| Fred Hinchliffe |
 Frederick Hinchliffe was born on Saturday, 17th July, 1915, in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. The 5' 8 (10st 7lbs) forward signed for Donald Turner's Thistle on Saturday, 27th October, 1934, having most recently been with Alva Albion Rangers. Aged 20, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 21st March, 1936, in a 1-1 draw at home to Arbroath in the SFL First Division. That day, Fred became a member of our scoring debutant's club. That proved his only goal for Thistle. He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 18th April, 1936, in a 3-0 defeat away to Airdrieonians in the SFL First Division, having appeared as a Jag on 4 occasions. His club-list included Alva Albion Rangers, Partick Thistle and Dunfermline Athletic. Fred died in 2004, in Glasgow, aged 88. *
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| Fred Hinchliffe's Summary Totals |
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| League | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Competitive | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| All Games | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
 The son of John Hinchliffe (motor tractor driver) and Margaret Hinchliffe (née Drummond), who married in Tillicoultry in 1899. Young Fred started out with Tillicoultry Glenalbion as a juvenile, before stepping up to the junior ranks with Alva Albion Rangers. Partick Thistle had a scout at Brockville Park on 27th October 1934, and it was Fred Hinchliffe, Alva's outside right, the man who'd been on the radar for a number of weeks. Three Alva players were appearing in an inter-counties cup-tie for the Stirlingshire select. They lost by an incredible scoreline of 9-6 on the day, but Fred impressed and was signed on provisional terms after the match. Initially it was a flexible arrangement which allowed the teenager to continue playing with Alva for most of that season. The 20-year-old really got going with the Thistle reserves in 1935-36, and his play was rewarded with a run in the first team in the springtime of 1936. 6,000 were at Firhill on the 21st March to see Fred make his debut in a league encounter versus Arbroath. Brilliantly, it was a scoring debut too, although “neither team rose above mediocrity” according to the Herald's man on the spot. After they had missed 2 chances, Arbroath took the lead with a run from half-way (10). Hinchliffe equalised (close in from a cut-back, 51) then Arbroath “scored”, the ball was centred, Thistle persuaded the ref to consult his linesman. Off-side. Thistle were a shade lucky, but it was a point on the board thanks to Fred! Frustrated at being confined to the Thistle reserves, Fred tried out for Dunfermline Athletic in their pre-season trial game of 7 August 1937 and, after nabbing a hat-trick, the “smart winger” as he was labelled, signed to terms with the Second Division outfit. He had a good season at East End Park, netting 8 goals in 21 league games as the Pars finished 9th, but was granted a free transfer come May, the bosses unhappy at having failed to win promotion. It's not clear what happened to Fred during 1938-39, but in the close season of 1939 he was re-instated as a junior, signing once more with Alva Albion Rangers. One of Fred's sons, Jackie, a right half, went on to have a decent career in the game in the 50s and 60s with Aston Villa, Workington & Hartlepools United. And one of Fred's grandsons did likewise, Craig Hinchliffe (nephew of Jackie) 'keeping goal for Elgin City, Arbroath, St Mirren… and Partick Thistle! In doing so, the Hinchliffe's became just the second-known Grandfather & Grandson pairing in Thistle history, following on from John & John Harvey! In conversation with Grandson Craig, we were fascinated to hear that Fred was yet another footballer who joined the Army to aid the war effort. In general terms, Fred most likely served in the Royal Army Service Corps, part of the Army Logistics Corps at that time. Fred was stationed in Africa as a tanker driver, which served him well when it was all over, as he continued to drive tankers for BP in civilian life. In his leisure time, Fred was a keen and talented golfer, and played from scratch. On account of his service during WWII, Fred is included in our feature piece, The Partick Thistle returned →. |
| (WS/JK/SD/AFK) |
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