistle the draw, but the game was a side issue after the opening of the Jackie Husband Stand. A new era in watching Thistle at home had begun.

 

 

The Aftermath: Since the Jackie Husband Stand was opened in 1994, both terraces behind the goal have been demolished. At the North End is the North Stand, built to comply with the 10,000 seater rule in the SPL, while at the South End is the infamous Bing. During the 2000s, with the Main Stand costing more to keep legal with health and safety requirements, the Jackie Husband stand has taken on more responsibilities. It hosts corporate hospitality, from the start of 2006/07, contains the Police Control Room and for a period it even had a Ladbrokes in the concourse. In the summer of 2012 the North Stand was opened for Thistle fans to use as their new shed, allowing Jags fans the choice of two stands to view a game in. As for the season 1994/95 Thistle finished in 8^th place in the Premier League.

 

 

Other games on 3rd December:

 

 

Sat-03-Dec-2011 Livingston [h] W2-1 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Firhill, att: 2026, scorer(s): Conrad Balatoni, o.g.

Sat-03-Dec-2005 Greenock Morton [a] L1-2 (SFL Second Division - game 16)

venue: Cappielow, att: 4209, scorer(s): Stephen McConalogue

Sat-03-Dec-1994 Hibernian [h] D2-2 (SFL Premier Division - game 16)

venue: Firhill, att: 6048, scorer(s): Wayne Foster, Isaac English

Tue-03-Dec-1991 Forfar Athletic [h] D1-1 (SFL First Division - game 22)

venue: Firhill, att: 1584, scorer(s): Isaac English

Sat-03-Dec-1988 Kilmarnock [h] L0-1 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 2424, scorer(s): -

Sat-03-Dec-1983 Brechin City [h] D2-2 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 2136, scorer(s): Kenny McDowall, John Buckley

Wed-03-Dec-1969 Airdrieonians [a] W3-2 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Broomfield, att: 3000, scorer(s): Jimmy Bone, John Flanagan (2)

Sat-03-Dec-1966 Heart of Midlothian [h] D1-1 (SFL First Division - game 13)

venue: Firhill, att: 4000, scorer(s): Tommy Rae

Mon-03-Dec-1962 Celtic [h] L1-3 (Glasgow Cup Semi Final)

venue: Firhill, att: 28500, scorer(s): Neil Duffy

Sat-03-Dec-1960 Raith Rovers [a] W3-1 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Starks Park, att: 2500, scorer(s): David Closs, Joe McBride, Davie McParland

Sat-03-Dec-1955 Motherwell [a] L1-3 (SFL First Division - game 12)

venue: Fir Park, att: 8000, scorer(s): Alex Wright

Sat-03-Dec-1949 Celtic [a] L0-1 (SFL Division A - game 12)

venue: Celtic Park, att: 25000, scorer(s): -

Sat-03-Dec-1938 Third Lanark [a] W4-2 (SFL First Division - game 19)

venue: Cathkin Park, att: 8000, scorer(s): James Douglas, Peter McKennan, Alex McSpadyen (2)

Sat-03-Dec-1932 Dundee [h] W4-0 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Firhill, att: 8000, scorer(s): Davie Ness, John Ballantyne, George Boardman, John Torbet

Sat-03-Dec-1927 St Mirren [h] W6-2 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 8000, scorer(s): Alex Lambie, Robert Grove, Willie Salisbury, James McDougall, Harry Gibson (2)

Sat-03-Dec-1921 Motherwell [h] L0-2 (SFL First Division - game 19)

venue: Firhill, att: 10000, scorer(s): -

Sat-03-Dec-1910 Raith Rovers [h] W3-0 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Firhill, att: 8000, scorer(s): George Elmore, William Gardner, Frank Branscombe

Sat-03-Dec-1904 Third Lanark [h] W3-2 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Meadowside, att: 7000, scorer(s): Sam Kennedy (2), David Walker

Sat-03-Dec-1898 Celtic [h] L3-8 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Meadowside, att: 5000, scorer(s): Willie Paul, James Lamb (2)

Sat-03-Dec-1887 Renfrew [h] L1-2 (Friendly)

venue: Inchview, att: ?, scorer(s): Jim Buchanan

Sat-03-Dec-1881 Queen's Park [a] L0-10 (Scottish Cup 5th Round)

venue: Hampden Park (1st), att: ?, scorer(s): -

Edited December 17, 2013 by jagscast

[Jaggernaut]

Enjoying this thread already.

