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Partickles (by The Thistle Archive & friends) |
A range of mostly original and exclusive articles, often breaking new ground and shining a light on the rich and storied past of Partick Thistle FC. If you've written an original article on Partick Thistle and you'd like to give it a permanent home on the internet, then this is the place for you. Re-publishing of old works or first-time presentations are equally welcome. Simply send us in your copy via our contact page on Word or a PDF, and we'll take care of the online formatting. |
The Definitive Who's Who Of The Partick Thistle Internationalistsby William SheridanFor a century and a half, Partick Thistle have always played a role as one of Scotland's foremost clubs and, on the full international stage, the presence of Jagsmen has been permanent down throughout the decades, all the way from the 1880s to the 2020s without a single pause. The depth of representation is a real eye-opener with well over 150 players winning some 1,500 caps between them, from Antigua to Togo, from Wales to Albania and dozens in between! 290 mins continue reading → |
A Parting Gift For Willie Freebairnby William SheridanIn 1900, a medal was earned, but Willie Freebairn died from his injuries, sustained in the pursuit of Glasgow Cup glory for Partick Thistle. Now, thanks to great-grandniece Nancy Hooman, we can share the bittersweet tale of a parting gift… 8 mins continue reading → |
3 League Cup Finals In 5 Yearsby Donnie MacIsaac & Jack LittleThe 1950s was a remarkable decade for Partick Thistle as the club competed consistently at the highest level of the Scottish game. This is the remarkable story of three league cup finals in five years… will we ever see the like again? 20 mins continue reading → |
The Road To Hampden 1945by William SheridanOn the 30th June 1945, Partick Thistle won the second of the three major trophies to land in the cabinet at Firhill Road - The Summer Cup. This is the story of six consecutive Saturdays in the summer of 1945. The war in Europe was over and - for the faithful in red ‘n’ yellow - Thistle did their very best to paint over the grey… 23 mins continue reading → |
The King Of The Slamsby William SheridanFrom Willie Paul (the pioneer) to Willie Sharp (the Old Firm slayer) all the way to Kris Doolan (the milestone man) and Brian Graham (Peter Pan) via (super) Maurice Johnston in-between, I explore the exceptional Thistle strikers who've dominated particular teams in the same league season by bombarding their goal nets! 14 mins continue reading → |
John Lambie: Partick Thistle's Ultimate Character Still Stands Tallby Kenny PieperYou don't know what you've got till it's gone – it took too long to pay a permanent tribute to one of the greatest figures in the history of Partick Thistle. I celebrate Partick Thistle's ultimate character… 7 mins continue reading → |
League Cup Glory 2010by William SheridanA poignant tale which puts football into perspective whilst reminding us that favourites don't always win… this is the bittersweet story of heartbreak and glory for Kieran Burns and Thistle, and the camaraderie of a fitba' team… 11 mins continue reading → |
Welcome to Norway Mr. Lambie, Jackson & Co!by Jack LittleA tour of Norway was reward for getting to the Scottish Cup final in 1930. It “set the Norwegians agog” and the Jags were described as “elegant” and “dazzling”. From Firhill to the Fjords, this is the story of Thistle's first-ever encounters with continental opposition, how they flew the flag for Scotland and wowed the locals… 17 mins continue reading → |
Campeones: The John Caldwell Storyby Iain Campbell Whittle, William Sheridan & Joe KellyBy September 1891, only 4 countries in the world were recognized to have returned a champion club by virtue of a Football League. At that time, Argentina became the 5th when St Andrew's AC took the honour. A number of Scots were at the heart of the club, including former Partick Thistle player, John Caldwell. This is his remarkable story… 9 mins continue reading → |
A Fatal Christmas: In Memory Of James Mainby William SheridanThistle finally won a League game at Firhill on Christmas Day 1909, but as events unfolded the result was of little consequence as an opponent lost his life. It's a great tragedy that will cloud the Partick Thistle history books forever, and it's my honour to dedicate this piece to the memory of James Main… 8 mins continue reading → |
The Partick Thistle Returnedby Donnie MacIsaacIn this sister-piece to The Partick Thistle Fallen, I've taken on the tough challenge of identifying and writing about all the Partick Thistle players or managers who served and survived in either of the two World Wars. Not all of these men won the Scottish Cup with Partick Thistle, and not all were decorated with military medals but, on the eve of remembrance day 2022, it's my great honour to pay tribute to 69 brave men… 89 mins continue reading → |
From Madras To Maryhillby Andrew Maclennan, William Sheridan & Stuart Deans12th October 1985 officially marked the fifth coming of an Indian-born Partick Thistle man, RAJIV "JOEY" PATHAK, when he made his debut in Scottish senior football for Partick Thistle at Bayview. On that anniversary, we look back at Joey's story, and wonder about that great sleeping giant… 10 mins continue reading → |
Minerva – What's In A Name?by Jack LittleHad fate taken Partick Thistle down a different path in 1892 we may well have ended up with a Roman goddess on our badge rather than the flower of Scotland which has endured for more than one hundred years. The committee had an intriguing proposal to consider… 3 mins continue reading → |
1939-40 – A Season For Remembranceby William SheridanOn the anniversary of Britain's declaration of war against Germany, I look back at one of the most tumultuous seasons in Partick Thistle's long and checkered history. There were dark skies, but bright spells too. Read about the return of the prodigal son and the emergence of a new wonderkid… 18 mins continue reading → |
