W. McKay |
![]() W. McKay (forename unknown) was probably born in Scotland, although his place and date of birth remain unknown to us. * The forward probably joined Thistle in 1884. He made his first known appearance on Saturday, 20th December, 1884, in a 4-4 friendly draw away to Dundee Harp. There were no known goals for McKay during his spell with Thistle. He played his second (and last known) game for the club on Saturday, 30th May, 1885, in a 2-0 friendly defeat away to Dundee Harp. His known club-list included only Partick Thistle. We don't know where or when McKay died. *
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![]() At the AGM of June 1884, a W. McKay was listed as vice-captain of the Partick Thistle second eleven so we're assuming it was he who put in a couple of appearances for the first team in the season which followed. The first of these would be a 4-4 thriller vs. Dundee Harp in front of a massive 5,500 at their East Dock Street ground just before Christmas 1884. McKay played #9 that day. Thistle defended for 20 minutes then opened the scoring but Harp went 3-1 up. Sustained pressure made it 3-3 (44 and 45). Thistle scored after half-time but Harp made it 4-4. A 5th goal for Thistle was disallowed. “One of the fastest, exciting and fiercely contested games which have ever taken place in Dundee” said the Courier. Looking back at it now, it was a rather famous Thistle team featuring the mighty John Hendry, 'handsome' Tom Maley, the redoubtable Boab Robertson, '17-goals-in-1-game' John Christie and he-who-would-be first league champion in Argentina, John Caldwell. Somewhat quirkily, we had three McKay's in the eleven which again played Dundee Harp at East Dock Street on 30th May 1894, so it's a tough ask to sort them out. We've labelled the #6 that day as 'McKay [i]' and the #8 as our 'W. McKay' here profiled. As ever in Dundee, “a big crowd turned out to see the celebrated Partick Thistle” as the Courier told it. Harp took the lead (20) after sustained pressure at a scrimmage. The Thistle defence played well but shooting was wild. A better second half saw numerous chances wasted and some ill-luck before goalie Duff blundered off his line for 2-0. |
(WS/AFK) |