Partick Thistle Season 1896-97

matches:first team: ← 95-961896-9797-98 →

Second Division Champions; the story of 1896-97 is published at PT Early Years

1896-97

The 22nd season of Partick Thistle F.C.

Matches

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1. Sat-15-Aug-1896 [a] (?-?) D2-2 Dumbarton (SFL Second Division - game 1)

2. Sat-22-Aug-1896 [h] (1-0) D2-2 Morton (SFL Second Division - game 2)

3. Sat-05-Sep-1896 [h] (1-0) W2-1 Renton (SFL Second Division - game 3)

4. Sat-12-Sep-1896 [h] (0-1) D1-1 Linthouse (Scottish Qualifying Cup 1st Round)

5. Sat-19-Sep-1896 [a] (5-0) W5-3 Linthouse (Scottish Qualifying Cup 1st Round replay)

6. Sat-26-Sep-1896 [h] (1-0) W2-0 Royal Albert (Scottish Qualifying Cup 2nd Round)

7. Sat-03-Oct-1896 [h] (3-0) W4-1 Cameronians (Glasgow Cup 1st Round)

8. Sat-10-Oct-1896 [h] (2-1) W4-3 Airdrieonians (SFL Second Division - game 4)

9. Sat-17-Oct-1896 [a] (1-3) L1-3 Linthouse (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final)

10. Sat-24-Oct-1896 [h] (4-0) W9-2 Newton Stewart (Scottish Qualifying Cup 3rd Round)

11. Sat-31-Oct-1896 [h] (2-0) W4-1 Cambuslang (Friendly)

12. Sat-07-Nov-1896 [h] (2-4) L2-5 Kilmarnock (Scottish Qualifying Cup 4th Round)

13. Sat-14-Nov-1896 [h] (1-0) W6-1 Dumbarton (SFL Second Division - game 5)

14. Sat-21-Nov-1896 [h] (1-1) W3-2 Linthouse (SFL Second Division - game 6)

15. Sat-28-Nov-1896 [a] (0-0) W2-1 Airdrieonians (SFL Second Division - game 7)

16. Sat-05-Dec-1896 [h] (2-0) W4-1 Port Glasgow Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 8)

17. Sat-12-Dec-1896 [a] (0-3) L1-3 Leith Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 9)

18. Sat-19-Dec-1896 [h] (0-0) W2-1 Vale of Leven (Friendly)

19. Sat-26-Dec-1896 [h] (4-1) W5-1 Cartvale (Friendly)

20. Sat-09-Jan-1897 [h] (1-3) L2-4 Rangers (Scottish Cup 1st Round)

21. Sat-16-Jan-1897 [a] (1-1) D2-2 Port Glasgow Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 10)

22. Sat-23-Jan-1897 [a] (2-0) W2-1 Renton (SFL Second Division - game 11)

23. Sat-13-Feb-1897 [a] (5-0) W6-0 Motherwell (SFL Second Division - game 12)

24. Sat-20-Feb-1897 [h] (2-1) W6-2 Motherwell (SFL Second Division - game 13)

25. Sat-27-Feb-1897 [a] (2-3) W5-3 Linthouse (SFL Second Division - game 14)

26. Sat-06-Mar-1897 [h] (3-1) W6-2 Airdrieonians (Friendly)

27. Sat-13-Mar-1897 [h] (1-0) W3-0 Renton (Friendly)

28. Sat-20-Mar-1897 [h] (2-0) W5-0 Leith Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 15)

29. Sat-27-Mar-1897 [a] (1-1) W3-1 Kilmarnock (SFL Second Division - game 16)

30. Sat-03-Apr-1897 [h] (0-0) D1-1 Linthouse (Friendly)

31. Sat-10-Apr-1897 [h] (2-2) D2-2 Third Lanark (Friendly)

32. Sat-17-Apr-1897 [h] (1-0) W2-0 Kilmarnock (SFL Second Division - game 17)

33. Sat-24-Apr-1897 [a] (2-0) W4-3 Morton (SFL Second Division - game 18)

34. Wed-28-Apr-1897 [h] (3-0) W4-3 Blackburn Rovers (Friendly)

35. Sat-01-May-1897 [h] (0-2) L3-4 Clyde (Friendly)

36. Thu-06-May-1897 [h] (1-0) W2-0 St Bernard's (Friendly)

37. Sat-08-May-1897 [a] (2-1) W2-1 Dundee (Friendly)

38. Fri-14-May-1897 [a] (0-1) D1-1 Arthurlie (Friendly)

1896-97 summary

P38 W26 D7 L5 (2.237 ppg) Historical PT average: 1.413 ppg (@ 20-Mar-2026) The points-per-game measurements (ppg) above are calculated from our all games criteria, based on 1 point for a draw and 3 points for a win across all eras. How does this season compare? The answers are at your fingertips via our 21 (sortable) results summary tables → Thistle finish as Scotland's 11th club out of 20 in the Leagues. At the end of 1896-97, the club's historical average finish improves to 14th. + League finish averages Table limited to the official 125 League seasons. The evolving strength of Aberdeen and Dundee United as well as the emergence of a plethora of strong new clubs vying for Top 12 places has gradually eroded Thistle's position in the Scottish game, pushing the club down around 2½ places in the pecking order since the mid 60s. sortable table headers

see also:

1896-97 (Reserves) →

1896-97 (Z-List) →

Squad Stats

Squad List 1896-97

sortable table headers

• Sorted by position then name. Page refreshes will return this order.
• Table is limited to the 27 players known to have featured in any competitive first-team match this season.
• Quoted ages are dated @ Sat-24-Apr-1897, the last competitive match of the season.
• Average age of the starting eleven this season was 24y, 3m, 13d. (per DB snapshot @ 18-Feb-2025)

SFL Second Division Table

notes

Relegated Dumbarton were the new participants. 2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw. Those finishing level on points were deemed equal in their table placing. Table per John Litster, data integrity verified by The Thistle Archive. Abbreviations (where necessary): XEL = Not re-elected; P = Elected to SFL First Division; XE = Failed SFL D1 election; RE = Re-elected. Linthouse were deducted 4 points. Highest scorers.

see also:

1896-97 (season overview) →

Results Summary: PTFC League →

Results Summary: PTFC League (home) →

Results Summary: PTFC League (away) →

Results Summary: League finish averages →

• The Thistle kit image for this season is © Historical Football Kits and is reproduced here by kind permission.