| J. McKay |
 J. McKay (forename unknown) was probably born in Scotland, although his place and date of birth remain unknown to us. * The forward probably joined Thistle in 1879 or 1880. He made his first-known appearance on Saturday, 23rd October, 1880, in a 3-0 defeat away to Rangers in the Scottish Cup. There were no known goals for McKay during his spell with Thistle. He played his second (and last known) game for the club on Saturday, 1st January, 1881, in a 6-0 friendly win away to Brechin. His known club-list included only Partick Thistle. We don't know where or when McKay died. *
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 Information is sparse on J. McKay, whose first-known game as a Jag was a huge affair at the time. Season 1880-81 was an important one for Partick Thistle FC. In the summer of 1880, having secured their own private grounds at Jordanvale, the club applied to the Scottish Football Association for membership which was duly granted, and participation in the Scottish Cup for the first time was assured. McKay was listed at #7 for the second round tie at Kinning Park, home to Rangers. Thistle's club-record crowd of 1,000 was set - but the 3-0 loss highlighted the gap which existed between Thistle and the top teams in the country. “It was pretty clear from the beginning of the game that the Partick Thistle would not be able to compete against their swift opponents. Nevertheless they played a good game” said the Glasgow Herald. Having played in Thistle's biggest game in their short history, it stands to reason that McKay will have featured before and after the Rangers game. It's likely, for example, that he featured in Thistle's first-ever Scottish Cup tie at Jordanhill early in October 1880, just two weeks before the Rangers game in which he was quoted. As ever, we remain on alert for further clues. Only one further confirmed appearance has been found, and that came when he turned out at #10 in a New Years Day friendly at Brechin in 1881. At that time, it was easily the furthest that Thistle had ever travelled for a game, the previous record having been set at Helensburgh just weeks before. The story goes that two Thistle members (brothers) originally hailed from Brechin and were keen to spread "the Association Football gospel" as it were. The Earl of Dalhousie gave up his fields at Brechin Castle Park for the occasion and a large and curious crowd turned out. The ground was in good condition, although the players had to contend with a strong wind. During the game (!) the Brechin Brass Band played "a choice selection of music". Thistle won six nil but, alas, no goalscorers were reported. It's likely Hamilton turned out for a second game on that "tour" which - even if we knew the score - will never be official since it was very much a bounce game whereby the two teams were split in half, the defenders of Brechin teaming up with the forwards of Thistle and vice-versa! |
| (WS/AFK) |