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Bobby Howitt

see also: Bobby Howitt (opposition manager) →

• Bobby Howitt, 1952 (HA) Robert Gibb Howitt was born on Monday, 15th July, 1929, in Glasgow. The 5' 9 (11st 0lbs) forward signed for Davie Meiklejohn's Thistle on Monday, 17th January, 1949, having most recently been with Vale of Clyde. Aged 19, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 12th March, 1949, in a 3-1 defeat away to Motherwell in the SFL First Division. Bobby scored his first goal for Thistle on Saturday, 7th May, 1949, in a 2-1 neutral-venue win against Celtic in the Glasgow Charity Cup. He scored the last of his 57 goals on Saturday, 8th January, 1955, in a 3-2 win away to Raith Rovers in the SFL First Division. He played his last game for the club on Tuesday, 3rd May, 1955, in a 2-1 defeat at home to Clyde in the Glasgow Charity Cup, having clocked up 160 appearances as a Jag. His club-list included Vale of Clyde, Partick Thistle, Sheffield United and Stoke City. Bobby died on Monday, 31st January, 2005, in Carluke, South Lanarkshire, aged 75.

Bobby Howitt's Summary Totals

League	111	45	20	46	34
Competitive	157	66	24	67	55
All Games	160	68	25	67	57

Bio Extra

This rocket-shot starlet of Davie Meiklejohn's highly successful team gave 7 seasons of great service to the Thistle cause as an inside right, before going on to have a decent career which ended with an English Second Divison title with Stoke City as a player in 1962-63, and a Scottish Second Division title with Motherwell as a manager in 1968-69. Nothing phased Bobby - his first goal for Thistle came in the Glasgow Charity Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden Park in May '49, and the press were full of praise for the cool-headed teenager. So powerful were his shots, that “the Howitzer” meant something entirely different to Partick Thistle supporters in the post-war years. The 18-year-old joined the Firhill ranks in January 1949 and made his first-team debut several weeks later in a league defeat to Motherwell at Fir Park, but the aforementioned winners medal several weeks later soon made him forget about all about that! Another one of the many highlights in his happy days as a Jag came at Hampden Park on Monday, 29th September, 1952, as 46,435 bore witness to Thistle lifting the Glasgow Cup for only the third time in their history. It was the 23-year-old Bobby Howitt who turned out to be the hero of the hour, equalising just before half-time and putting Thistle ahead midway through the second half. His wing partner, the late great Johnny MacKenzie, sealed the victory close on time to secure the Cup. As the Herald described it, “Howitt’s leading goal was brilliantly made and taken. He ‘dummied’ Little from Thomson’s throw-in and, veering to Woodburn’s right, shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area – again with his left foot.” Bobby's (and Thistle's) form was recognised in the early autumn of 1953 when both he and Johnny MacKenzie were selected for the Scottish League against their Irish counterparts on the 9th September, the latter scoring in a 4-0 win at Ibrox in front of 26,000. Bobby featured in all 10 of the League Cup games as the season got underway, but all of Jagskind was gutted to lose out in the October '53 finale; East Fife 3 Partick Thistle 2. Another of Bobby's great Thistle highlights came just before Christmas that year when he bagged his only Thistle hat-trick in a 9-0 demolition of Airdrie in the league. Bobby took the decision to try his hand in the English game, and got a big move to Sheffield United in the summer of '55. He made a decent start to English football scoring 14 goals in 44 appearances in 1955–56, but the "Blades" suffered relegation from the First Division. He hit 13 the following season as Sheffield United finished in 6th position in the second tier. He then only scored four in 22 matches in 1957–58 and at the end of the season he signed for league rivals Stoke City. Bobby made a fine start to his Stoke career scoring on his debut against Charlton Athletic in a 2–1 victory. He occupied all forward positions in 1958–59 scoring ten goals. New manager Tony Waddington began to use Howitt in a left half position in 1960–61 which saw his goalscoring suffer as a result. However, he began consistent playing in 45 matches in 1961–62 but he often came in for criticism from supporters due to his (perceived) lack of skill. He played 11 matches in 1962–63 as Stoke won the Second Division and, at the end of the season, he left to return to Scotland. After his time with Sheffield United and Stoke City, Bobby initially coached at Morton before being appointed as manager of Motherwell in March 1965 where he stayed for eight years. He had the task of re-building the team as many of the “Ancell babes”, the wonderful team created by previous manager Bobby Ancell, had either left the club or were ageing. He got off to a great start winning the Summer Cup '65 in his first season. The team struggled to regain their previous heights and relegation followed a few seasons later. However, Bobby brought them straight back up. He had mixed results in the various cups but did defeat both Spurs and Norwich City in the Texaco Cup. He was eventually replaced as manager by Ian St John.

