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| A Parting Gift For Willie Freebairn |
by William Sheridan
The tree, the fish, the bird and the bell have symbolically represented the people of Glasgow via the the city's coat of arms since the 19th century. For the Freebairn family in 1900, these symbols may well have struck a chord on a far more personal level, as this story will tell.
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| ● Willie Freebairn's Glasgow Cup medal, 1900. |
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| ● Willie Freebairn at Leicester, 1896. |
As the riddle of St Mungo has it:
Here is the tree that never grew
Here is the bird that never flew
Here is the fish that never swam
Here is the bell that never rang
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| ● Thistle's Freebairn brothers; Archie, David & William. |
A BITTERSWEET MOMENT
In June 2024, we were delighted to receive an e-mail from Nancy, the great-granddaughter of David Freebairn. With no previous photographs of our 19th century Jag, it was a real privilege to meet him at long last. David was one of three Freebairn brothers to play for Partick Thistle, and the resemblance is clear to see, handsome boys one and all. In Nancy's possession was an item to cherish - a Glasgow Cup medal from season 1900-01, inscribed in the name of WILLIAM FREEBAIRN of Partick Thistle FC. It's not something we'd ever have expected to see, given that Willie, who was in a critical condition and hospitalized at the time, didn't play in the cup final in question. The medal was passed down from her great-grandad. Adding to this wondrous news, a closer inspection of David Freebairn's photograph reveals that, augmenting his Sunday best, he's proudly sporting his brother's medal on his jacket. We believe this photo was taken just after the war so, in another words, it was almost 20 years on from the bittersweet moment when the medal was earned but Willie died from his injuries sustained in the pursuit of Glasgow Cup glory for Partick Thistle.
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| ● David Freebairn c.1919, sporting his brother's Glasgow Cup medal. |
Willie was the son of Archibald Freebairn (blacksmith) & Mary Freebairn (née Young), who married in 1863 in Renfrew. They had at least seven children including Robert, Mary, Archibald, David, William, Janet & James. All three of the brothers who played for Thistle - Archie, David & William - worked in the shipyards too.
A ROSY FUTURE
Willie's future was looking rosy at the beginning of season 1900-01. He was now enjoying his second spell as a Jag and, since leaving some 5 years earlier, had been a prolific goalscorer and made a big impression at Abercorn, Leicester Fosse and East Stirlingshire. He had been stacking up winners medals in recent times, having won the Scottish Qualifying Cup with East Stirlingshire in late 1898, followed up by a Second Division winners medal with Partick Thistle in the springtime of 1900. In his personal life, he was set to be married in December.
Season 1900-01 was always going to be a tough one, but with Willie Freebairn on-form there was always hope. The season began with fighting draws against Celtic and Rangers. There were two victories in the Glasgow Cup, Normal Athletic being defeated by 2 goals to nil in the 1st Round, and Clyde being beaten by 3 goals to 1 in the Quarter Final, two goals by Willie securing a place in the last four of the competition. This came directly after excellent back-to-back league wins over Third Lanark and Hearts. Going into the semi final, 8-goal Willie was sitting as top scorer for the season and was the main man 'In The Jersey' having played in 44 consecutive competitive matches. This matched his personal-best run of 1895, and it was a joint-club-record for any player at that time, matched only by himself!
80th GOAL TAKES THISTLE TO FINAL
So it came to be that, on Saturday, 27th October, 1900, Thistle travelled to Maxwell Park to take on the Cameronians, with a great chance to reach just their second-ever Glasgow Cup final. 1,000 were there to see it and debutant Dick Crawford, a new junior recruit from Dunfermline, had Thistle ahead at the break. Cameronians had 2 goals chalked off for off-side, but goals from Willie Freebairn and Geordie McNicoll took Thistle to the final. It was Willie's 9th goal of the season that day, consolidating his place as our top-scorer at the time. Overall, it was his 80th goal for Partick Thistle but little did anyone realise it would be the last game that he ever played – a kick to the chest side-lining him immediately.
A TRAGIC DEATH
The initial consequences were that Willie missed the next two matches, including the Glasgow Cup Final two weeks later when Thistle, once again, were thwarted by Rangers, who won by 3 goals to 1 at Celtic Park. The long-term consequences proved to be much more severe than that, however. After a few weeks of being “not quite right”, Willie, who was due to be married on the 28th December, was admitted to the Western Infirmary. He underwent a chest-operation for internal issues on Sunday 18th November and he never rallied from it, resulting in his death the following morning. Cut down in his prime at 25, his death came as an almighty shock – his return to the first team had been expected shortly as a matter of routine. The 27-year-old Willie Paul had nurtured the 18-year-old Willie Freebairn into the Thistle strike force several years previously at Inchview. The two men had a great in-team rivalry going on during Thistle’s first two seasons in the SFL back in 1893-94 and 1894-95. Freebairn was top-scorer in the first season, Paul the second, each vying to outdo the other in a ding-dong battle that was fruitful for Partick Thistle.