Whit's The Goalie Daein? The Andrew Duff Storyby William Sheridan & Joe KellyAndrew was a standout player for Partick Thistle in the very earliest days, demonstrating fine qualities as both a goalkeeper and a forward. He's the only Partick Thistle player who will ever lay claim to winning two cups for the club by keeping a clean-sheet as a goalkeeper in one of them and scoring a hat-trick as a forward in the other! 14 mins continue reading → |
Thee Jackie Husbandby Stuart Deans & William Sheridan77 years ago today, he became the first Thistle captain to lift a national trophy at Hampden. Our latest Partickle pays tribute to the fascinating life and times of a Thistle stalwart par excellence… 21 mins continue reading → |
The Partick Thistle Fallenby Donnie MacIsaacIn 1914 and 1939, when the nation needed men and women to serve in the country’s armed forces, Partick Thistle FC were one of the many clubs whose players and former players became soldiers, sailors and airmen, and not all of them came home. This is a record of those Jagsmen who paid the ultimate price serving their country… 18 mins continue reading → |
Penalty Them, No!by Jack Little & William SheridanWe've had many more against us than for us, and here we chart the story all the way from the beginning in the 1890s and every decade since. For the goalkeeper, it's his big chance to win games, to be the hero, and to get a taste of the striker's glory. We look at all the trials and tribulations and conclude with our ultimate three penalty prevention Kings. 14 mins continue reading → |
Penalty Thistle, Yes!by William Sheridan & Jack LittleCharting the drama of Thistle's penalty-kick awards, we take it all the way back from the start in 1891. Who was first? Did you know Thistle's first goal at Firhill was a penalty? Who are Thistle's penalty Kings? It's been an emotional rollercoaster ride! 8 mins continue reading → |
The Life And Times Of Firhill Parkby Jack LittleAh, Firhill, the stadium of dreams, the palace of the gallus. It's the place we've called home since 1909, but there's a lot more to the old ground than just Partick Thistle. Which Olympic champion ran at Firhill? Which Jag was born closest to the ground? Heard about the time we burned the pitch? Firhill's stories are as weird and wonderful as the club itself! 35 mins continue reading → |
The Day The Other Cup Came Up To Maryhillby Jack Little“HALF-TIME SCORE CELTIC NIL, PARTICK THISTLE FOUR. WE’LL GET THAT SCORE CHECKED. IT CAN’T POSSIBLY BE CORRECT”. Well, history records that the score was correct! Read on to learn how modest beginnings (a 4-0 win against Arbroath) set in train a journey to victory at Hampden and a scoreline that delighted Thistle fans and took the rest of the Scottish football community by complete surprise. (Perhaps that should be the other way round!) 25 mins continue reading → |
The Managerial Comings And Goingsby William Sheridan & Jack LittleWith a brief narrative for every manager from 1876 to date, this ever-open illustrated piece concisely dates all of Partick Thistle's managerial movements, right from the very start… 20 mins continue reading → |
The Class Of '21by William SheridanThe Thistle took an astonishing eleven matches to eventually secure the Scottish Cup in 1921, creating all sorts of unique records along the way. In total, 18 squad members contributed to the herculean struggle, almost wholly fought in the mud, wind and rain. These “outstandingly important” men are all profiled here, as well the two group leaders, George Easton (manager) and Sandy Lister (trainer)… 42 mins continue reading → |
Bert Haugh - The Red Jagby William Sheridan, Jack Little, Stuart Deans & Donnie MacIsaacWhen relatives get in touch, it's truly amazing what tales lie behind some of our Jagsmen, and the story of Bert Haugh certainly falls into that category. An international man of some mystery, Bert was very much a man of the people who fearlessly walked a rockier path for a greater good, in spite of the F.B.I. His legacy prevails… 11 mins continue reading → |
The Day The Scottish Cup Came Up To Maryhillby William SheridanUnravelling the legendary historic journey, we'll uncover the background stories, get to know the players and discover which national records we broke along the way. This is the story of how the Cup was won, a herculean struggle, the likes of which had never been seen before in the National Cup - and has never been seen since… 156 mins continue reading → |
Ye'll No' Believe Who Scored It!by William SheridanA Top 12 countdown, with many wonderful stories to tell. The criterion for inclusion is straight forward enough: they only scored one goal for the Jags and every one meant something – either for the importance of the goal itself, or the novelty factor of the scorer. Not to be missed… 36 mins continue reading → |
Factions And Fractions: The Calling Of Season 2019-20 And The Eviction Of Partick Thistle FCby Jack LittleSeason 2019-20 was ended abruptly by the Covid-19 pandemic. Read all about the courts, panels and decimal fractions that ultimately decided Thistle's fate. It's a tale of bad blood, rancour, division, self-interest and missed opportunities - unprecedented even by the standards of Scottish football… 41 mins continue reading → |
You Couldn't Make It Up!by Jack LittleHere is a collection of Thistle-related press items and curios to surprise, inform and entertain. Society has changed beyond all recognition in the last 140 years but in some respects it seems there’s nothing new in football! 30 secs per snippet continue reading → |
Who Put The Ball In The Rangers Net?by William SheridanWe've scored so many great goals (366) against the Rangers that you'd be bored senseless if I were write about them all (or maybe not!) Anyway, I've settled for revelling in 25-of-the-best, strictly one goal per player, chosen arbitrarily for reasons various. Paginated from 25 to 1, the flow builds meritoriously. OTIG! 55 mins continue reading → |
Goals Wherever He Went: The Alex Hair Storyby Douglas GormanSandy is the only player to have scored 5 goals in a competitive game against Rangers. I examine the prolific goalscorer's career… 22 mins continue reading → |