(WS/WIK/DG)

Every Game

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(age) 1948-49

1. (19y, 7m, 25d) #8 Sat-12-Mar-1949 [a] L1-3 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 24)

2. (19y, 8m, 4d) #8 Sat-19-Mar-1949 [a] L0-3 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 25)

3. (19y, 8m, 18d) #8 Sat-02-Apr-1949 [a] W3-1 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 26)

4. (19y, 9m, 22d) #10 Sat-07-May-1949 [n] W2-1 Celtic (Glasgow Charity Cup Final) aet

(age) 1949-50

5. (20y, 0m, 29d) #8 Sat-13-Aug-1949 [h] W2-0 Motherwell (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 1)

6. (20y, 1m, 2d) #8 Wed-17-Aug-1949 [a] W2-1 Clyde (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 2)

7. (20y, 1m, 5d) #8 Sat-20-Aug-1949 [a] L2-5 Dundee (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 3)

8. (20y, 1m, 9d) #8 Wed-24-Aug-1949 [a] L2-4 Third Lanark (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final)

9. (20y, 1m, 12d) #8 Sat-27-Aug-1949 [a] D1-1 Motherwell (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 4)

10. (20y, 1m, 16d) #8 Wed-31-Aug-1949 [h] W3-1 Clyde (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 5)

11. (20y, 1m, 19d) #8 Sat-03-Sep-1949 [h] W4-2 Dundee (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 6)

12. (20y, 1m, 26d) #8 Sat-10-Sep-1949 [a] L0-2 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 1)

13. (20y, 2m, 2d) #8 Sat-17-Sep-1949 [h] W4-2 Hibernian (League Cup Quarter Final, 1st leg)

14. (20y, 2m, 6d) #8 Wed-21-Sep-1949 [a] L0-4 Hibernian (League Cup Quarter Final, 2nd leg) agg: L4-6

15. (20y, 2m, 9d) #8 Sat-24-Sep-1949 [a] L1-4 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 2)

16. (20y, 2m, 16d) #8 Sat-01-Oct-1949 [h] W4-1 Stirling Albion (SFL Division A - game 3)

17. (20y, 2m, 23d) #8 Sat-08-Oct-1949 [a] W3-1 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 4)

18. (20y, 3m, 0d) #8 Sat-15-Oct-1949 [h] L0-2 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 5)

19. (20y, 3m, 7d) #9 Sat-22-Oct-1949 [a] L0-2 Hibernian (SFL Division A - game 6)

20. (20y, 3m, 14d) #9 Sat-29-Oct-1949 [h] L2-3 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 7)

21. (20y, 3m, 21d) #10 Sat-05-Nov-1949 [h] L0-1 Heart of Midlothian (SFL Division A - game 8)

22. (20y, 3m, 28d) #10 Sat-12-Nov-1949 [a] L1-3 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 9)

23. (20y, 4m, 4d) #10 Sat-19-Nov-1949 [h] W4-0 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 10)

24. (20y, 4m, 11d) #10 Sat-26-Nov-1949 [a] D1-1 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 11)

25. (20y, 4m, 18d) #10 Sat-03-Dec-1949 [a] L0-1 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 12)

26. (20y, 4m, 25d) #8 Sat-10-Dec-1949 [h] W5-1 Third Lanark (SFL Division A - game 13)

27. (20y, 5m, 2d) #8 Sat-17-Dec-1949 [a] W3-0 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 14)

28. (20y, 5m, 9d) #8 Sat-24-Dec-1949 [h] L1-3 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 15)

29. (20y, 5m, 16d) #8 Sat-31-Dec-1949 [a] L1-3 Queen of the South (SFL Division A - game 16)

30. (20y, 5m, 18d) #8 Mon-02-Jan-1950 [h] W1-0 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 17)

31. (20y, 5m, 23d) #8 Sat-07-Jan-1950 [h] W1-0 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 18)

32. (20y, 5m, 30d) #8 Sat-14-Jan-1950 [a] W2-0 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 19)

33. (20y, 6m, 6d) #8 Sat-21-Jan-1950 [h] D2-2 Hibernian (SFL Division A - game 20)

