The Thistle Archive

“Great attraction at Possilpark. Partick Thistle (full League team) v Ashfield Select, Monday, 25th August, Saracen Park, kick-off 6.45pm” (SR, 18/8/1902 & 22/8/1902).

On Monday evening a team of the Partick Thistle club visited Possilpark, where they played a match against a picked junior eleven in aid of Ashfield's club's funds. It is a pity the Partick club was not represented by a stronger side, for the juniors were a very smart lot and would have given a much better team a hard race for victory. An interesting contest ended in the juniors defeating the Partick Thistle by two goals to one. The victory was well-deserved, as the juniors played a superior game in all departments. Ashfield were lucky not only to secure a capable team to represent them, but also in the patronage extended to the match. The gate money would amount to about £20. I have seen many a weaker side represening the city in an Inter-Association match. In all departments the team was strong, and the majority of the players are lads likely to secure bonuses in the coming season. The names of the players are: Kelly (Perthshire), Colman (Maryhill), Dewar (Ashfield), Anderson (Vale of Clyde), Watson (Ashfield), Williamson (Perthshire), Dargue (Burnbank), Queen (Maryhill), Munro (Strathclyde), Muir and Sillars (Maryhill).

After the match, the players and officials were entertained by tea, and a large party sat down under the presidency of Mr. D. H. Belch. A very happy hour was spent in song and sentiment. The chairman paid some very pretty compliments to the Thistle for their generosity to the juniors, and Mr. Ritchie Robertson, who replied, said his club had always tried and would continue to do all they could to foster and develop the game among the juniors. The game at Saracen on Monday had an added interest in the fact that it was Michael Kelly, the Perthshire goalkeeper's last match before leaving the country. Mr. Kelly is an engineer and has been appointed to a China station. Always a brilliant goalkeeper, the 'Shire lad has endeared himself to his clubmates and the Perthsire followers by his good nature and his modest manner.

Scottish Referee, Friday, 29th August, 1902.

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