| Hugh Strachan |
 Hugh Mair Strachan was born on Tuesday, 21st February, 1939, in Crookedholm, East Ayrshire. The 5' 10 (11st 4lbs) defender signed for Davie McParland's Thistle on Tuesday, 21st July, 1970, having most recently been with Kilmarnock. Aged 31, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 1st August, 1970, in a 1-0 friendly defeat away to Tranmere Rovers. Hugh scored his only goal for Thistle on Saturday, 8th August, 1970, in a 3-2 win away to Stirling Albion in the League Cup. He played his last game for the club on Sunday, 3rd February, 1974, in a 4-1 defeat away to Dundee in the SFL First Division, having clocked up 173 appearances as a Jag. Hugh's club-list included Troon, Cumnock Juniors, Motherwell, Morton, Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle. Hugh died on Monday, 22nd May, 2023, in Ayrshire, aged 84. |
 Born on the 21st of February, 1939, Hugh Mair Strachan was a proud Ayrshire boy and would represent Cumnock and Troon during his playing career but it was at Motherwell where he enjoyed his professional breakthrough. He would spend five years at Fir Park, seven at Cappielow with Morton and one full season at Kilmarnock before Partick Thistle finally came calling. And so it would be that, at the age of 31, the legendary Davie McParland brought the experienced defender to Firhill for what would prove to be an unforgettable four-year spell. Proving the perfect foil for the imperious Jackie Campbell in the Jags backline, Strachan’s consistency established him as a favourite with Thistle fans as the club raced to the 1970/71 Scottish Second Division title, climbing back to the top flight with the loss of just three matches in a 36-game league season. Much, much better was to come, of course, the following autumn when Thistle would embark on a 12 game Scottish League Cup run culminating in the greatest day in the club’s history on the 23rd of October, 1971. So much has been written about that great day when Alex Rae lifted the Scottish League Cup after Thistle defeated Celtic 4-1, Strachan and his defensive team-mates helping reduce the all-conquering opposition to just one Kenny Dalglish consolation in the second half. What a sensation, indeed. All in all, Strachan would appear for Thistle an impressive 174 times between 1970 and 1974, his only goal – fittingly – coming in the League Cup in August 1970, during a win away at Stirling Albion. Post career, Hugh remained in close contact with his fellow 1971 legends, many of whom visited him in Ayrshire in the autumn of 2021 around the 50th anniversary, when only ill health prevented Hugh from joining the various celebrations in Glasgow. |
| (PTFC) |
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