Thistle History Research Thread

[lady-isobel-barnett]

I wonder if there will ever be an equivalent for, say, 2001 to 2050.

 

Some of us sadly may not be around to find out.

 

However according to my spiritual beliefs I will be reincarnated as Marjory a giant barnacle goose, some six foot from tip of beak to tail feather. Whether anserine evolution will have reached the stage where I'll be able to decipher such a volume of work remains in serious doubt. We all have limitations. All I can advise our younger posters is just to watch this space.

[The Jukebox Rebel]

I'm not holding out a lot of hope for Marjory it has to be said. A 150th Anniversary edition in 2026 sounds like a better plan to me.

 

 

Help required for an upcoming pens report...

 

Who scored Thistle's second half penalty here?

 

26.03.1983 Ayr United [h] W3-1 (SFL First Division - game 31)

Thistle scorers: Kenny Watson (1-0, 29 mins); Kenny McDowall (2-0, 44 mins); Kenny Watson or Maurice Johnston (pen 2nd half)

Ayr scorer: Brian Ahern (pen, 2nd half)

 

The suggestion from the OH would be that Kenny Watson got the 2nd half penalty, but Monday's GH (without an actual report) says Maurice Johnston.

 

Anyone with any further knowledge / reports on the second half story?

 

Hoping the definitive answer may lie in the following week's programme:

02.04.1983 St Johnstone [h] W2-1 (SFL First Division - game 32)

[The Jukebox Rebel]

Thanks to his exhaustive mining of press archives, three more games have been dug up by AF Kincaid. In typical Thistle fashion, we win the two hard ones and lose the easy one!

 

 

17.08.1910 Third Lanark [h] W2-1 (Friendly)

Venue: Firhill

Kick-off: Evening

Att: ?

Partick Thistle: Willie Howden; Thomas Dunsmore; Willie Bulloch; Robert Wilson; Alec Raisbeck; William McDonald [ii]; James Steel; John King; William Allan; William Gardner; Frank Branscombe

Third Lanark: Brownlie; Simpson; Orr; Fairfoull; Ferguson; Mainds; Rankine; Whyte; Richardson; Hall; Lambie

Referee: ?

“Firhill Park, Glasgow, was opened for the season last night, when Partick Thistle and Third Lanark met in a friendly game. Both teams had out strong elevens. In the first half the game was very evenly contested, there being not much to choose between the teams. The Thistle left wing had a fine run, and Allan sent in a fine shot, which Brownlie managed to punch clear. Good forcing work by the Thirds halves enabled the “Warriors” to force two corners, which were successfully cleared. Richardson next burst through, but Dunsmuir managed to catch him, and blocked the centre’s shot. Play for a time took place in the vicinity of Brownlie, and Gardner missed a good chance when he shot past with a clear goal in front of him. The Thistle were awarded a penalty, but Brownlie saved magnificently from Branscombe. At half-time there was no scoring. Soon after resuming, Prentice sent in a fine shot, which Howden fell in saving, but Richardson sent the ball past with Howden out of his goal. The Thistle returned to the attack, and a fine centre from Branscombe enabled Gardner to open the scoring. The home men kept up the attack, and were rewarded with a second goal, Allan clean beating Brownlie from close quarters. Allan almost got a third goal, his shot striking the cross-bar and rebounding out. From this point Third Lanark monopolised play. But their efforts went for nothing through weak shooting. In the last minute, however, Whyte managed to beat Howden, the game ending:– Partick Thistle, two; Third Lanark, one.” ~ The Scotsman, Thursday, 18th August 1910

 

 

11.11.1916 Scottish Junior League Select [h] L1-3 (War Hospital Fund Benefit)

Venue: Firhill

Kick-off: ?

