Hugh Strachan - The Thistle Archive

Hugh Strachan

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● Hugh Strachan, 1973 (ABC)

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 175 appearances as a Jag.

Hugh's club-list included Troon, Cumnock Juniors, Motherwell, Morton, Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle.

compiled from our All Games criteria.


31y, 5m, 18d		08.08.1970 Stirling Albion [a] W3-2 (League Cup Section 5 - game 1)

Hugh featured at #11 in our Top 11 countdown here on The Thistle Archive →

Saturday 8th August 1970 League Cup Section 5 – game 1 Stirling Albion [a] W3-2

This well-respected central forward turned central defender arrived at Firhill from Rugby Park at the age of 31. Davie McParland identified him as the wise head who could guide his new young team from the back, and this proved to be one of the shrewdest bits of business that Davie ever done. Over the course of the next four seasons, Hugh expertly marshalled the young lions, both as a player and a coach.

Todays’ game typified the general feeling around Firhill as the decade turned – there was a keen sense of “out with the old, in with the new”. Gone from last season (as well as the hoops) were the likes of Billy Ritchie in goals, and attacking players such as Dan McLindon, Arthur Duncan and John Flanagan. Getting their first competitive starts in this game were Denis McQuade, Hugh Strachan and Alex Rae. After almost 18 months as assistant, Davie McParland had taken the reins from Scot Symon back in April. As manager, Davie would have a beautiful love-affair with the League Cup - although the first date didn’t get off to the best of starts…

After just 7 minutes in game one of Section 5, Thistle found themselves two-nil down at Annfield Park. It could perhaps be ascertained that the young Jags weren’t too phased with this predicament. Witness firstly Denis McQuade – on 35 minutes he glides the ball home on a lovely through pass from Alex Rae. Only two-one down at half-time. Hope springs eternal.

Witness secondly HUGH STRACHAN for our Number 11 entry. We’re 8 minutes into the second half. Denis McQuade shoots – but it’s saved by the sprawling George Young in the Stirling goal. But wait - Jimmy Bone is onto the rebound – BANG, saved again, NO! Ball breaks to the on rushing Hugh Strachan. THIS TIME! Hugh drives it home emphatically. TWO EACH! One can only speculate at the bond which is created at that very special moment. All the new boys were sinking together – suddenly they’re all rejuvenated, alive and very much kicking.

Jimmy Bone completes the marvellous comeback with a winner with 18 minutes to go. The holy trinity is singing hallelujah – players, manager and supporters as one.

This proved to be Hugh’s one and only goal for the Jags and he leads the way in that criminally under-reported statistical category “most competitive appearances without another goal after scoring on your debut” with more than 140!

Nice one Shuggie, nice one son ♪ ♫

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