John C. Spence

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John C. Spence

John Couper Spence was born on Sunday, 28th December, 1873, in Newcastle upon Tyne. The goalkeeper signed for Thistle in 1896. Aged 22, he made his first known appearance on Saturday, 7th March, 1896, in a 4-2 defeat away to Airdrieonians in the SFL Second Division. John kept his first known clean-sheet on Saturday, 13th February, 1897, in a 6-0 win away to Motherwell in the SFL Second Division. He registered the last of his 10 known clean-sheets on Saturday, 20th January, 1900, in a 1-0 friendly win at home to Port Glasgow Athletic. He played his last known game for the club on Saturday, 3rd March, 1900, in a 4-1 defeat at home to Kilmarnock in the Western League, having appeared for the Thistle on at least 79 occasions. His known club-list included only Partick Thistle. John died on Thursday, 13th October, 1932, in Paisley, Renfrewshire, aged 58. * If you can help us to improve any of these marked points on The Thistle Archive, then please do get in touch →

John C. Spence's Summary Totals

League	47	21	4	22	5
Competitive	54	22	4	28	5
All Games	79	35	8	36	10

Bio Extra

Spence was an unknown quantity but did well at Thistle, and was a key component of the title-winning team in 1896-97. Rose with the Jags to play top-flight football the following season and completed the excellent feat of having a 100% attendance record in all 21 of the competitive games that term. Retired early from the game in the springtime of 1900 on the grounds of ill health. Following his death in 1932 he was laid to rest at Hawkhead Cemetery in Paisley.

(WS)

Every Game

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(age) 1895-96

1. (22y, 2m, 8d) #1 Sat-07-Mar-1896 [a] L2-4 Airdrieonians (SFL Second Division - game 16)

2. (22y, 2m, 15d) #1 Sat-14-Mar-1896 [a] L1-7 Morton (SFL Second Division - game 17)

3. (22y, 3m, 0d) #1 Sat-28-Mar-1896 [a] L2-5 Clyde (Friendly)

4. (22y, 3m, 14d) #1 Sat-11-Apr-1896 [a] W3-2 Kilmarnock (SFL Second Division - game 18)

5. (22y, 3m, 21d) #1 Sat-18-Apr-1896 [h] W2-1 Morton (Friendly)

6. (22y, 3m, 28d) #1 Sat-25-Apr-1896 [h] W4-2 Clyde (Friendly)

7. (22y, 4m, 4d) #1 Sat-02-May-1896 [h] W7-1 Wishaw Thistle (Friendly)

8. (22y, 4m, 13d) #1 Mon-11-May-1896 [h] D2-2 Rangers (Friendly)

9. (22y, 5m, 2d) #1 Sat-30-May-1896 [h] W6-2 Linthouse (Friendly)

(age) 1896-97

10. (22y, 9m, 5d) #1 Sat-03-Oct-1896 [h] W4-1 Cameronians (Glasgow Cup 1st Round)

11. (22y, 10m, 17d) #1 Sat-14-Nov-1896 [h] W6-1 Dumbarton (SFL Second Division - game 5)

12. (22y, 10m, 24d) #1 Sat-21-Nov-1896 [h] W3-2 Linthouse (SFL Second Division - game 6)

13. (22y, 11m, 0d) #1 Sat-28-Nov-1896 [a] W2-1 Airdrieonians (SFL Second Division - game 7)

14. (22y, 11m, 7d) #1 Sat-05-Dec-1896 [h] W4-1 Port Glasgow Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 8)

15. (22y, 11m, 14d) #1 Sat-12-Dec-1896 [a] L1-3 Leith Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 9)

16. (22y, 11m, 21d) #1 Sat-19-Dec-1896 [h] W2-1 Vale of Leven (Friendly)

17. (23y, 0m, 12d) #1 Sat-09-Jan-1897 [h] L2-4 Rangers (Scottish Cup 1st Round)

18. (23y, 0m, 19d) #1 Sat-16-Jan-1897 [a] D2-2 Port Glasgow Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 10)

19. (23y, 0m, 26d) #1 Sat-23-Jan-1897 [a] W2-1 Renton (SFL Second Division - game 11)

20. (23y, 1m, 16d) #1 Sat-13-Feb-1897 [a] W6-0 Motherwell (SFL Second Division - game 12)

21. (23y, 1m, 23d) #1 Sat-20-Feb-1897 [h] W6-2 Motherwell (SFL Second Division - game 13)

22. (23y, 1m, 30d) #1 Sat-27-Feb-1897 [a] W5-3 Linthouse (SFL Second Division - game 14)

23. (23y, 2m, 6d) #1 Sat-06-Mar-1897 [h] W6-2 Airdrieonians (Friendly)

24. (23y, 2m, 13d) #1 Sat-13-Mar-1897 [h] W3-0 Renton (Friendly)

25. (23y, 2m, 20d) #1 Sat-20-Mar-1897 [h] W5-0 Leith Athletic (SFL Second Division - game 15)

26. (23y, 2m, 27d) #1 Sat-27-Mar-1897 [a] W3-1 Kilmarnock (SFL Second Division - game 16)