34. (20y, 6m, 13d) #8 Sat-28-Jan-1950 [a] W1-0 Hibernian (Scottish Cup 1st Round)

35. (20y, 6m, 20d) #8 Sat-04-Feb-1950 [a] L0-1 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 21)

36. (20y, 6m, 30d) #8 Tue-14-Feb-1950 [h] W5-0 Dundee United (Scottish Cup 2nd Round)

37. (20y, 7m, 3d) #8 Sat-18-Feb-1950 [h] L0-2 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 22)

38. (20y, 7m, 17d) #8 Sat-04-Mar-1950 [h] L1-2 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 24)

39. (20y, 7m, 24d) #8 Sat-11-Mar-1950 [h] W5-1 Stirling Albion (Scottish Cup Quarter Final)

40. (20y, 8m, 3d) #8 Sat-18-Mar-1950 [a] W7-2 Third Lanark (SFL Division A - game 25)

41. (20y, 8m, 10d) #8 Sat-25-Mar-1950 [h] W3-1 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 26)

42. (20y, 8m, 17d) #8 Sat-01-Apr-1950 [n] L1-2 East Fife (Scottish Cup Semi Final)

(age) 1950-51

43. (21y, 2m, 29d) #8 Sat-14-Oct-1950 [a] L2-3 Morton (SFL Division A - game 5)

44. (21y, 5m, 8d) #8 Sat-23-Dec-1950 [a] D2-2 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 14)

45. (21y, 7m, 9d) #8 Sat-24-Feb-1951 [h] D1-1 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 19)

46. (21y, 8m, 9d) #10 Sat-24-Mar-1951 [a] L2-4 Third Lanark (SFL Division A - game 23)

47. (21y, 8m, 11d) #10 Mon-26-Mar-1951 [n] W3-2 Celtic (Glasgow Cup Final replay)

48. (21y, 8m, 23d) #8 Sat-07-Apr-1951 [h] W1-0 Morton (SFL Division A - game 25)

49. (21y, 8m, 30d) #8 Sat-14-Apr-1951 [h] D1-1 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 27)

50. (21y, 9m, 6d) #8 Sat-21-Apr-1951 [h] D0-0 Hibernian (SFL Division A - game 29)

51. (21y, 9m, 13d) #8 Sat-28-Apr-1951 [h] D1-1 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 30)

52. (21y, 9m, 22d) #8 Mon-07-May-1951 [n] L0-2 Rangers (Glasgow Charity Cup Final)

(age) 1951-52

53. (21y, 11m, 29d) #9 Sat-14-Jul-1951 [a] L1-2 St Mirren (St Mungo Cup 1st Round)

54. (22y, 9m, 11d) #8 Sat-26-Apr-1952 [h] D1-1 Queen of the South (Friendly)

55. (22y, 9m, 18d) #8 Sat-03-May-1952 [a] L3-4 Rangers (Glasgow Charity Cup Quarter Final)

(age) 1952-53

56. (23y, 0m, 25d) #8 Sat-09-Aug-1952 [h] L1-5 Hibernian (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 1)

57. (23y, 1m, 1d) #8 Sat-16-Aug-1952 [a] L1-5 St Mirren (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 3)

58. (23y, 1m, 5d) #8 Wed-20-Aug-1952 [h] W2-0 Clyde (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final)

59. (23y, 1m, 8d) #8 Sat-23-Aug-1952 [a] L1-3 Hibernian (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 4)

60. (23y, 1m, 12d) #8 Wed-27-Aug-1952 [h] L0-1 Celtic (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 5)

61. (23y, 1m, 15d) #7 Sat-30-Aug-1952 [h] D2-2 St Mirren (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 6)

62. (23y, 1m, 22d) #7 Sat-06-Sep-1952 [h] D1-1 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 1)

63. (23y, 1m, 26d) #7 Wed-10-Sep-1952 [h] W4-2 Third Lanark (Glasgow Cup Semi Final)

64. (23y, 1m, 29d) #7 Sat-13-Sep-1952 [a] W4-0 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 2)

65. (23y, 2m, 5d) #7 Sat-20-Sep-1952 [h] L1-5 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 3)

66. (23y, 2m, 12d) #8 Sat-27-Sep-1952 [a] W1-0 Queen of the South (SFL Division A - game 4)

67. (23y, 2m, 14d) #8 Mon-29-Sep-1952 [n] W3-1 Rangers (Glasgow Cup Final)