[Willjag]

Surely there must be at least one date in December that sees us get a win!!!

[The Jukebox Rebel]

Happy 19th Birthday JHS!

 

 

 

Lots of love from all the family,

 

The Excellent Main Stand (aged 86)

The North Stand (aged 11)

The Bing (aged 7)

“The New Shed” (aged 1)

 

xxx

[The Jukebox Rebel]

Sadly, they can’t be here to share your day but they’re always here in spirit!

 

 

The South Terracing (died aged 96)

The North Terracing (died aged 91)

The East Terracing (died aged 84)

“The Shed” (died aged 39)

The Auld Main Stand (died aged 17)

 

xxx

[jagscast]

Jaggy Advent

 

4th December

 

===========

TODAY'S GAME

===========

Sat-04-Dec-1886

Cliftonville [a] W11-1

FA Cup 3rd Round

venue: ?

att: 3000

scorer(s): Bob Robertson, Bob Marshall, John Young, Willie Paul (4), A. Johnston, Jerry Suter (3)

 

 

SCOTS PROGRESS ON IRISH SOIL IN THE ENGLISH CUP

^ The Partick Thistle Football Club of 1880s vintage.

 

 

Build-up: Today’s post takes a trip back to the quaint old age of horse drawn carts, steam train rides, cloth caps, top hats and extravagant facial hair creations. Yep, we’re travelling away back to the Britain of the 19th century, and to the very early days of the burgeoning Association Football game. Queen’s Park were co-instigators of the “oldest football tournament in the world” and indeed had contributed to the purchase of the original FA Cup trophy. They were Scotland’s only participants up until 1885–86 when Partick Thistle and Third Lanark joined them. On 31st October 1885 Thistle created history with their very first game in the tournament. At Old Hampden Park, our match against Queen’s Park became the first ever English Cup game to be contested by two Scottish teams. This served as little consolation after our 5-1 loss! Next season, a record number of Scottish Clubs entered the 1886-87 tournament, seven in all, with Queen's Park, Rangers, Partick Thistle, Third Lanark, Heart of Midlothian, Cowlairs and Renton all representing the game North of the Border.

 

In the 1st Round, Thistle’s first English Cup victory was achieved on the 23rd October 1886 at “Hole-i'-th-Wall”, the home of Blackburn Olympic, with 2 goals from Willie Paul helping Jags to a handsome 3-1 victory in front of a 1,000 crowd. The poor gate meant that the trip to Lancashire had lost the club money, but the 2nd Round draw gave us a home tie with Fleetwood Rangers, and a healthy 3,000 at Inchview in late November pleased the treasurer. Another brace from the prolific Willie Paul inspired the Jags to an emphatic 7-0 thrashing of the Englishmen. This was the fifth game in a row in which Willie had scored – his move from wing back to centre forward was certainly paying dividends.

 

The interest in this FA Cup business was building all around Partick. This was an exciting new adventure for Partick Thistle. Where would the English Cup draw take us in the 3rd Round? BELFAST was the unexpected answer!

 

 

The Match: The Belfast Newsletter on Monday 6th December 1886 reported: “This match was played on Saturday on the Cliftonville ground, and was attended by an immense concourse of people. The weather during the afternoon was bitterly cold, and this fact, taken in conjunction with the soft condition of the ground surrounding the area occupied by players, it was thought, would have militated against the attendance; but not withstanding these considerations over three thousand spectators put in an appearance. The interest manifested throughout the match was of the keenest possible character, and the appreciation of the excellent form displayed by both clubs was enthusiastic and well deserved. The ground, owing to the recent rain, was in the worst possible condition, and its slippery state rendered play very difficult. Large pools of water covered the ground in several parts, and no small amount of merriment was occasioned by the frequent tussles for the leather which took place in these localities.”

