 |
Your Archive Needs YOU! Page upload volunteers are urgently required; free time is precious for everyone but if you can spare some then please do get in touch → and play your part in helping to build an Archive for all of Jagskind to use and enjoy! Read more → |
| James MacLachlan |
 James William MacLachlan was born on Tuesday, 25th January, 1887, in Glasgow. The midfielder joined George Easton's Thistle in the Autumn of 1910, having most recently been with Vale of Leven. Aged 23, he made his debut appearance on Wednesday, 2nd November, 1910, in a 3-2 defeat away to Rangers in a Benefit match. There were no goals for James during his time with Thistle. He made his last appearance for the club on Tuesday, 15th October, 1912, in a 6-1 defeat at home to Clyde in the Glasgow & District Mid-Week League, having appeared as a Jag on 6 occasions. His club-list included Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, Vale of Leven and Partick Thistle. James died on Monday, 12th May, 1969, in Kelvinbridge, Glasgow, aged 82. |
| James MacLachlan's Summary Totals |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Competitive | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| All Games | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
 The son of Peter MacLachlan (shipping merchant) and Susanna MacLachlan (née McLean), who originally hailed from Perthshire. The family lived in Bothwell, and the father ran the shipping company P. MacLachlan & Co in Glasgow. Peter died in 1892, aged only 36. At this time the mother was giving birth to a son, Ninian, who, like James, turned out to be sporty. Ninian played for Giffnock FC and was an accomplished golfer. James could play anywhere along the half-back line and, in his early 20s, was playing in the juniors with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. He got his first taste as a senior with Second Division Vale of Leven in 1909-10, making 12 competitive appearances that term. He switched to Firhill the following season, but would mainly play with Thistle reserves in his time at the club. James played in the inaugural Scottish Reserve League of 1910-11, and was a key man the following season as Thistle became reserve champions of Scotland. In August 1912, he was down to play in the season ahead: "Jas Fletcher, Jas MacLaughlan [sic], and Archie Robertson will be available and will play as amateurs" (SR, 02-Aug-1912). In 1914 the family, including the mother, emigrated to New Zealand where they ran a large sheep farm! When WWI came along, both of the brothers, Ninian and James (whose occupation was given as sheep farmer) enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. James served as a 2nd Lieutenant, then Lieutenant, and survived the war. Unfortunately, Ninian was killed in action in 1918. It was at this time that we learned, from the Glasgow Observer, that Ninian's big brother was our James MacLachlan. James returned to Scotland after the war and married Helen Glass in June 1920 at St Mary’s Church in Pollokshaws. He then returned to New Zealand, but some years later the whole family returned to Scotland. Mum died at Doune, on 6 December 1943 at the grand age of 87, surviving her husband by more than 50 years. James passed away at 108 Wilton Street on 12 May 1969, aged 82. He was buried in Dalbeth Cemetery. On account of his service during WWI, James is included in our feature piece, The Partick Thistle returned →. |
| (WS/JK) |
click on image to enlarge (magnifiable if deemed necessary by your browser)