68. (23y, 2m, 19d) #8 Sat-04-Oct-1952 [a] W2-0 Clachnacuddin (Tommy Hazle Benefit)

69. (23y, 2m, 26d) #8 Sat-11-Oct-1952 [a] L1-2 Heart of Midlothian (SFL Division A - game 5)

70. (23y, 3m, 3d) #8 Sat-18-Oct-1952 [h] W4-1 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 6)

71. (23y, 3m, 10d) #8 Sat-25-Oct-1952 [a] W2-1 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 7)

72. (23y, 3m, 17d) #8 Sat-01-Nov-1952 [a] L0-1 Airdrieonians (SFL Division A - game 8)

73. (23y, 3m, 24d) #8 Sat-08-Nov-1952 [h] L1-3 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 9)

74. (23y, 4m, 0d) #8 Sat-15-Nov-1952 [h] W3-0 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 10)

75. (23y, 4m, 7d) #8 Sat-22-Nov-1952 [a] D1-1 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 11)

76. (23y, 4m, 21d) #8 Sat-06-Dec-1952 [a] L0-6 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 12)

77. (23y, 4m, 28d) #8 Sat-13-Dec-1952 [h] W5-4 Hibernian (SFL Division A - game 13)

78. (23y, 5m, 5d) #8 Sat-20-Dec-1952 [a] L2-4 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 14)

79. (23y, 5m, 10d) #8 Thu-25-Dec-1952 [a] L1-3 Third Lanark (SFL Division A - game 15)

80. (23y, 5m, 12d) #8 Sat-27-Dec-1952 [h] L0-3 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 16)

81. (23y, 5m, 17d) #8 Thu-01-Jan-1953 [a] D2-2 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 17)

82. (23y, 5m, 26d) #8 Sat-10-Jan-1953 [a] D2-2 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 18)

83. (23y, 6m, 2d) #8 Sat-17-Jan-1953 [h] D2-2 Heart of Midlothian (SFL Division A - game 19)

84. (23y, 6m, 16d) #8 Sat-31-Jan-1953 [a] D2-2 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 20)

85. (23y, 6m, 23d) #8 Sat-07-Feb-1953 [h] L0-2 Clyde (Scottish Cup 2nd Round)

86. (23y, 6m, 30d) #8 Sat-14-Feb-1953 [h] W4-2 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 21)

87. (23y, 7m, 6d) #8 Sat-21-Feb-1953 [h] W5-3 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 22)

88. (23y, 7m, 13d) #8 Sat-28-Feb-1953 [a] W3-2 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 23)

89. (23y, 7m, 20d) #8 Sat-07-Mar-1953 [a] L1-3 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 24)

90. (23y, 9m, 12d) #8 Mon-27-Apr-1953 [h] L*2-2 Queen's Park (Glasgow Charity Cup Quarter Final) * lost coin toss

(age) 1953-54

91. (24y, 0m, 24d) #8 Sat-08-Aug-1953 [h] W4-1 Clyde (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 1)

92. (24y, 0m, 28d) #8 Wed-12-Aug-1953 [a] L0-3 Stirling Albion (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 2)

93. (24y, 1m, 0d) #8 Sat-15-Aug-1953 [a] D1-1 Dundee (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 3)

94. (24y, 1m, 7d) #8 Sat-22-Aug-1953 [a] W3-2 Clyde (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 4)

95. (24y, 1m, 11d) #8 Wed-26-Aug-1953 [h] W3-0 Stirling Albion (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 5)

96. (24y, 1m, 14d) #8 Sat-29-Aug-1953 [h] W4-0 Dundee (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 6)

97. (24y, 1m, 18d) #8 Wed-02-Sep-1953 [h] L1-2 Third Lanark (Glasgow Cup Semi Final)

98. (24y, 1m, 21d) #8 Sat-05-Sep-1953 [a] L0-3 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 1)

99. (24y, 1m, 28d) #8 Sat-12-Sep-1953 [a] L3-4 Kilmarnock (League Cup Quarter Final, 1st leg)

100. (24y, 2m, 1d) #8 Wed-16-Sep-1953 [h] W4-0 Kilmarnock (League Cup Quarter Final, 2nd leg) agg: W7-4

101. (24y, 2m, 4d) #8 Sat-19-Sep-1953 [a] W4-0 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 2)

102. (24y, 2m, 11d) #8 Sat-26-Sep-1953 [h] L1-2 Queen of the South (SFL Division A - game 3)