 

Despite shooting uphill in the first half Thistle were 3-0 up at the break courtesy of two from Willie Paul and one from Jerry Suter, just before half time. It was all Thistle in the second half and we were 10-0 up with just a few minutes to go. Cliftonville only scored when our goalie, Andrew Duff, left his goal towards the end of the game, “tired of having nothing to do” according to the Glasgow Herald. The Belfast Newsletter reports: “A short period before the call of time Baxter scored a goal for Cliftonville amidst great cheering. Almost immediately afterwards Suter sent the ball through the Cliftonville posts, thus making eleven goals for the Scotch team. At the call of time the score was – Partick Thistle 11; Cliftonville 1.”

 

This was a match of many firsts. Willie Paul’s haul of four allayed with Jerry Suter’s three represents the first reported instance of two Thistle players having bagged a hat trick in the same match. To this day, the game stands as the only time that a Scottish side have played an FA Cup match in Ireland. The 11-1 victory stands as Cliftonville’s record loss.

 

Thistle Team: A. Duff, J. Hendry, W. McLean, R. Robertson, A. Milliken, B. Marshall, J. Young, W. Paul, J. Marshall, A. Johnstone, J. Suter

 

 

The Aftermath: Cliftonville proved to be warm hosts and the Thistle party were entertained in the Queen’s Hotel after the match. No doubt the craic was grand. Thistle received a 4th Round bye and all of a sudden we found ourselves in the 5th Round of the FA Cup – the last 16. A long and expensive round trip to London was not what the treasurer wanted but that’s what he got – an away game against Old Westminsters. We considered scratching the tie which would have been a first for Partick Thistle. On nine occasions we have benefitted from others scratching (conceding) but have never done so ourselves. Thankfully, after some diplomatic negotiations, it was resolved that the match would be played at the Oval, a neutral venue away from Old Westminsters home ground in Leyton, allowing for a bigger crowd and a worthwhile gate to aid Thistle with their costs. 3,000 turned up for the game in late January 1887, but still Thistle’s share of the gate did not cover the travelling expenses. To boot, a late goal in a fast and exciting game broke Thistle hearts, so ending our short but thrilling love affair with the FA Cup. However, Partick Thistle's reputation had been boosted far and wide, all over the British Isles, and, as a result, the club continued to grow in stature. Already, our days of public park football were well and truly in the distant past.

 

This was to be the last season that SFA member clubs would take part in the FA Cup. A Hampden pitch invasion at this seasons 3rd Round tie between Queen’s Park and Preston North End was the catalyst but, in truth, the fundamental moral differences between amateurism and professionalism were closer to the heart of the matter when the SFA issued a terse statement on the 10th May 1887, which stated “that clubs belonging to this Association shall not be members of any other National Association”, a ruling which still exists to this day.

 

Other results on 4th December:

 

 

Thu-04-Dec-2003 Celtic [h] L0-2 (League Cup 3rd Round)

venue: Firhill, att: 5700, scorer(s): -

Wed-04-Dec-2002 Dundee [a] L1-4 (Scottish Premier League - game 18)

venue: Dens Park, att: 5363, scorer(s): Gerry Britton

Sat-04-Dec-1999 Ross County [a] L1-2 (SFL Second Division - game 17)

venue: Victoria Park, att: 2392, scorer(s): Quinton Jacobs

Sat-04-Dec-1993 Dundee [h] W3-2 (SFL Premier Division - game 21)

venue: Firhill, att: 3595, scorer(s): Albert Craig (2), Alex Taylor

Sat-04-Dec-1982 Hamilton Academical [h] D1-1 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 1892, scorer(s): Donald Park

Sat-04-Dec-1971 East Fife [a] W3-1 (SFL First Division - game 14)

venue: Bayview Park, att: 3892, scorer(s): Alex Rae, Tommy Rae (2)

