The Thistle Archive

BLACKBURN OLYMPIC v. PARTICK THISTLE. These clubs met on the grounds of the Thistle at Whiteinch, three miles from Glasgow, on Saturday afternoon, and were greeted on making their appearance by a very large crowd of spectators. The Olympic players seemed to be in excellent form, and the result of the game proved them to be so, for they beat the Scotch players handsomely by two goals to none. The game throughout was stiffly contested, and some excellent play was shown on both sides, but the neat passing of the Olympic forwards, and their safe half-back defence, were too much to be overcome by those opposing them. Hunter, of Sheffield, an International half-back, was in the Olympic team, and he did yeoman service for his side, but altogether the Englishmen were better players than the members of the Partick Thistle, who, however, have defeated some well-known local teams this season. It was fifteen minutes after kick off ere a goal was scored, but Wilson, for the Blackburn team, did the needful neatly, after some good passing from his fellow-forwards. Although every effort was made by the local men to equalise the match before half-time, it could not be done, and the second portion was begun with the score of one in favour of the Olympic. For a long time it looked as if the Thistle would succeed in coming up to their rivals, but a clever passing run by the English forwards, and a well-aimed ball from the foot of Wilson, which registered a second goal, dispelled the hopes of their friends. The game continued of an exciting character to the close, but no more scoring took place, and the Thistle had to put up with defeat by two goals to none.

Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Monday, 1st January, 1883

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