103. (24y, 2m, 18d) #8 Sat-03-Oct-1953 [a] L1-2 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 4)

104. (24y, 2m, 25d) #8 Sat-10-Oct-1953 [n] W2-0 Rangers (League Cup Semi Final)

105. (24y, 3m, 2d) #8 Sat-17-Oct-1953 [a] L1-4 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 5)

106. (24y, 3m, 9d) #8 Sat-24-Oct-1953 [n] L2-3 East Fife (League Cup Final)

107. (24y, 3m, 23d) #8 Sat-07-Nov-1953 [h] W1-0 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 7)

108. (24y, 3m, 30d) #8 Sat-14-Nov-1953 [a] W2-1 Stirling Albion (SFL Division A - game 8)

109. (24y, 4m, 6d) #8 Sat-21-Nov-1953 [h] W2-0 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 9)

110. (24y, 4m, 13d) #8 Sat-28-Nov-1953 [a] L1-2 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 10)

111. (24y, 4m, 17d) #8 Wed-02-Dec-1953 [a] W3-1 Derby County (Friendly)

112. (24y, 4m, 20d) #8 Sat-05-Dec-1953 [a] L1-4 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 11)

113. (24y, 4m, 27d) #8 Sat-12-Dec-1953 [h] W9-0 Airdrieonians (SFL Division A - game 12)

114. (24y, 5m, 4d) #8 Sat-19-Dec-1953 [h] L0-1 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 13)

115. (24y, 5m, 11d) #8 Sat-26-Dec-1953 [a] W2-0 Heart of Midlothian (SFL Division A - game 14)

116. (24y, 5m, 17d) #8 Fri-01-Jan-1954 [h] L3-4 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 15)

117. (24y, 5m, 18d) #8 Sat-02-Jan-1954 [a] W6-2 Queen of the South (SFL Division A - game 16)

118. (24y, 5m, 25d) #8 Sat-09-Jan-1954 [h] W6-3 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 17)

119. (24y, 6m, 1d) #8 Sat-16-Jan-1954 [a] D2-2 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 18)

120. (24y, 6m, 8d) #8 Sat-23-Jan-1954 [h] W5-3 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 19)

121. (24y, 6m, 15d) #8 Sat-30-Jan-1954 [h] W1-0 Airdrieonians (Scottish Cup 1st Round)

122. (24y, 8m, 5d) #8 Sat-20-Mar-1954 [h] L1-3 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 23)

123. (24y, 8m, 9d) #8 Wed-24-Mar-1954 [a] W3-1 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 24)

124. (24y, 8m, 12d) #8 Sat-27-Mar-1954 [h] L0-1 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 25)

125. (24y, 8m, 16d) #8 Wed-31-Mar-1954 [a] W6-3 Airdrieonians (SFL Division A - game 26)

126. (24y, 8m, 26d) #8 Sat-10-Apr-1954 [h] W4-0 Hamilton Academical (SFL Division A - game 27)

127. (24y, 9m, 2d) #8 Sat-17-Apr-1954 [a] L0-6 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 28)

128. (24y, 9m, 4d) #8 Mon-19-Apr-1954 [h] W2-1 Heart of Midlothian (SFL Division A - game 29)

129. (24y, 9m, 18d) #8 Mon-03-May-1954 [h] L*1-1 Third Lanark (Glasgow Charity Cup Semi Final) * lost coin toss

(age) 1954-55

130. (25y, 0m, 30d) #8 Sat-14-Aug-1954 [h] W3-2 Clyde (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 1)

131. (25y, 1m, 3d) #8 Wed-18-Aug-1954 [a] D1-1 Rangers (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 2)

132. (25y, 1m, 17d) #8 Wed-01-Sep-1954 [h] L1-2 Rangers (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 5)

133. (25y, 2m, 24d) #8 Sat-09-Oct-1954 [a] W2-1 Kilmarnock (SFL Division A - game 5)

134. (25y, 3m, 1d) #8 Sat-16-Oct-1954 [h] L2-5 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 6)

135. (25y, 3m, 8d) #8 Sat-23-Oct-1954 [a] W3-2 Queen of the South (SFL Division A - game 7)

136. (25y, 3m, 15d) #8 Sat-30-Oct-1954 [h] W1-0 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 8)

137. (25y, 3m, 22d) #8 Sat-06-Nov-1954 [a] W2-1 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 9)