Sat-04-Dec-1954 Stirling Albion [h] D3-3 (SFL Division A - game 13)

venue: Firhill, att: 8000, scorer(s): Willie Sharp, George Smith, Bobby Howitt

Sat-04-Dec-1948 Celtic [h] L1-2 (SFL Division A - game 13)

venue: Firhill, att: 33000, scorer(s): Willie Sharp

Sat-04-Dec-1943 Hamilton Academical [a] L1-3 (Southern League - game 16)

venue: Douglas Park, att: 3000, scorer(s): William Newall

Sat-04-Dec-1937 Hibernian [h] W4-0 (SFL First Division - game 19)

venue: Firhill, att: 7000, scorer(s): Peter McKennan (3), John Wallace

Sat-04-Dec-1926 St Mirren [h] W5-2 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 12000, scorer(s): Jimmy Gibson, Davie Ness, William Fraser, John Torbet (2)

Sat-04-Dec-1920 Dumbarton [a] W1-0 (SFL First Division - game 20)

venue: Boghead, att: 4000, scorer(s): Jimmy McMullan

Sat-04-Dec-1915 Dundee [h] W2-0 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Firhill, att: 3000, scorer(s): Willie Whittle (2)

Sat-04-Dec-1909 Hamilton Academical [h] A0-0 (SFL First Division - abandoned game)

venue: Firhill, att: 6000, scorer(s): -

Sat-04-Dec-1897 St Bernard's [a] L1-9 (SFL First Division - game 12)

venue: New Logie Green, att: 3000, scorer(s): John Ferguson

Sat-04-Dec-1886 Cliftonville [a] W11-1 (FA Cup 3rd Round)

venue: ?, att: 3000, scorer(s): Bob Robertson, Bob Marshall, John Young, Willie Paul (4), A. Johnston, Jerry Suter (3)

Sat-04-Dec-1880 Govan [a] L0-2 (Friendly)

venue: Moore Park, att: ?, scorer(s): -

 

Edited December 17, 2013 by jagscast

[The Earl of Hathaway]

11-1 victories against Cliftonville AND at Clifonhill...

[Paulo]

Great thread. Loving it, thanks for taking the time to do this.

[Willjag]

Yay, a win!!! Good work guys.

[yoda-jag]

Great thread. Loving it, thanks for taking the time to do this.

 

Echo this

 

 

Cliftonville only scored when our goalie, Andrew Duff, left his goal towards the end of the game, “tired of having nothing to do”

 

[The Sunnylaw Jag]

I have linked to Willie Paul's Wiki page as he had an interesting international career ; 3 games 5 goals. His Jags stats are not too bad either. Looking at his death date that also has a Jags link, 60 years to the day before the League Cup win. Sad that he died at the age of 42.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Paul_(footballer)

[The Jukebox Rebel]

 

The great Willie Paul, scorer of (at least) 188 goals for Partick Thistle!

[jagscast]

11-1 victories against Cliftonville AND at Clifonhill...

 

The 11-1 against Albion Rovers was at Fir Park. Not quite the poetry you were looking for I'm afraid

[Veejag]

Sorry Earl of Hathaway, but wasn't the Albion Rovers game played at Fir Park?

[Veejag]

Oops!

[jagscast]

Jaggy Advent

 

5th December

 

===========

TODAY'S GAME

===========

Sat-05-Dec-1998

Arbroath [a] W2-1

Scottish Cup 1st Round

venue: Gayfield Park

att: 1333

scorer(s): Paul Tosh, Robert Dunn

 

 

THE HEROES OF ARBROATH

 

^ ^ Kenny Arthur, the goalkeeping hero of Arbroath

 

Build-Up: Jags fans who were amongst the 8,426 crowd at Love Street on Tuesday 31st January 1989 witnessed a virtuoso performance from Chic Charnley and, indeed, a magnificent team performance on the whole, as Thistle defied the odds and ran out deserved 3-1 winners in a Third Round replay against our Premier League opponents. Had you told me that magical night that Thistle would not win another Scottish Cup tie for ten years I’d have laughed you out of town and dismissed you as a loon. Yet that is exactly what happened… We lost at Tynecastle in the next round, and that defeat sparked our all-time worst Scottish Cup streak of ten consecutive lost ties.

