The Thistle Archive

Matters have been very lively in Association circles during the past week. More than local interest centred in the match between Everton and Partick Thistle. The latter is one of the best Scotch clubs, and is the only one which has been on tour in England at the Christmas and New Year festivities. It was a matter of interesting speculation as to what sort of team Everton would put into the field, and when it was seen that Dobson, Wilding, Farmer, Corey and Fleming were absent, there was small hope the home team would make a decent fight of it. However, the scratch team which had been got together for the occasion by no means disgraced the club, and the match furnished the Everton committee with several suggestions which may be of use in the future when arranging the team. Richards disclosed a penchant for centre forward play which came as a surprise for those who have only seen him as a wing player. Fayer, too, once again demonstrated a fact which has been patent to many for some time, that as centre half-back he has no superior in the club. Pickering was a failure at full back, and Powell in the forward ranks did not come up to expectation. The Partick players were a very evenly-balanced team, and one or two of their players showed brilliant form. Suter, brother to famous back of the Blackburn Rovers, was ever on the ball, in conjunction with Johnstone, whilst Robertson, in the centre, played a dashing game. McKie [sic], the half-back who was enticed to Burnley, but who was found to be non eat [?] after a week’s sojourn in the East Lancashire town, played with the Thistle for the first time after a two months’ suspension, and was in fine form. The backs Brown and Hendry held the opposing forwards in check with apparent ease. The Thistle won somewhat easily by 3 goals to nil, and appeared to have a good deal in hand.

Liverpool Mercury, Monday, 4th January, 1886

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