138. (25y, 3m, 29d) #8 Sat-13-Nov-1954 [h] W1-0 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 10)

139. (25y, 4m, 5d) #8 Sat-20-Nov-1954 [h] W4-2 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 11)

140. (25y, 4m, 12d) #8 Sat-27-Nov-1954 [a] L2-3 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 12)

141. (25y, 4m, 19d) #8 Sat-04-Dec-1954 [h] D3-3 Stirling Albion (SFL Division A - game 13)

142. (25y, 4m, 26d) #8 Sat-11-Dec-1954 [a] L1-3 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 14)

143. (25y, 5m, 3d) #8 Sat-18-Dec-1954 [h] L0-3 Hibernian (SFL Division A - game 15)

144. (25y, 5m, 10d) #8 Sat-25-Dec-1954 [h] D4-4 Heart of Midlothian (SFL Division A - game 16)

145. (25y, 5m, 17d) #8 Sat-01-Jan-1955 [a] D2-2 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 17)

146. (25y, 5m, 19d) #8 Mon-03-Jan-1955 [h] D2-2 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 18)

147. (25y, 5m, 24d) #8 Sat-08-Jan-1955 [a] W3-2 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 19)

148. (25y, 6m, 14d) #8 Sat-29-Jan-1955 [h] W1-0 Queen of the South (SFL Division A - game 20)

149. (25y, 6m, 21d) #8 Sat-05-Feb-1955 [a] L2-4 Dunfermline Athletic (Scottish Cup 5th Round)

150. (25y, 6m, 28d) #8 Sat-12-Feb-1955 [a] L0-4 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 21)

151. (25y, 7m, 11d) #8 Sat-26-Feb-1955 [h] L0-1 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 22)

152. (25y, 7m, 18d) #8 Sat-05-Mar-1955 [a] W2-0 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 23)

153. (25y, 7m, 25d) #8 Sat-12-Mar-1955 [a] D0-0 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 24)

154. (25y, 8m, 4d) #8 Sat-19-Mar-1955 [h] D1-1 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 25)

155. (25y, 8m, 11d) #4 Sat-26-Mar-1955 [a] W1-0 Stirling Albion (SFL Division A - game 26)

156. (25y, 8m, 18d) #4 Sat-02-Apr-1955 [h] W2-1 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 27)

157. (25y, 8m, 25d) #8 Sat-09-Apr-1955 [a] L1-3 Hibernian (SFL Division A - game 28)

158. (25y, 8m, 27d) #8 Mon-11-Apr-1955 [a] L1-3 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 29)

159. (25y, 9m, 1d) #8 Sat-16-Apr-1955 [h] L0-3 Kilmarnock (SFL Division A - game 30)

160. (25y, 9m, 18d) #8 Tue-03-May-1955 [h] L1-2 Clyde (Glasgow Charity Cup Quarter Final)

Every Goal

compiled from our All Games criteria.

