| George MacKay |
 George Hector William MacKay was born on Sunday, 28th September, 1890, in Nairn, Nairnshire. The midfielder first appeared for Thistle in May, 1912, whilst a Forres Mechanics player. Aged 21, he made his debut appearance on Wednesday, 1st May, 1912, in a 0-0 neutral-venue defeat (on corners) against Celtic in the Glasgow Charity Cup. There were no goals for George during his spell with Thistle. He played his last game for the club on Monday, 7th April, 1913, in a 2-0 win away to Raith Rovers in the SFL First Division, having appeared as a Jag on 4 occasions. His club-list included Forres Mechanics, Partick Thistle, Caledonian and Nairn County. George died on Sunday, 14th October 1956, in Aberdeen, aged 66. |
 The son of Hector MacKay (plasterer) and Harriet MacKay (née Barker). George, predominantly a left half, journeyed from the Highlands to Maryhill in the late springtime of 1912. He tried as a guest at Ibrox on May day, as Thistle took on Celtic in a goal-less Charity Cup encounter. Jags lost out 3-8 on the corners count. Celtic lost a forward after 20 mins with an eye injury but it made little difference. Thistle's forwards were poor and it made for a poor game. There were chances at both ends but defences were always on top. Celtic's corner tally reflected their share of attacking play. The Forres Mechanics man re-appeared with the Thistle Reserves in December 1912 and formally signed in January 1913. He was described in the Daily Record at that time as being “a sturdily built young chap of good height and weight”. From then until the end of the season he was a regular in the reserves, a season in which Thistle were the defending champions of Scotland. In March and early April, George got another chance in the first team, appearing in low-key defeats to Kilmarnock and Third Lanark in the ill-fated and disrespected Glasgow & District Mid-Week League, a competition which was never completed. George's 4th and final match in the first team came on 7th April 1913 when he finally got his first start in the league when Thistle, on a poor run of one win in eight, travelled to Kirkcaldy to take on a Raith Rovers side which, although was 2nd bottom, were on a good run of form at Stark's Park and were through to the final of the Scottish Cup. It was goalless at half-time, but not for the want of chances; both teams made and missed them. Things improved for Thistle, and Branscombe scored twice not long after half-time before lethargic Rovers woke up and hit the bar late on. It was a surprising win, and a great way for George to bow out on a positive note. George joined the 2/4 Battalion Cameron Highlanders in late 1915. This Battalion was principally a reserve Battalion, but George was sent to France in 1918, and served with another Battalion in the same Regiment there. This was most likely the 5th Battalion Cameron Highlanders. He was promoted to Sergeant while he was in the field, and was wounded in April 1918 and again in October 1918, just before war ended. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. George returned to Scotland in 1919, where he was subsequently discharged from the Army. When suitably recovered, George returned to football in the Highlands, playing with Caledonian and Nairn County. He became manager at County, where he also continued to play until his late 30s. At various stages of his working life, George was described as a baker and a confectioner, and was living in Nairn when he passed away in the autumn of 1956 at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, pneumonia being the stated cause. He was laid to rest at Nairn Cemetery. On account of his service during WWI, George is included in our feature piece, The Partick Thistle returned →. |
| (WS/JK/AFK/DMAC) |