Att: 3,000

Partick Thistle: James Ferguson [ii]; Harry Loney; Joe Harris; T. Scott; James Gardiner; John Durnin; Muir Honeyman; George Ramsay; Neil Harris; William Leitch; Patrick Morgan

Scottish Junior League Select: Patrick (Kilsyth Rangers); Primrose (Burnbank Athletic); Haldane (St Mirren Juniors); Lees (Renfrew Juniors); Henderson (Burnbank Athletic); Anderson (Croy Celtic); Shields (St Mirren Juniors); Clockey (Kilsyth Emmet); Barr (Yoker Athletic); Wilkie (Yoker); Stewart (Bedlay Juniors)

Referee: ?

“Partick Thistle having no League game for Saturday play a strong Scottish Junior League eleven at Firhill in aid of Lord Provost Dunlop's Glasgow Royal Infirmary fund. Hamilton Academicals are also without a points fixture.” ~ Daily Record, Wednesday, 8th November 1916

“Partick Thistle played a Scottish Junior Select at Firhill on behalf of charity. Right from the start it was apparent Partick had no intention of treating their opponents seriously, with the result that all the good play was served up by the Juniors. Harris made few attempts to keep his front line going, and with the inside players playing in fancy fashion the Juniors defence was not severely tested. A goal to the Juniors was looked for before any improvement could be expected in the Thistle’s play. The goal came all right, Wilkie getting the honour after Ferguson had partially saved, but the expected improvement in Partick’s play was not forthcoming. Primrose and Lees gave Morgan and Leitch little or no rope and Honeyman was well held by Anderson. Harris was looked to for thrills, but nary a shot he could get in. A second goal fell to the Juniors, Wilkie again being the marksman off a splendidly taken corner by Shields. Partick opened the second half in a fashion which suggested a speedy wiping of arrears, and Harris had a great shot which shook the bar, Ramsay having the same experience later. The Juniors, with a two goal lead, had every confidence and successfully blotted out the temporary pressure, getting on the offence and giving Ferguson quite a busy time. Thistle at last obtained a point, but the honour could hardly be place to their credit, Primrose, the best back on the field, putting the ball through his own net in attempting to clear. Then Harris failed with a penalty, taken in a non-scoring fashion. The Juniors’ defence continued to hold up the Thistle attack, their forwards making fine efforts to get further ahead and succeeded, Wilkie completing his hat-trick by again beating Ferguson all the way. The Juniors defence was splendid, and their forwards to a man worked for their goals in fine style.” ~ The Sunday Post, Sunday, 12th November 1916

 

historians note: "Loney" & "Scott" are listed as guests from Denny, these register as one-off PTFC appearances for both men. A bit of digging has revealed this to be Harry Loney and T. Scott of Denny Hibs. This gives another pair of brothers in the Thistle story, with the veteran Willie Loney having played with Thistle in 1914-15.

 

 

 

12.05.1953 Heart of Midlothian [n] W3-1 (Hospitals Fundraiser)

Venue: The Rec, Pitlochry

Kick-off: Evening

Att: 1,500

Partick Thistle: Tommy Ledgerwood; Jimmy McGowan; Bobby Gibb; Willie Crawford; Jimmy Davidson; Davie Mathers; Johnny MacKenzie; Alex Wright; Alex Stott; Willie Sharp; Joe McInnes

Heart of Midlothian: Watters; Adie, MacKenzie; Laing, Milne, Armstrong; Fraser, Bauld, Newman, Wardhaugh, Newman

Referee: D. McKerchar (Stanley)

“FOOTBALL TREAT FOR PITLOCHRY. A crowd of 1500 last night watched the first game ever to be played in Pitlochry between two First League teams. The match was arranged by Vale of Atholl FC in aid of local hospitals. The teams gave a grand exhibition. Hearts kicked off against a slight breeze, but Thistle were the first to press, Wright striking the bar from close in. Watters was cheered for a double save from McInnes and Wright. Stott scored for Partick in 20 minutes from a goalmouth scramble. Ten minutes later Bauld headed the equaliser. Partick regained the lead through McKenzie. In the second half Hearts did the bulk of the pressing, and made strong efforts to draw level. In a breakaway Stott shot past when clean through. Wright had Partick’s third goal.” ~ Dundee Courier, Wednesday, 13th May 1953

 

historians note: The legendary Alex Stott scores on his last-ever game for the club.