19y, 9m, 22d		07.05.1949 Celtic [n] W2-1 (Glasgow Charity Cup Final)
20y, 0m, 29d		13.08.1949 Motherwell [h] W2-0 (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 1)
20y, 1m, 2d		17.08.1949 Clyde [a] W2-1 (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 2)
20y, 1m, 9d		24.08.1949 Third Lanark [a] L2-4 (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final)
20y, 1m, 19d		03.09.1949 Dundee [h] W4-2 (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 6)
20y, 2m, 16d		01.10.1949 Stirling Albion [h] W4-1 (SFL Division A - game 3)
20y, 4m, 4d		19.11.1949 St Mirren [h] W4-0 (SFL Division A - game 10)
20y, 5m, 16d		31.12.1949 Queen of the South [a] L1-3 (SFL Division A - game 16)
20y, 6m, 30d		14.02.1950 Dundee United [h] W5-0 (Scottish Cup 2nd Round)
20y, 7m, 24d		11.03.1950 Stirling Albion [h] W5-1 (Scottish Cup Quarter Final)
21y, 8m, 30d		14.04.1951 Motherwell [h] D1-1 (SFL Division A - game 27)
22y, 9m, 11d		26.04.1952 Queen of the South [h] D1-1 (Friendly)
22y, 9m, 18d		03.05.1952 Rangers [a] L3-4 (Glasgow Charity Cup Quarter Final)
23y, 1m, 26d		10.09.1952 Third Lanark [h] W4-2 (Glasgow Cup Semi Final)
23y, 2m, 12d		27.09.1952 Queen of the South [a] W1-0 (SFL Division A - game 4)
23y, 2m, 14d		29.09.1952 Rangers [n] W3-1 (Glasgow Cup Final)
23y, 3m, 10d		25.10.1952 Motherwell [a] W2-1 (SFL Division A - game 7)
23y, 3m, 24d		08.11.1952 East Fife [h] L1-3 (SFL Division A - game 9)
23y, 4m, 0d		15.11.1952 Celtic [h] W3-0 (SFL Division A - game 10)
23y, 5m, 5d		20.12.1952 Aberdeen [a] L2-4 (SFL Division A - game 14)
23y, 5m, 10d		25.12.1952 Third Lanark [a] L1-3 (SFL Division A - game 15)
23y, 5m, 26d		10.01.1953 Rangers [a] D2-2 (SFL Division A - game 18)
23y, 6m, 2d		17.01.1953 Heart of Midlothian [h] D2-2 (SFL Division A - game 19)
23y, 6m, 16d		31.01.1953 Raith Rovers [a] D2-2 (SFL Division A - game 20)
23y, 6m, 30d		14.02.1953 Motherwell [h] W4-2 (SFL Division A - game 21)
23y, 7m, 6d		21.02.1953 St Mirren [h] W5-3 (SFL Division A - game 22)
23y, 7m, 13d		28.02.1953 East Fife [a] W3-2 (SFL Division A - game 23)
24y, 0m, 24d		08.08.1953 Clyde [h] W4-1 (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 1)
24y, 1m, 7d		22.08.1953 Clyde [a] W3-2 (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 4)
24y, 1m, 11d		26.08.1953 Stirling Albion [h] W3-0 (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 5)
24y, 1m, 14d		29.08.1953 Dundee [h] W4-0 (League Cup Division A, Section D - game 6)
24y, 1m, 28d		12.09.1953 Kilmarnock [a] L3-4 (League Cup Quarter Final, 1st leg)
24y, 2m, 25d		10.10.1953 Rangers [n] W2-0 (League Cup Semi Final)
24y, 3m, 30d		14.11.1953 Stirling Albion [a] W2-1 (SFL Division A - game 8)
24y, 4m, 17d		02.12.1953 Derby County [a] W3-1 (Friendly)
24y, 4m, 27d		12.12.1953 Airdrieonians [h] W9-0 (SFL Division A - game 12)
24y, 5m, 18d		02.01.1954 Queen of the South [a] W6-2 (SFL Division A - game 16)
24y, 5m, 25d		09.01.1954 Aberdeen [h] W6-3 (SFL Division A - game 17)
24y, 6m, 8d		23.01.1954 Raith Rovers [h] W5-3 (SFL Division A - game 19)
24y, 6m, 15d		30.01.1954 Airdrieonians [h] W1-0 (Scottish Cup 1st Round)
24y, 8m, 16d		31.03.1954 Airdrieonians [a] W6-3 (SFL Division A - game 26)
25y, 0m, 30d		14.08.1954 Clyde [h] W3-2 (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 1)
25y, 3m, 22d		06.11.1954 Motherwell [a] W2-1 (SFL Division A - game 9)
25y, 4m, 5d		20.11.1954 Celtic [h] W4-2 (SFL Division A - game 11)
25y, 4m, 19d		04.12.1954 Stirling Albion [h] D3-3 (SFL Division A - game 13)
25y, 5m, 10d		25.12.1954 Heart of Midlothian [h] D4-4 (SFL Division A - game 16)
25y, 5m, 19d		03.01.1955 Falkirk [h] D2-2 (SFL Division A - game 18)
25y, 5m, 24d		08.01.1955 Raith Rovers [a] W3-2 (SFL Division A - game 19)

Every Penalty

compiled from our All Games criteria.

