What was the date, score or venue?
21-Sep-2023 A total of 26 matches (17 of which are "off database") are giving us trouble in terms of the date, the scoreline, the name of the venue or the home/away designation. If you can help with any of these please do get in touch. n.b. the nominal dates below prefixed with a "?" are simply educated guesses.
# DB? match date match ?
26 No Tue-06-Aug-1985 Troon F.C. [a] ?-? (Friendly) The HA lists this game in the first-team section, but no result has been found as yet. A programme was produced for the game and we're labelled as “Partick Thistle XI”, so this may not be a first-team match.
25 No Wed-08-Aug-1979 Cowdenbeath [a] ?-? (Friendly) Thistle fan 'GW' got in touch (22/12/2022) to report/query this game/score, said he attended it at Central Park as a 10-year-old on a family holiday. Says it was a fringe-type team, but Alan Rough played. The fixture is listed in the GH/ET of 8/8/1979. No GH 9/8/1979 in Google. Score not in ET 9/8/1979. APJ reports that the match was played behind closed doors, which seems to contradict our Thistle fan somewhat. SD says he's looked into it before - can't remember which paper(s) - and had no luck. We remain on the look-out!
24 Yes Sat-07-May-1960 Clachnacuddin / Inverness Thistle XI [a] W4-0 (Friendly) On which ground was this played?
23 Yes Wed-02-May-1956 Inverness Select [a] L1-2 (Friendly) On which ground was this played?
22 No Mon-03-Sep-1945 Maryhill [h] ?-? (Benefit Match) Nothing else to go on at the moment, but on Wednesday, 5th September, 1945, the Kirkintilloch Herald reported: “Maryhill and Partick Thistle met at Firhill on Monday in a benefit for Harry Gillies, a Twechar youth, who is on the sick list. Harry, who was outside left in the Maryhill team last season, is the former Townhead School footballer.”. Might there be something in the Evening Times we wonder?
21 No Mon-11-Sep-1933 Rangers [n] ?-? (Friendly) This exhibition match was played in connection with the 50th anniversary of the BB in September 1933. It took place at the Jubilee Camp in Dechmont, near Cambuslang, and followed on from the main week of celebrations in Glasgow. As part of the celebrations (100,000 at Hampden on the 10th for a church service) many of the boys were treated to a sail doon the watter followed by this exhibition match. The legendary officials in charge were Alan Morton (old BB boy) as referee and current players Davie Meiklejohn (Rangers) and Johnny Ballantyne (Thistle) running the lines. Belfast Telegraph, Falkirk Herald and West Lothian Courier all confirm this took place on Monday 11th, but no further details have been found. Perhaps the Daily Record might have something.
20 No Thu-20-Apr-1911 Churches League Select [h] ?-? (Friendly) What was the score? “Now that the championship has been settled, attention must be paid to the representative games, the first of which is due at Firhill against the Partick Thistle, on Thursday evening, April 20, at 6.30. Mr Easton, the genial secretary of the Firhill club, has agreed to put a strong team on the field, and as the select of the League is, by no means, weak, a splendid contest is sure to be forthcoming. All well wishers of the League – and there are many – should make a point to be present on the 20th. The League team is as follows:- J. Tweedle (St Barnabas’); D. Cathro (Bluevale) and R. Jones (St Rollox); A. Chisholm (Dennistoun), A. Baxter (St Mark’s) and W. Coulter (Pollokshws); A. Davidson (Gorbals’), R. Gardner (Whitevale), A. Heggie (Rutherglen), D. Woods (West Maryston) and R. Lyon (Kelvinside)” (SR, 10th April, 1911). An advert for the match appeared in the 17th April edition of the same paper.
19 No Thu-04-May-1905 Glasgow Perthshire [a] ?-? (Friendly) Part of a Scottish Referee box advert (Mon-01-May-1905) read: “THURSDAY NIGHT, 4th MAY, PERTHSHIRE v. PARTICK THISTLE. Nelson Park, Bilsland Drive, Maryhill. Kick-off, 7 prompt. Admission, 3d, boys 1d.” The only report found so far was in the Scottish Referee (Mon-08-May-1905) which read “Perthshire had out some juveniles against Partick Thistle on Thursday. The juveniles in the team all made a show, and a number of them have places in the team for next season.” Alas, no result.