Our 1990s troubles weren’t confined to tales of woe in the Scottish Cup, however. Partick Thistle Football Club Limited were also on the ropes off the park, on the verge of financial ruin, and Robert Reid has subsequently revealed that, genuinely, we were on the absolute brink of being unable to fulfil fixtures in November 1997. Thanks to the sterling efforts of Robert, Michael Max, Allan Cowan, Bobby Briggs and hundreds of Thistle fans via “Save The Jags” the unthinkable remained as an imaginary concept.

 

It was a grim period though, probably best diagnosed as “Post-Tannadice-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder”. After 107 years of playing national League football, Thistle sunk to their all-time lowest position at the end of season 1998-99, finishing 28th in Scotland’s football pecking order. Our lowly status at this time saw us having to face up to the ignominious prospect of a First Round Scottish Cup draw in November alongside, amongst others, a bunch of strolling Civil Servants, a bloke called Keith and some Welfare chancers from Whitehill. There were four ties drawn and twenty byes given. Thistle were not one of the clubs to receive a bye. Obviously. When you’re down on your luck you get no luck. We were sent to Arbroath for our troubles. A dour prospect on paper, it actually turned out to be one of the most legendary games in our modern day Scottish Cup story…

 

The Match: For connoisseurs of good old fashioned “blood n snotters” cup football in the raw, freezing cold Gayfield Park was the place to be on the 5th December 1998. The Red Lichties were up for it from the word go, but it was Paul Tosh (on loan from Hibs) who fired home an early opener for Thistle in 8 minutes. Half an hour later, a bizarre bit of refereeing by Bobby Orr completely changed the complexion of the game. He disallowed an Arbroath goal on the grounds that David Kennedy had tugged on the jersey of the Arbroath scorer. The hapless Orr decided that it would be a better idea to award Arbroath a penalty instead, and sent our man off, effectively punishing both teams for what had been an innocuous bit of something and nothing in the first place. Arbroath weren’t complaining a minute later though - they duly converted their penalty and could now play for an hour against ten men (or at least that’s what we all thought at the time). The Jags fans (who were in the majority of the 1,333 crowd) went mental when Robert Dunn headed us back in the lead just before half time. There’s nothing quite like the bond between fans and a battling, ten man team giving their all. Yer man Orr seemed to have it in for Thistle from thereon though. Although there was hardly a bad tackle in the match we were reduced to nine men when Des McKeown was sent off on the hour mark, and then Jamie McKenzie saw red near the end, leaving Thistle to battle out the remaining minutes with eight men on the park. A scandalous refereeing performance. For Orr to have beaten us he would have needed to send Kenny Arthur off and reduce us to seven. Our Number One was a shot stopping miracle man in his prime, and this was the day that the boy became the man, most especially in the crazy last five minutes when Arbroath seemed to be camped in our box. Archie was another hero that day but, if truth be told, it was the whole team that made you proud to be a Jag. It was a momentous palaver and a half, but our eight men held out stoutly and heroically for a famous 2-1 win, much to the delight of the travelling rid n yell army, many of whom were on the pitch to celebrate at the end. Bobby Orr crapped his load and was off like a shot down the tunnel! 9 years, 10 months and 4 days after our Fourth Round Tynecastle defeat of 1989 we had FINALLY put a stop to the Scottish Cup rot that had set in.

 

Thistle Team: Arthur, Kennedy, McKeown, Jamieson, Archibald, Gaughan, Cornell, McKenzie, Tosh, Dunn(Flannigan), McDonald

 

 