#
1	24y, 9m, 4d		19.04.1954 Heart of Midlothian [h] W2-1 (SFL Division A - game 29)	saved @ 0-1, 26 mins

Bobby Howitt
0/1 ← success rate → 0%

Partick Thistle
567/815 ← success rate → 69.6%
@ 08-Feb-2026

Thistle Honours

	1949 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP Winner
	1951 - GLASGOW CUP Winner
	1951 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP Runner-up
	1952 - GLASGOW CUP Winner
	1953 - LEAGUE CUP Runner-up
	1954 - LEAGUE (1st tier) Third place

the decisive games…

1949 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP Sat-07-May-1949 [n] W2-1* Celtic (Glasgow Charity Cup Final) * after extra-time (1-1, 90 mins) Hampden. Howitt opened the scoring (17) when he guided a shot blocked by the keeper into the net. Celtic equalised (28) and it remained 1-1 into extra time. Walker raced on to a MacKenzie cross, beat a defender and scored (97). Thistle were the better team, their young players unphased by the occasion. Davie Meiklejohn

1951 - GLASGOW CUP Mon-26-Mar-1951 [n] W3-2 Celtic (Glasgow Cup Final replay) Hampden. 51,300 braved wind, rain and sleet and saw a 1st-time shot by Walker from a corner put Thistle ahead (2). Celtic equalised then they went ahead. With Crawford limping on the wing, Forsyth scored with his only goal and pen for the club (hotly disputed, 80) then Walker got the winner from a Sharp pass (88). Davie Meiklejohn

1951 - GLASGOW CHARITY CUP Mon-07-May-1951 [n] L0-2 Rangers (Glasgow Charity Cup Final) Hampden. Thistle survived a double scare in the first minute. Rangers were far from impressive but they scored (19) with a lob that deceived Ledgerwood. A Howitt free-kick went just over. The game was “shockingly bad” (GH) but Rangers headed in (56). Apart from MacKenzie, the forwards were poor. Davie Meiklejohn

1952 - GLASGOW CUP Mon-29-Sep-1952 [n] W3-1 Rangers (Glasgow Cup Final) Hampden. Thistle were the more skilful side and Howitt was the best forward on view. Rangers scored (21) but Howitt levelled (43) then he dummied a defender and shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 (67). Rangers hit the bar (85) before MacKenzie picked his spot (89) with the Rangers' defence AWOL. Davie Meiklejohn

1953 - LEAGUE CUP Sat-24-Oct-1953 [n] L2-3 East Fife (League Cup Final) Hampden. A freak shot from the goal line (3) and a trundler following the break of the ball (7) shocked Thistle until h-t. MacKenzie played one of his best ever games and Walker shot home his cross (47). MacKenzie himself crashed home the equaliser (74) but a fine 20-yard shot (87) - one of the few East Fife had - won it. Davie Meiklejohn

1954 - SFL DIVISION A Sat-24-Apr-1954 [h] W5-1 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 30) A pen (23) cancelled out Wright's header (16). In the 2nd half Thistle hit the woodwork 4 times. McInnes scored direct from a corner (71), Kerr (pen, 75), Wright (77) and Sharp scored just on the final whistle for an easy win. 3rd place confirmed 2 days later after Rangers v Hibs 2-2 draw. Thistle finished top (yes, top!) scorers with 76 goals. Davie Meiklejohn

• Listed per out Honours list criteria.
• Players who have contributed an appearance in any given tournament are included.

Who put the ball in the Rangers net?

Bobby featured at #20 in our Top 25 countdown here on The Thistle Archive →

BOBBY HOWITT

29.09.1952 Rangers [n] W3-1 (Glasgow Cup Final)
Bobby Howitt (1-1, 43 mins); Bobby Howitt (2-1, 67 mins); Johnny MacKenzie (3-1, 89 mins)

This rocket-shot starlet of Davie Meiklejohn's highly successful team gave 7 seasons of great service to the Thistle cause as an inside forward, before going on to have a decent career which ended with an English Second Divison title with Stoke City as a player in 1962-63, and a Scottish Second Division title with Motherwell as a manager in 1968-69. Nothing phased Bobby - his first goal for Thistle came in the Glasgow Charity Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden Park in May '49, and the press were full of praise for the cool-headed teenager.

Another one of the many highlights in his happy days as a Jag came at Hampden Park on Monday, 29th September, 1952, as 46,435 bore witness to Thistle lifting the Glasgow Cup for only the third time in their history.

It was the 23-year-old Bobby Howitt who turned out to be the hero of the hour, equalising just before half-time and putting Thistle ahead midway through the second half. His wing partner, the late great Johnny MacKenzie, sealed the victory close on time to secure the Cup.

“Howitt’s leading goal was brilliantly made and taken. He ‘dummied’ Little from Thomson’s throw-in and, veering to Woodburn’s right, shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area – again with his left foot.” (The Glasgow Herald)

Rangers, not for the first or last time, had been well and truly Howittzered.

Go on Bobby!

Scrapbook

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Chix Confectionery Card, 1954

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