27. (23y, 3m, 6d) #1 Sat-03-Apr-1897 [h] D1-1 Linthouse (Friendly)

28. (23y, 3m, 13d) #1 Sat-10-Apr-1897 [h] D2-2 Third Lanark (Friendly)

29. (23y, 3m, 20d) #1 Sat-17-Apr-1897 [h] W2-0 Kilmarnock (SFL Second Division - game 17)

30. (23y, 3m, 27d) #1 Sat-24-Apr-1897 [a] W4-3 Morton (SFL Second Division - game 18)

31. (23y, 4m, 0d) #1 Wed-28-Apr-1897 [h] W4-3 Blackburn Rovers (Friendly)

32. (23y, 4m, 3d) #1 Sat-01-May-1897 [h] L3-4 Clyde (Friendly)

33. (23y, 4m, 8d) #1 Thu-06-May-1897 [h] W2-0 St Bernard's (Friendly)

34. (23y, 4m, 10d) #1 Sat-08-May-1897 [a] W2-1 Dundee (Friendly)

35. (23y, 4m, 16d) #1 Fri-14-May-1897 [a] D1-1 Arthurlie (Friendly)

(age) 1897-98

36. (23y, 8m, 4d) #1 Wed-01-Sep-1897 [h] L1-5 Rangers (Friendly)

37. (23y, 8m, 7d) #1 Sat-04-Sep-1897 [h] W3-2 Heart of Midlothian (SFL First Division - game 1)

38. (23y, 8m, 11d) #1 Wed-08-Sep-1897 [h] L0-1 Celtic (Friendly)

39. (23y, 8m, 14d) #1 Sat-11-Sep-1897 [a] L0-1 St Mirren (SFL First Division - game 2)

40. (23y, 8m, 21d) #1 Sat-18-Sep-1897 [h] L0-6 Rangers (Glasgow Cup 1st Round)

41. (23y, 8m, 28d) #1 Sat-25-Sep-1897 [h] W3-1 Dundee (SFL First Division - game 3)

42. (23y, 9m, 4d) #1 Sat-02-Oct-1897 [a] L2-4 Hibernian (SFL First Division - game 4)

43. (23y, 9m, 11d) #1 Sat-09-Oct-1897 [h] L1-5 Rangers (SFL First Division - game 5)

44. (23y, 9m, 18d) #1 Sat-16-Oct-1897 [h] W1-0 St Mirren (SFL First Division - game 6)

45. (23y, 9m, 25d) #1 Sat-23-Oct-1897 [a] L0-5 Dundee (SFL First Division - game 7)

46. (23y, 10m, 2d) #1 Sat-30-Oct-1897 [h] D1-1 Clyde (SFL First Division - game 8)

47. (23y, 10m, 9d) #1 Sat-06-Nov-1897 [h] W5-3 St Bernard's (SFL First Division - game 9)

48. (23y, 10m, 16d) #1 Sat-13-Nov-1897 [a] W3-2 Clyde (SFL First Division - game 10)

49. (23y, 10m, 23d) #1 Sat-20-Nov-1897 [h] L0-3 Hibernian (SFL First Division - game 11)

50. (23y, 11m, 6d) #1 Sat-04-Dec-1897 [a] L1-9 St Bernard's (SFL First Division - game 12)

51. (23y, 11m, 13d) #1 Sat-11-Dec-1897 [h] L3-6 Celtic (SFL First Division - game 13)

52. (23y, 11m, 20d) #1 Sat-18-Dec-1897 [h] W1-0 Linthouse (Friendly)

53. (23y, 11m, 27d) #1 Sat-25-Dec-1897 [a] L2-6 Heart of Midlothian (SFL First Division - game 14)

54. (24y, 0m, 4d) #1 Sat-01-Jan-1898 [h] W5-2 Third Lanark (SFL First Division - game 15)

55. (24y, 0m, 6d) #1 Mon-03-Jan-1898 [a] L1-6 Rangers (SFL First Division - game 16)

56. (24y, 0m, 11d) #1 Sat-08-Jan-1898 [a] L1-2 Dundee (Scottish Cup 1st Round)

57. (24y, 1m, 1d) #1 Sat-29-Jan-1898 [a] L1-3 Celtic (SFL First Division - game 17)

58. (24y, 1m, 15d) #1 Sat-12-Feb-1898 [a] L2-5 Third Lanark (SFL First Division - game 18)

59. (24y, 1m, 22d) #1 Sat-19-Feb-1898 [a] L4-5 Clyde (Friendly)

60. (24y, 2m, 12d) #1 Sat-12-Mar-1898 [h] L2-4 Ayr Parkhouse (Friendly)

61. (24y, 2m, 19d) #1 Sat-19-Mar-1898 [h] W3-0 St Mirren (Friendly)

62. (24y, 2m, 26d) #1 Sat-26-Mar-1898 [h] L0-2 Dundee (Scottish First Division re-election play-off)

63. (24y, 3m, 12d) #1 Sat-09-Apr-1898 [a] L1-3 St Mirren (Friendly)