18 No Thu-24-Apr-1902 Milngavie [?] L?-? (Partick & Whiteinch Masonic Lodges Benefit) No scoreline has yet been found and two different dates have been reported. KG (Saturday 3rd May 1902) wrote: “Milngavie beat a strong team of PT on Friday”. Given there is a report of another match “on Saturday” we assume it's referring to the week before, and that they reckon the Milngavie game was therefore on Friday 25/4. However, the SR (Monday 28th April 1892) reckons it was played Thursday 24/4: “Milngavie were in great form against Partick Thistle at Milngave last Thursday night, before some four hundred spectators, when they defeated a strong team of the Thistle, including such players as Connor, Massie, McAllister, Muirhead, Lamont, McDonald, Law, Wilson & co.” It was a strong Thistle side with almost 200 competitive appearances between them in that season. The Thursday seems more likely.
17 No Fri-31-May-1895 Glasgow Select [h] ?-? (Willie Paul Benefit) EY reports: "During the close season, faithful servant Willie Paul was rewarded for his eleven years as a member of the club, with a benefit match against a Glasgow Select. Paul was presented with a purse of sovereigns as his testimonial". We would dearly like to find out the details of this match played in honour of such a Thistle giant. The SR (31/5/1895) wrote: "Partick Thistle play a match with a select team of Glasgow players tonight at Inchview, Whiteinch, the proceeds of which will go towards the testimonial to Mr. William Paul. Several old friends will be in the Glasgow team - namely George Gillespie, Tom Robertson, R. Smillie [sic] & co. - and the Partick Thistle will have out their full team. It is hoped there will be a bumper gate, as no one deserves it more than the genial Willie Paul." It looks like a cert for inclusion in our first team database - if we can find the score!
16 No Mon-31-Dec-1894 Clachnacuddin [a] ?-? (Friendly) Did this match come off? Thistle toured the North of Scotland in the New Year period of 1894-95 as EY tells: “the local Thistle club had been advertising 'The Match of the Season' since October and had been anticipating the game with excitement. A couple of weeks before the game rivals Clachnacuddin announced that they would play Partick Thistle too, on Hogmanay. The Thistle club were furious and accused their rivals of opportunism. Clach in response pointed out that Thistle had arranged their game in direct opposition to the Clach v Port Glasgow game on New Year’s Day. No score was reported for the Clachnacuddin game, and a 1-2 defeat was recorded against Inverness Thistle.” We note that the pitch was hard and covered in snow for the 1st January game so perhaps the scheduled game on the 31st was cancelled.
15 No Fri-16-Jun-1893 Minerva [h] ?-? (Whiteinch Orphanage Benefit) Partick Thistle meet a team of Old Minerva players at Inchview on Friday evening first. This is the annual match in aid of funds of the Whiteinch Orphanage. Thistle will play the following team:- J. McCorkindale, William Prodfoot, Peter Rodger, William Edgar, Stewart Munn, D. Bruce, J. Gilchrist, W. Freebairn, B. Fyffe, G. Hurry and Hope Robertson. Minerva's team will be:- C. McCall, W. Sinclair, D. Stewart, R. Craig, J. Harvie, A. McLachlan, R. Currie, A. Stewart, M. O. White, J. Mulvey and J. Gellaity.” (SR, 16/6/1893). Friday evening first is a bit ambiguous, given the paper was published on the Friday. We presume it to be Friday 16th June, although it could be Friday 23rd June. Looks a cert for the first team DB, just awaiting the score reveal to clarify all.
14 No Sat-01-Aug-1891 St Cuthbert Wanderers [a] ?-? (Friendly) The Wanderers open on Saturday with Partick Thistle” (SR, 27-Jul-1891). This would be exactly one week ahead of our first-ever (Scottish Alliance) League game at home to Ayr, looks good if it can be found.
13 No ?Sat-30-May-1891 Partick Thistle Past [h] ?-? (Whiteinch Orphanage Benefit) EY reports: “The second charity match [at the end of 1890-91] was more interesting, combining a team of past Thistle players with the current side. The match was in aid of the Whiteinch Orphanage funds. The Past team was: Andrew Duff; John Hendry, Thomas Campbell; Robert Robertson, Geo Ward, Robert Marshall; Jerry Suter, Andrew Johnstone, A.Mackay, John Young, David Hislop. The current team lined up: John McCorkindale; John Herd, William Proudfoot; J.Smith, John Cameron, John Stewart; Willie Paul, J.H.Davie, Walter Keay, Sam Clark, John Gilchrist”. Hopefully we can retrace steps and have the actual date and scoreline confirmed at some stage.
