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| Andrew Mailer |
 Andrew Mailer was born on Tuesday, 14th November, 1876, in Ardoch, Perth and Kinross. The forward signed for Thistle on Friday, 12th February, 1897, having most recently been with Third Lanark. Aged 20, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 13th February, 1897, in a 6-0 win away to Motherwell in the SFL Second Division. Andrew scored his first goal for Thistle on Saturday, 27th February, 1897, in a 5-3 win away to Linthouse in the SFL Second Division. He scored the last of his 6 goals on Saturday, 24th April, 1897, in a 4-3 win away to Morton in the SFL Second Division. He played his last game for the club on Friday, 14th May, 1897, in a 1-1 friendly draw away to Arthurlie, having appeared for the Thistle on at least 14 occasions. His club-list included Jordanhill Juniors, Clyde, Third Lanark, Partick Thistle, Cameronians and Normal Athletic. Andrew died on Wednesday, 1st July, 1953, in Glasgow, aged 76. |
 The son of James Mailer (ploughman) and Henrietta Mailer (nÊe Neish). At the 1881 census young Andrew was living at Clathymore Farm Cottage, just outside Perth, with his two brothers, Peter (2) and James (6). Also sharing the cottage were two of his cousins, John (6) and James (24). The family had moved to the Anderston area by 1891, and Andrew would remain a Glasgow-based man. Young Andrew played two full seasons at Jordanhill, where he had a succesful time, winning both the Glasgow and Renfrewshire cups in 1894-95. International recognition came his way in the springtime of 1896 when he got the call for Junior Scotland, appearing against Ireland on 18th April 1896, played at Kelburn Park in Maryhill, the home of Glasgow Perthshire. It finished 2-1 to that Scotland that day, a come-from-behind victory settled by Andrew's winning strike! As often happened to the junior internationalists, the seniors came calling and, indeed, the very next week, Andrew played for Clyde as a trialist… at Inchview! Thistle won the friendly 4-2 on the day, with two future Jags - Andrew and Alex Crawford - partnering on the left side of Clyde's forward line. However, it was Third Lanark who succesfully swooped for Andrew's signature in June, 1896. He played 4 times for them in the top-flight in his first season, getting on the scoresheet once, but his stint there was interrupted when Partick Thistle called for services in February 1897. Having just lost star forward John Proudfoot to Blackburn Rovers, the Thistle committee were desperate to keep the promotion bandwagon on course, and it was a great compliment to Andrew that he should be head-hunted with that objective in mind. 25 goals were rattled in over the course of Andrew's first 5 games, culminating in a thumping 5-0 rout of the League leaders, Leith Athletic, in March. Andrew scored in that match, which was viewed as the title decider to all intents and purposes. Andrew was certainly enjoying himself in the joyous environment of Inchview (Thistle's last season there), and he personally hit a purple patch of 6 goals in 8 games between February and April. Andrew was in his usual inside right position as Thistle formally wrapped up the title (their first ever) on 17th April 1897. Promotion to the First Division was confirmed by the League's close-season ballot on 1st June. These were exciting times as Thistle were heading to their new purpose-built ground at Meadowside, where they would compete in the top-flight for the very first time. Unfortunately for Andrew, he wasn't part of the plans for the top-flight squad. We're not sure why, but he simply wasn't quoted in the close season conversation / speculation. By September 1897, he had signed for Cameronians, a fringe senior outfit from Maryhill, with close ties to the rifle brigade of the same name in the same way that 3rd Lanark (and others) did at that time. We note that was his second 'rifle volunteers' club, co-incidence? He played with Cameronians over the course of 1897-98. Andrew did finally make it to Meadowside, but perhaps not in the way he'd have hoped to, appearing again with Clyde (1899-00) then Normal Athletic (1900-01). Andrew got married to Mary Jane Hunter Thompson in 1901. His death (at a Glasgow hospital) was announced in the Evening Times of 2nd July 1953, at which time he was still described as the beloved husband of Mary Jane who lived at 51 Elderpark Street, Glasgow. |
| (WS/JK) |
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