| George Gillespie |
| see also: George Gillespie (match official) → |
 George Gillespie was born on Thursday, 1st April, 1858, in Anderston, Glasgow. The goalkeeper first appeared as a guest for Thistle in August, 1887, having most recently been with Queen's Park. Aged 29, he made his first known appearance on Monday, 15th August, 1887, in a 2-0 win at home to Western Hibernians in a Benefit match. In doing so, George joined the goalies' clean-sheet debutant's club. He registered the last of his 3 known clean-sheets on Saturday, 22nd April, 1893, in a 4-0 win at home to Glasgow Thistle in the Scottish Alliance League. That was actually the last of his 3 known games for the club, so he left with a 100% clean-sheet record! His club-list included Rosslyn, Rangers, Queen's Park, Corinthians, Partick Thistle and St Bernard's. George died on Saturday, 3rd February, 1900, in Glasgow, aged 41. |
| George Gillespie's Summary Totals |
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 |
 |
 |
 |
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| League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Competitive | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All Games | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 As strange as it sounds these days, George was one of many players of his era to play outfield as well as in goals! 'Geordie' or 'Genial George' as he was known, sounds like an amiable chap who had friends many, and enemies none. As a contemporary report had it, he was tallish, yet not tall, and was for his years at football extremely boyish in appearance. He had, however, what youth always has with it, and that is abounding enthusiasm and confidence. He began his senior career as a defender at Rangers, with whom he reached the Scottish Cup final on two occasions, playing at full back in 1877 and as a 'keeper in 1879, only to lose out each time. Occasional outfield jolly's aside, he settled as a goalkeeper and was honoured with a string of international caps as Scotland's #1. Alongside another future-Jag - Peter Miller - George appeared in the famous 5-1 game against England in March 1882 which is immortalised by the striking mural which adorns 1st Hampden's present day incarnation at Hampden bowling club. After his move to Queen's Park early in 1884 - lamented by his friends at Rangers - those much-coveted national cup medals came thick and fast. In 1884 and 1885, George and Queen's Park achieved the extra-ordinary feat of reaching the English FA Cup final in successive seasons, although they had to settle for the runners-up accolade on both occasions. By this stage, poor George might have thought he was destined never to land the top prize, but the primary golds eventually did come, with two Scottish Cup wins in 1886 and 1890. George goes down as the first 'keeper in our story to keep a clean-sheet for his country, doing so in a 5-0 thumping win over Wales in March 1890. Brilliantly, he had been appointed captain for the game - another first for our story - so it was a double celebration. He captained the country once more in March 1891, defeating Ireland 2-1 at First Celtic Park in March, 1891. That signalled the end of his international career which had spanned 11 years at that point, great going for the era. His record was perfect too - 7 wins out of 7! Just as perfect was his record as a Jag. George obliged Thistle as a guest player on 3 separate occasions over 6 years and he kept a clean-sheet in all 3 victories, all played at Inchview; in 1887 (2-0 vs. Western Hibernians), in 1890 (4-0 vs. Pollokshaws) and in 1893 (4-0 vs. Glasgow Thistle). A wine and spirit merchant, George had pretty much given up the game in 1893 to focus on his business commitments, although he continued to play recreationally for a couple of years. He owned what is now the Neighbourhood Room and Kitchen Bar in the Finnieston Area of Glasgow. George lived at Radnor Street facing Kelvingrove Park and sadly passed away there in 1900. His early death aged 41 was caused by flu which developed into pneumonia, and he was buried in Glasgow's Western Necropolis. George is included in our feature piece, The Definitive Who's Who Of The Partick Thistle Internationalists →. |
| (WS) |
7 caps, 1 clean-sheet
d. Glasgow, 1900 (41)
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