The Aftermath: The victory marked the first time that we’d won a Scottish Cup tie without the need for a replay in 18 years, 9 months, 19 days. You had to go away back to the Fourth Round 3-1 win at Palmerston Park in February 1980 to find the last time that we’d done such a thing – a shameful record. The landmark win also ensured that, by the hair of our chin, we avoided the embarrassment of going the full ten years without a Scottish Cup win. With regards to the Scottish Cup of this season Cowdenbeath(one of the teams to have previously defeated us in the 90s) were drawn out the hat. A Paul Tosh hat-trick and Robert Dunn double fired us to a 5-2 win over the Fifers. It was another team from Fife, this time Premier League Dunfermline Athletic, who visited Firhill for the Third Round of the Cup. A pair of Andy Smith headers gave Dunfermline a 2-0 lead, but a Robert Dunn penalty brought Thistle back into the tie. There would be no leveller though and Thistle crashed out. Thistle, as is usually the case, followed up our most barren Scottish Cup decade by reaching the Quarter Finals 6 times in the 2000s

 

Highlights of the Dunfermline game are below:

 

 

 

Other results on 5th December:

 

 

 

Sat-05-Dec-2009 Dundee [h] L0-2 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Firhill, att: 4453, scorer(s): -

Sat-05-Dec-1998 Arbroath [a] W2-1 (Scottish Cup 1st Round)

venue: Gayfield Park, att: 1333, scorer(s): Paul Tosh, Robert Dunn

Sat-05-Dec-1992 Celtic [h] L2-3 (SFL Premier Division - game 21)

venue: Firhill, att: 13812, scorer(s): Ray Farningham (2)

Sat-05-Dec-1987 Airdrieonians [h] W2-0 (SFL First Division - game 24)

venue: Firhill, att: 2501, scorer(s): Eddie Gallagher, John Mitchell

Sat-05-Dec-1981 St Mirren [a] L1-2 (SFL Premier Division - game 15)

venue: Love Street, att: 4513, scorer(s): Donald Park

Sat-05-Dec-1970 Arbroath [a] W2-0 (SFL Second Division - game 15)

venue: Gayfield Park, att: 2313, scorer(s): Denis McQuade, Ronnie Glavin (pen)

Sat-05-Dec-1964 St Mirren [a] L1-4 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Love Street, att: 1500, scorer(s): Billy Cunningham

Sat-05-Dec-1959 Ayr United [a] L1-4 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Somerset Park, att: 7500, scorer(s): W. Simpson

Sat-05-Dec-1953 East Fife [a] L1-4 (SFL Division A - game 11)

venue: Bayview Park, att: 7000, scorer(s): John McIntosh

Sat-05-Dec-1942 Dumbarton [a] L1-4 (Southern League - game 17)

venue: Boghead, att: 2500, scorer(s): William Peat

Sat-05-Dec-1936 St Mirren [a] W3-1 (SFL First Division - game 19)

venue: Love Street, att: 4000, scorer(s): John McMenemy (2), Alex McSpadyen

Sat-05-Dec-1931 Cowdenbeath [a] L0-2 (SFL First Division - game 20)

venue: Central Park, att: 2000, scorer(s): -

Sat-05-Dec-1925 Dundee United [a] L0-1 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Tannadice, att: 4500, scorer(s): -

Sat-05-Dec-1914 Dumbarton [a] W2-0 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Boghead, att: 3000, scorer(s): Frank Branscombe, Willie Whittle

Sat-05-Dec-1908 St Mirren [h] L2-3 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Love Street, att: 2000, scorer(s): Fred Robertson (2)

Sat-05-Dec-1903 Queen's Park [h] W2-0 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Meadowside, att: 5000, scorer(s): John Wilkie, John Proudfoot

Sat-05-Dec-1896 Port Glasgow Athletic [h] W4-1 (SFL Second Division - game 8)

venue: Inchview, att: 3000, scorer(s): John Proudfoot (3), William Lawson

Sat-05-Dec-1891 Port Glasgow Athletic [h] W2-1 (Scottish Alliance - game 10)

venue: Inchview, att: 800, scorer(s): John Gilchrist, J. Bennett

Sat-05-Dec-1885 Clyde [a] D1-1 (Friendly)

venue: Barrowfield Park, att: ?, scorer(s): Bob Robertson

 

 

Apologies for the lateness in today's entry. Jagscast Towers suffered a slight power cut this morning!

