Andy Leckie

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Andy Leckie

● Andy Leckie, 1883 (OH) Andrew Leckie was born on Wednesday, 19th February, 1862, in Hutchesontown, Glasgow. The midfielder probably joined Thistle in 1881 or 1882. Aged 20, he made his first known appearance on Saturday, 8th April, 1882, in a 3-0 friendly win at home to Clarkston. There were no known goals for Andy during his time with Thistle. He played his last known game for the club on Saturday, 3rd December, 1887, in a 2-1 friendly defeat at home to Renfrew FC, having appeared for the Thistle on at least 15 occasions. His known club-list included only Partick Thistle. Andy died on Saturday, 27th March, 1897, in Partick, Glasgow, aged 35.

Bio Extra

The son of Andrew Leckie (masonry foreman) and Elizabeth Leckie (née Gibson). At the 1881 census Andy, a hewer mason, lived at 92 Dumbarton Road with his Mum (Elizabeth, 47), older brother (George, 20), younger sister (Margaret, 16) and a ship-carpenter lodger (John McTyer, 19). Andy's brother, George, was a member of the first-ever Partick Thistle committee in September, 1877. Both of them played in the same Partick Thistle team for a while, first proven on 8th April 1882 in a 3-0 home win over Clarkston. They may well have played together as brothers before that, but teamlines weren't so regular for Thistle at the beginning of the 1880s, so we may never know. The Leckies are only beaten to first-known brothers status by a mere 2 days; Edward & Jerry Suter were first to be recorded on 6th April 1882 away to St Bernard's! Andy also followed in his brother's footsteps by serving on the Partick Thistle committee, first doing in the politically charged era of springtime 1885, just as Partick Thistle were set to move into Inchview, formerly home to Partick, who had now officially 'ceded to Thistle in the ruthless pursuit to be kings of the burgh. Andy served in the committee all the way to the end of the 1880s, long after his final match for the first team. It was a succesful period, crucial to the club's long-term survival in fact. There were runs to the last 16 of the FA Cup and to the Quarter Finals of the Scottish Cup. Thistle spawned their first bona-fide internationalist in Willie Paul, and there were three wins over the Rangers in 1888-89. Heading into the 1890s the Jags were in a great place as an establishment club, and the Leckie brothers can be proud of the role that they played. Although he retired from the playing side quite early, we note that the 30-year-old A. Leckie (Partick Thistle) was reported as match referee for the Kings Park v Greenock Morton game in March 1892! Tragically, Andy passed away well before his time and just before Thistle completed their ultimate ascension to the very summit of the Scottish game. The Scottish Referee of 29th March 1897 carried a fine tribute: On Saturday morning there died in Partick, after a long illness, one of the most popular players who ever donned the Thistle colours. Andrew Leckie, familiarly known as "Andy", was one of the original band who made the Thistle a team to be feared among junior clubs, and helped to raise it to a good position in the senior Association. Tall, and of good weight, he was a grand half-back in his day, and was much respected on the field. In private life, Andrew was of a genial, good-hearted disposition, with few, if any, enemies, and regret is very general in Partick at his demise at the early age of 35, while much sympathy is extended to his widow and young family.

(WS/JK)

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● Andy Leckie, 1883. (OH)