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Partick Thistle – a People’s History will be the 150th anniversary book; author Kenny Pieper needs your memories and stories from following the Jags… read more on the club website  or get straight to it by e-mailing: ku.oc.cftp|051#ku.oc.cftp|051 |
| Tom Turnbull |
 Thomas Turnbull was born on Saturday, 24th April, 1875 in Townhill, Stirlingshire. The defender signed for George Easton's Thistle on Wednesday, 21st October, 1903, having most recently been with Stenhousemuir. Aged 28, he made his only appearance on Saturday, 31st October, 1903, in a 4-1 defeat away to Heart of Midlothian in the SFL First Division. There were no goals for Tom in his one-off appearance for Thistle. His club-list included Falkirk, East Stirlingshire, Celtic, Sheffield United, Partick Thistle and Stenhousemuir. Tom died on Monday, 23rd February, 1920, in Falkirk, aged 44. |
 The son of William Turnbull (farmer) and Janet Turnbull (née Paul). Full-back Tom Turnbull was a former Falkirk and East Stirlingshire player who signed for Celtic in May 1899. He was said to be "a young man full of promise". He made his Bhoys debut on August 19th that year in a 3-2 league victory over Clyde at Parkhead. Seemed to be in and out the side with some spells of runs in the first team. His last game was a 3-2 defeat by Hearts in the Inter-City league. He was fighting for the same team spot at Storrier and Davidson, with all three in and out the side in spell but the latter two winning out ahead of Turnbull. He played in the replayed Glasgow Cup final v Rangers in 1899, but Celtic lost 1-0. Celtic won their revenge with a 3-2 victory over Rangers in the Ne’er Day game two months later in a 3-2 victory. He made a total of 11 league appearances that season but despite some solid performances he couldn’t command a regular starting spot. Celtic finished behind Rangers in second spot, with Celtic’s away form being the main culprit as Celtic finished 7pts behind Rangers. At that time the league season was only 18 matches, and Rangers only dropped points in three matches, two were against Celtic whom they didn’t defeat in the league. He was to transfer out to Sheffield United (on an apparently then large fee) in September 1900, although Celtic were initially reluctant to let him go. The perennial English Scouts had come looking and had lured him south of the border but it all went awry when he broke his leg whilst playing in a match for the Yorkshire side which all but ended his career at the highest level. He was to be out for three years from the game. Later tentative comebacks with Partick Thistle and Stenhousemuir (he is still one of the few footballers to have played for all three Falkirk district clubs) came to little, and he finally retired from the game. After football he went into business with his brother, John Turnbull, opening a cinema in Denny amongst other ventures. He was also the proprietor of the Star Inn, Grahams Road, Falkirk, himself living in Watson Street, which those who are old enough will know that it was in the vicinity of Brockville Park. He was married to Margaret but sadly she was left a widow when he passed away prematurely on 23 February 1920, aged just 44. |
| (CW/WS/JK) |
Historian's note: The OH credits Tom Turnbull with 3 appearances, reckoning that Turnbull [i] and Tom Turnbull are one and the same. However, that seems very unlikely. Firstly, Tom Turnbull was a renowned defender, whereas Turnbull [i] appeared at inside right on both of his appearances. More importantly, Tom Turnbull signed for Sheffield United in September, 1900, and stayed with them for 2½ years. We haven't seen any contemporary supporting evidence to identify Turnbull [i] and Tom Turnbull as one and the same, and unless that changes, we feel the sensible option is to treat them as two different individuals. We note that SFLPR backs up the OH contention, but since the former appeared 5 years after the latter, duplication of the OH data is the likeliest explanation for that.