On 22nd November 1900, the funeral was held, the party walking from the Freebairn home in Dumbarton Road near Whiteinch Cross to Byres Road, before being driven to the Western Necropolis. Local shops were closed as a mark of respect. As he mourned, Willie Paul might have thought back to some great and famous days for the two. Perhaps he thought back to the time when both men scored a hat-trick against Glasgow Thistle in the League in the crazy 13-1 game back in 1894. Even fresher in the mind would be the game just last March when Thistle, going for the flag, were 3-1 down at HT, at home to Abercorn. The two forwards stole the show with four second half goals between them. Perhaps Paul would have smiled at the memory of Freebairn and he being carried off the field by supporters “amid hilarious merriment”.
A PARTING GIFT
Willie's death came just 9 days after the Glasgow Cup final. As we understand it, it was normally only those who played in the final match who would receive a medal and, obviously, Willie was in no fit condition to have done so. We can only speculate as to why he received one - perhaps it was awarded retrospectively in the circumstances? However which way it came to be, it was certainly well merited. After all, it was 3 of Willie's goals which contributed to the run to the final. Clearly, David was very proud of his brother's achievements in the game and Willie's medal of 1900-01 was a cherished item. And thank goodness for that. Here we are, 124 years later, thinking back fondly of a player that we never knew but somehow we know enough - he played bravely and effectively for the Partick Thistle cause.
Another of Willie's fellow strikers, John Proudfoot, until his own death in 1934, kept a copy of an excellent poem that was written for Willie Freebairn at the time of his death. Thanks to being reproduced on the Partick Thistle Early Years site, it's always there for new generations to enjoy:
A Parting Tribute to the Late William Freebairn - The famous forward of the Partick Thistle Football Club.
The game is ended; too soon he has reached the goal;
In the surging tide of contest no more 'tween pole and pole;
Kinsmen and comrades are plunged in grief and gloom;
For yesterday they followed Willie Freebairn to the tomb.The game is ended; too soon he has reached the goal;
In the surging tide of contest no more 'tween pole and pole;
Kinsmen and comrades are plunged in grief and gloom;
For yesterday they followed Willie Freebairn to the tomb.Impressive funeral, respect and regard to pay;
How many fond words were spoken as they followed him yesterday;
See the flowers of friendship - brotherhood in many a bloom,
Bright wreaths of "In Memoriam" to lay on dear Willie's tomb.The race not for the swift, nor the battle for the strong;
These words of Holy Writ were remembered in the throng.
As they followed in the cortege their grief and respect to tell,
And as one by one they went away, sighing "Willie dear, farewell!"I wonder will there be a wreath of Thistles all entwinded
With the Rose of dear Old England to bring other days to mind?
As gloom gathers o'er the game, and the goal grows dim and dark,
So gloomed the news of Willie's death o'er Partick and Meadowside Park.Willie was a favourite in the land of the bright red Rose,
But fortune brought him back again to the land where the Thistle grows;
He has helped to make the name and fame of more than the Thistle team,
But his brave young life so bright with hope has perished like a dream!A famous forward - his fame both north and south,
The crest and spirit of the game, like the billow bounding forth!
Brave to the last! Hope struggling with manly strife;
But he never rallied again; so passed his bright young life.Long will the Thistle miss their Willie in the game;
No more for his delighted ears the cheering crowd's acclaim!
The surging sea of victory, the tempest of deafening cheers!
Now he sleeps where Memory weeps her sad and silent tears.He was bred in the land of the brave, in grand old Stirlingshire,
Where the thrill of noble memories set his dauntless will on fire
To do gallant deeds of daring upon the football field,
And the token sweet o' auld langsyne and sorrow see revealed.See there among the blossoms one from Falkirk of renown;
Fond Memory sends a wreath - oh lay it gently down!
From the shrine of Scotland's glory, East Stirlingshire - his team,
Sweet Memory, like the setting sun, sends Willie its parting beam.His sport had the stamp of character, for all his play was fair;
Honour bright upon the ball that went bounding through the air;
Behold his portrait - the straightforward look of man!
Strength, decision, character throughout his manhood ran.Yes, Freebairn was a sportsman whose fame was always fair;
His play was an example to football everywhere;
In that fame there was no foul - the belov'd of many a band;
His example remains a force for good, emulation to command.And so this Tribute will not be written in vain
If you emulate Willie's manly ways and his character live again;
The true attributes of man on the football field are seen
When he scorns to do an action foul, deceitful, cruel, or mean.One of Willie's dearest comrades urged me to write this rhyme,
To give a voice unto the grief that moved so many at the time;
For his heart was very sorrowful for his comrade dear and kind;
His voice was the voice of woe, but its words he could not find.Gone from all he loved, - from the lone-left and forlorn;
Another moon, no more, would have seen his marriage morn;
The hope of happy days crushed like a rose in bloom,
To droop and wither like the flowers as they die o'er her Willie's tomb.Life is a football field; its accidents we never know,
In the hurry-burry of the game, in the contact to and fro;
But our Father's will be done; He takes but what He gave;
Life is a football field, and its goal here is the grave.But there is the life immortal - the eternity of the soul;
May we wrestle for heaven and happiness, the beliver's sacred goal!
Yonder may we meet again in our Father's Home above,
Where the flowers of affection never fade, where all is peace and love.JOHN FORBES
19 Taylor Street, Townhead, Glasgow.
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An original Thistle Archive publication, 19-Jul-2024. |
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Latest edit version 19-Jul-2024. |
With special thanks to Nancy Hooman, great-grandniece of Willie Freebairn.
For more reading on the Freebairn brothers, check our individual player-profile pages:
Archie Freebairn →