Charles McQuarrie

● Charles McQuarrie, 1889 (HA)

Charles McQuarrie was born on Friday, 11th March, 1859, in Anderston, Glasgow.

The forward first appeared for Thistle in April, 1887, having last played with Rangers some years before.

Aged 28, he made his first known appearance on Saturday, 16th April, 1887, in a 3-2 friendly win away to Glasgow Thistle.

There were no known goals for Charles during his spell with Thistle.

He played his second (and last known) game for the club on Saturday, 3rd December, 1887, in a 2-1 friendly defeat at home to Renfrew FC.

His club-list included Rangers and Partick Thistle.

Charles died on Monday, 16th February, 1942, in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, aged 82.

The son of Neil McQuarrie (jourmeyman joiner) and Elizabeth McQuarrie (née Houston).

As told by Chic Sharp's research, there were 13 known appearances and 5 known goals for Charles in seasons 1878-79 & 1879-80, as far as the Rangers first team goes. He played in the game in which Rangers won their first-ever trophy, the Glasgow Charity Cup, on 20th May 1879, a 2-1 win over Vale of Leven at the first Hampden Park. David Drummond Bone (Scottish Football Reminiscences and Sketches, 1890) wrote about all 22 players that day, including McQuarrie:

Although retired from active duty on the field, Mr. M'Quarrie is even now in football harness as the treasurer of the Partick Thistle. He did not play in many of the first eleven matches of the club, but being a promising lad was always available as first reserve forward. He was rather a neat dribbler and good backer-up, but a little slow in tackling. He was always a steady player, and did very well in this game. He did not play very much after this tie, but gave up football altogether, till his old love for the game returned some years ago, when he joined the Thistle, and is one of their most earnest committee workers.

Many of the club’s members in the 19th century had ambitions to play football, but some would be hampered with ability or fitness, and therefore other duties were performed for the love of Partick Thistle. For whatever reason, Charles served as Match Secretary, Treasurer and was the club’s representative at meetings of the Glasgow FA throughout the 1880s. As well as appearances in the second eleven, he made it onto the field as a first team player on two occasions in 1887, lining up both times as inside right to legendary club centre forward, Willie Paul. He played vs. Glasgow Thistle [a] W3-2 in April and vs. Renfrew [h] L1-2 in December. Won 1, Lost 1. For 4, Against 4. Perfectly balanced – just like his books!

Charles was married to Ann Jackson and had 5 kids (Elizabeth, Neil, James, Annetta and Charles). Charles, described as a retired cashier, succumbed to a seven-year struggle with chronic hepatitis in February 1942. His daughter-in-law Susan McQuarrie, of Bearsden, signed his death register entry. He was laid to rest at Faslane Cemetery near Helensburgh, and his headstone is maintained to this day by the Rangers Founders Trail (see 'Gallery' tab).

(WS/JK)

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The Thistle Archive

Partick Thistle stats and stories 1876 to date