Edited December 17, 2013 by jagscast

[jaggy]

Brilliant stuff so far, thanks guys

[jagscast]

Jaggy Advent

 

6th December

 

===========

TODAY'S GAME

===========

Sat-06-Dec-1975

Hamilton Academical [h] W2-0

SFL First Division - game 15

venue: Firhill

att: 4000

scorer(s): Joe Craig, Dougie Somner

 

 

THE CHASE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP

 

The Thistle Squad of 1975-76 ^ ^ ^

 

Build-Up: Thistle are currently in our 81^st season of top flight football in Scotland, but today's post takes us back to 1975/76 where Thistle were involved in the second tier. It was exceedingly rare for Thistle, at this period, to spend time outside the top division in Scotland, indeed since World War 2 we had only spent 1 season outside it. That was in 1970/71 where Thistle bounced back instantly after suffering the embarrassment of relegation, but this time Thistle had not been relegated. Scottish football had undertaken a league reconstruction. In 1974/75 the solution to Scottish footballs problems had been decided to create a 10 team top division. The top 10 clubs in 1974/75 would be retained in this new elite division, while the bottom 8 would be incorporated into a 14 team second tier. Thistle spent the season slightly off the pace as we tried to secure one of the valuable top 10 places, always seeming to just be 2 points behind 10^th. It wasn't until the second last game of the season, a 0-0 draw with St. Johnstone, confirmed that Thistle wouldn't be playing Premier League football in 1975/76.

 

Thistle’s relegation into the First Division was interesting to say the least. In today's football, when a club gets relegated there is a mass exodus of players with those who’s wages are too high, and those who believe themselves to be better than that level, usually leaving the squad. In 1975/76 there was little of this. Players such as Rough, Anderson, McQuade. Somner, Craig, Campbell and Houston stayed at Firhill to try and put Thistle back to the top of Scottish football.

 

 

The Match: Thistle had made a strong start to the season with 7 wins in our first 8 games before Airdrie came to Firhill and ground out a 1-0 win. A couple of draws passed before a defeat in Montrose had Thistle in second with clubs closing in below. When Hamilton visited on 6^th December, Thistle had galvanised together and they with Kilmarnock, who were leading the division, had a gap at the top of the league. Jackie Campbell missed the game with a “very nasty leg gash” and Benny Rooney took his place. Hamilton came to Firhill having had one away win all season and never threatened to make it a second. Thistle, wearing Red and Yellow stripes for the first season, cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory. Joe Craig opened the scoring to take his tally for the season to 13, however Dougie Somner was not to be out done and scored for the third home match in a row, forcing his total up to 15. The partnership of Craig and Somner would score 50 goals over the whole season. A remarkable partnership. This result, combined with Kilmarnock’s 0-0 draw with St. Mirren , ensured Thistle increased the gap over the teams below them, whilst narrowing the gap to league leaders Kilmarnock, who were due at Firhill in the following month.

 

Thistle Team: Rough, J. Hansen, Kellachan, Rooney, A. Hansen, Anderson, Houston, Somner, Joe Craig, John Craig, McQuade

 

The Aftermath: By the time Kilmarnock visited Firhill on 3^rd January 1976, Thistle had overtaken them at the summit of the league. Goals from Benny Rooney and Joe Craig fired Thistle to a 2-0 win and gave us a 3 point cushion at the top with only 6 games remaining. Thistle won the league, having remained unbeaten since that defeat away to Montrose, on the 21^st February with a 3-0 away win over Dunfermline. Joe Craig scored twice and Dougie Somner got one leaving them tied at 13 league goals apiece going into the final game against Montrose. A Somner hat-trick ensured he won the battle between the strikers for top league scorer. Joe Craig also grabbed a goal and this was the last league game where Craig and Somner would both score in as Craig left Firhill, for Celtic, in September 1976.

