David Freebairn
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David Freebairn
David Freebairn
• David Freebairn, c1919 (NHO)

born in Scotland

David James Freebairn was born on Friday, 4th August 1871, in Whiteinch, Glasgow.

The midfielder joined Thistle in 1891.

Aged 19, he made his first known appearance on Saturday, 25th April, 1891, in a 4-1 friendly defeat away to Kilbirnie.

There were no known goals for David during his time with Thistle.

He played his last known game for the club on Saturday, 20th May, 1893, in a 6-0 neutral-venue win against Dykebar in the Greenock Charity Cup, having appeared for the Thistle on at least 23 occasions.

His known club-list included only Partick Thistle.

David died on Tuesday, 4th March, 1947, in Whiteinch, Glasgow, aged 75.

David Freebairn's Summary Totals
appearances position won drew lost goals
League 0 0 0 0 0
Competitive 17 7 1 9 0
All Games 23 8 1 14 0

Bio Extra

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. Three of the brothers - Archie, David & William - all played for Thistle, and all worked in the shipyards too!

Since the summer of 1889, his bother Archie, also a half-back, had played with Thistle for a year and a half, and built up a good reputation for the Freebairn name. Early in 1891, Archie dropped out, we speculate that his new marriage, newly born children and work may have had something to do with it. David had been playing in the Partick Thistle Swifts (the reserves) and just as he was about to turn 20 he followed in his older brother's footsteps with a run in the first team.

The great majority of David's 20+ appearances occurred in season 1891-92, the first season in which Thistle played "League" football as co-founders of the Scottish Alliance, playing in 13 of the 18 games in the new competition. There were no goals for David in his time at Thistle; he was regarded more of a stopper of play and usually lined up in the half-back line, sometimes appearing as a full-back. On one occasion, when Thistle were stuck for a 'keeper, David stood in between the sticks, but it was a bit of a disaster, losing 6-2 to Kilmarnock at Old Rugby Park in the opening Scottish Alliance game of 1892-93. David featured only once more for the first team, and it was a happier occasion on 20th May 1893, with Thistle defeating Dykebar at neutral Cappielow by 6 goals to nil, thereby qualifying for the final of Greenock Charity Cup. David never played in the final - but his brother Willie did! The cup was won just a week later by an incredible scoreline; Morton 4 Partick Thistle 7.

David never really developed his football career to the same extent as his brothers, but he was clearly proud of them and their achievements. In June 2024 we were delighted to hear from his great granddaughter, Agnes Hooman (who prefers to go by Nancy). Nancy provided us with a splendid photo of her great Grandad (as shown above and in the 'Gallery' tab) taken just after the war had ended. Nancy is also in possession of a Glasgow Cup medal from 1900-01 which was awarded to her great uncle, Willie Freebairn, who had contributed to the run which took Thistle to the final but died as a result of injuries sustained whilst doing so. Closer inspection of the photo of David (circa 1919) shows the instantly recognisable outline of a Glasgow FA medal, being the tree, the fish, the bird and the bell, so we can be certain that it's the medal of his late brother that he's sporting on his jacket, as was passed down to Nancy. It's a beautiful footnote in the story of the Freebairn brothers!

(WS)



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