(age) 1898-99

64. (24y, 8m, 27d) #1 Sat-24-Sep-1898 [h] L1-4 St Mirren (SFL First Division - game 5)

65. (24y, 9m, 3d) #1 Sat-01-Oct-1898 [a] L1-5 Dundee (SFL First Division - game 6)

66. (24y, 9m, 17d) #1 Sat-15-Oct-1898 [a] L1-5 Heart of Midlothian (SFL First Division - game 8)

67. (24y, 9m, 24d) #1 Sat-22-Oct-1898 [a] W3-2 St Bernard's (SFL First Division - game 9)

68. (24y, 10m, 1d) #1 Sat-29-Oct-1898 [a] L1-3 Clyde (SFL First Division - game 10)

69. (24y, 10m, 8d) #1 Sat-05-Nov-1898 [h] L0-5 Rangers (SFL First Division - game 11)

70. (24y, 10m, 15d) #1 Sat-12-Nov-1898 [a] D2-2 St Mirren (SFL First Division - game 12)

71. (24y, 10m, 29d) #1 Sat-26-Nov-1898 [a] L0-4 Celtic (SFL First Division - game 13)

72. (24y, 11m, 5d) #1 Sat-03-Dec-1898 [h] L3-8 Celtic (SFL First Division - game 14)

73. (24y, 11m, 12d) #1 Sat-10-Dec-1898 [a] D1-1 Hibernian (SFL First Division - game 15)

74. (24y, 11m, 19d) #1 Sat-17-Dec-1898 [h] L1-3 Third Lanark (SFL First Division - game 16)

75. (25y, 0m, 3d) #1 Sat-31-Dec-1898 [h] W2-0 Dundee (SFL First Division - game 17)

76. (25y, 0m, 6d) #1 Tue-03-Jan-1899 [h] L2-8 Rangers (Glasgow League - game 1)

(age) 1899-00

77. (26y, 0m, 23d) #1 Sat-20-Jan-1900 [h] W1-0 Port Glasgow Athletic (Friendly)

78. (26y, 1m, 27d) #1 Sat-24-Feb-1900 [a] L4-5 Hamilton Academical (Friendly)

79. (26y, 2m, 4d) #1 Sat-03-Mar-1900 [h] L1-4 Kilmarnock (Western League - game 4)

Every Clean-Sheet

compiled from our All Games criteria.

#
1	23y, 1m, 16d		13.02.1897 Motherwell [a] W6-0 (SFL Second Division - game 12)
2	23y, 2m, 13d		13.03.1897 Renton [h] W3-0 (Friendly)
3	23y, 2m, 20d		20.03.1897 Leith Athletic [h] W5-0 (SFL Second Division - game 15)
4	23y, 3m, 20d		17.04.1897 Kilmarnock [h] W2-0 (SFL Second Division - game 17)
5	23y, 4m, 8d		06.05.1897 St Bernard's [h] W2-0 (Friendly)
6	23y, 9m, 18d		16.10.1897 St Mirren [h] W1-0 (SFL First Division - game 6)
7	23y, 11m, 20d		18.12.1897 Linthouse [h] W1-0 (Friendly)
8	24y, 2m, 19d		19.03.1898 St Mirren [h] W3-0 (Friendly)
9	25y, 0m, 3d		31.12.1898 Dundee [h] W2-0 (SFL First Division - game 17)
10	26y, 0m, 23d		20.01.1900 Port Glasgow Athletic [h] W1-0 (Friendly)

John C. Spence's clean-sheet ratio
10/79 ← success rate → 12.7%

Thistle's clean-sheet ratio
1585/6793 ← success rate → 23.3%
@ 22-Sep-2024

Every Penalty Faced

compiled from our All Games criteria.

#	v.
1	? v. John C. Spence		25.04.1896 Clyde [h] W4-2 (Friendly)	2-2, pen 1st half
2	Tom Hyslop v. John C. Spence		18.09.1897 Rangers [h] L0-6 (Glasgow Cup 1st Round)	0-5, pen 2nd half
3	Tom Robertson v. John C. Spence		25.12.1897 Heart of Midlothian [a] L2-6 (SFL First Division - game 14)	unconverted @ 2-4, 2nd half
4	William Steel v. John C. Spence		09.04.1898 St Mirren [a] L1-3 (Friendly)	1-2, pen 2nd half

John C. Spence's penalty goal prevention
1/4 ← success rate → 25.0%

Thistle's penalty goal prevention
248/842 ← success rate → 29.5%
@ 17-Sep-2024

Thistle Honours

1897 - LEAGUE (2nd tier) Champion

the decisive game…

1897 - SFL SECOND DIVISION Sat-17-Apr-1897 [h] W2-0 Kilmarnock (SFL Second Division - game 17) Despite almost constant pressure Thistle had only one goal to show for their efforts by h-t. The 2nd half was just as close but a second goal eased the nerves and secured the championship but promotion to the first division was only confirmed by committee on 1 June. Lamont and Currie got the goals. Committee

• Listed per out Honours list criteria.
• Players who have contributed an appearance in any given tournament are included.

Gallery

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• At Hawkhead Cemetery, Paisley, R.I.P. (FAG)