12 No Tue-26-May-1891 Abercorn [a] ?-? (Friendly) The GEP (22/5/1891) reported: “The Partick Thistle will visit Paisley on Tuesday evening [26/5] to meet the Abercorn”. Alas, we can find no subsequent reports to confirm the scoreline, or whether the match even took place.
11 No Mon-25-May-1891 Irving Dramatic Club [h] ?-? (Grand Character Match) EY reports: “One of the end of season matches at Inchview in 1890-91 was played in aid of charity and was billed as a “Grand Character Match”, involving the Irving Dramatic Club. The players who took part got into the spirit. Partick Thistle lined up: Artful Dodger; Dudeworthy, Sweeney Todd; Chinaman, Tommy Atkins, Mary Anderson; Silver King, McGinty, Prince Charlie, Tom Bowling, A Warrior Bold. The Irving team was: Pirate; Policeman, Slavey; Nero, Malabar, Mikado; Alley Sloper, Tootsie, Bluebeard, Annie Rooney, Rob Roy. The referee was Old Nick, who rode about the field on horseback.” We have no result for this game, but it can be dated via the GEP (22/5/1891) who wrote: “The Partick Thistle will meet the Irvine [sic] Dramatic Club at Whiteinch on Monday first” (25th May). An account of the match appeared in the Referee (1st June): “Irving Dramatic Club played a burlesque football match with Partick Thistle last Monday night. Much hilarity was caused by the amusing antics of the players, who were got up in grotesque style. The result is a puzzle.” We've never been so pleased NOT to find the result of a match, as it saves us having to deal with such nonsense! We suspect that the Dramatic Club might have had some connection to Thistle. Shared committee members maybe? We note that Minerva played them in 1890 (circa August), we played them in 1891 (circa May) and Partick Virginia played them in mid-June, 1892. All three of these matches were for charity and were played at Inchview.”
10 No ?Sat-19-May-1888 Northern [a] L0-2 (Friendly) A 2-0 end-of-season defeat at Hyde Park was reported in the EY season review text, but we need to find a date for the match. Hopefully we can retrace steps and have this one confirmed at some stage.
9 Yes Sat-21-May-1887 Caledonian Thistle [a] L0-2 (Friendly) What was the name of Caledonian Thistle's ground?
8 No ?Mon-04-Jan-1886 Barrow [a] ?-? (Friendly) Game gets a mention in the EY season review text which states that “no outcome was reported”. Was a date scheduled we wonder? Did the match take place? Two tour games were played down south that New Year: Fri-01-Jan-1886 Everton [a] W3-0 (Friendly) & Sat-02-Jan-1886 Stoke City [a] L1-2 (Friendly)
7 Yes Sat-11-Dec-1880 Helensburgh Victoria [a] W1-0 (Friendly) What was the name of Helensburgh Victoria's park?
6 Yes Sat-28-Feb-1880 Ardayre [a] W6-1 (Friendly) What was the name of Ardayre's park?
5 Yes Sat-28-Dec-1878 Thornliebank Rainbow [a] W2-1 (West Of Scotland Cup 2nd Round) What was the name of Thornliebank Rainbow's park?
4 Yes Sat-27-Oct-1877 Paperstainers [a] W2-0 (Friendly) What was the name of Paperstainers's park? Their mill was was in Whiteinch. Maybe Inchview?
3 Yes Sat-02-Jun-1877 Smithfield [a] W1-0 (Friendly) What was the name of Smithfield's park?
2 Yes Sat-25-Mar-1876 Smithfield [a] W2-1 (Friendly) What was the name of Smithfield's park?
1 No Sat-11-Mar-1876 Valencia [a] ?-? (Friendly) The “return leg” of our 19th February fixture was advertised (NBDM) in editions from 24th February to the very day of the match. It was to be played at Glasgow Green. Alas, there was no result listed in the edition of Monday, 13th March, nor in any other paper that we've checked.

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