 

Hold on. A league win in February? Surely not. The restructuring of the Leagues meant there were fourteen teams in the First Division, playing each other twice. This provided a total of only 26 fixtures, a disaster for the money men at Firhill as gate revenue would have dried up in February. Faced with this dilemma, the S.F.A. created the Spring Cup to help fill the gap that having 26 fixtures presented. It was a bit of a disaster. The tournament seemed to create only a minimal interest amongst players and fans. Thistle got through a section comprising of Forfar Athletic, St. Mirren and Meadowbank Thistle. Dougie Somner’s destruction of Forfar, scoring 4 goals, provided to be the highlight of this tournament. Thistle crashed out in the Quarter Finals when, after beating East Fife 1-0 at Firhill we lost 2-0 at Bayview. In truth, no-one was heartbroken. This would be the only season the Spring Cup was competed for. In May 1976 Albion Rovers forwarded a motion to include a third round of fixture games, bringing the season to a total of 39 games. It was overwhelmingly backed and was brought into force for 1976/77. Thistle’s season was a success overall. A title win ensuring that Thistle would be spending our Centenary Year in the Premier League.

 

Other results on 6th December:

 

 

 

Sat-06-Dec-1997 Falkirk [a] W1-0 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Brockville, att: 2667, scorer(s): Andy Lyons

Sat-06-Dec-1986 Dumbarton [h] L0-2 (SFL First Division - game 23)

venue: Firhill, att: 2384, scorer(s): -

Sat-06-Dec-1980 Celtic [h] L0-1 (SFL Premier Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 12436, scorer(s): -

Sat-06-Dec-1975 Hamilton Academical [h] W2-0 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Firhill, att: 4000, scorer(s): Joe Craig, Dougie Somner

Sat-06-Dec-1958 St Mirren [h] W3-1 (SFL First Division - game 15)

venue: Firhill, att: 6000, scorer(s): Alex Wright, Davie Mathers, Andy Kerr

Sat-06-Dec-1952 Dundee [a] L0-6 (SFL Division A - game 12)

venue: Dens Park, att: 15500, scorer(s): -

Sat-06-Dec-1947 Hibernian [h] D1-1 (SFL Division A - game 14)

venue: Firhill, att: 28000, scorer(s): Tom Wright

Sat-06-Dec-1941 Heart of Midlothian [h] W2-1 (Southern League - game 18)

venue: Firhill, att: 6000, scorer(s): William Newall (2)

Sat-06-Dec-1930 Heart of Midlothian [h] W2-1 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Firhill, att: 25000, scorer(s): Davie Ness, John Torbet

Sat-06-Dec-1924 Morton [h] D2-2 (SFL First Division - game 18)

venue: Firhill, att: 10000, scorer(s): Jimmy Kinloch, Robert Grove

Tue-06-Dec-1921 Rangers [h] L0-3 (Lord Provost's Rent Relief Fund Cup Semi Final)

venue: Firhill, att: 10000, scorer(s): -

Sat-06-Dec-1919 Heart of Midlothian [a] L1-3 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Tynecastle, att: 12000, scorer(s): Neil Harris

Sat-06-Dec-1913 Hamilton Academical [a] L1-2 (SFL First Division - game 17)

venue: Douglas Park, att: 4000, scorer(s): John Hynd

Sat-06-Dec-1902 Celtic [h] D0-0 (SFL First Division - game 16)

venue: Meadowside, att: 8000, scorer(s): -

Sat-06-Dec-1890 Glasgow Thistle [a] L0-1 (Friendly)

venue: Beechwood Park, att: ?, scorer(s): -

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2013 by jagscast

[Willjag]

From the time I started attending games regularly, that has been my favourite Jags side. Last season came close, but when you consider the attacking options we had in that side, they were way out ahead and more than held their own the following season in the 10 team top division.

 

Best thread for a long time!

[Garscube Road End]

That was some team!! Attended every match as a teenager those days and it was wonderful. thought it was going to be like this all the time. Time isn't kind!!

[lady-isobel-barnett]

From the time I started attending games regularly, that has been my favourite Jags side. Last season came close, but when you consider the attacking options we had in that side, they were way out ahead and more than held their own the following season in the 10 team top division.

 

Best thread for a long time!

 

A great side. Couldn't get to see as many games as I'd have liked but the if the ones I was at were typical it was one of if not the best seasons..

 

Gotta agree this is an excellent thread. Hope it's not copyrighted as I'll be doing a fair bit of copy & paste.