William Flannelly
William Flannelly
A. Player

probably born in Scotland

William Flannelly was born on Wednesday, 25th July, 1866, in Dennistoun, Glasgow.

The midfielder probably joined Thistle in 1886 or 1887.

Aged 20, he made his first known appearance on Saturday, 26th February, 1887, in a 3-2 friendly win at home to Airdrieonians.

William scored his only known goal for Thistle on Saturday, 23rd April, 1887, in a 1-1 friendly draw at home to Rangers.

He played his last known game for the club on Saturday, 26th April, 1890, in a 6-2 friendly defeat away to Everton, having appeared for the Thistle on at least 18 occasions.

His known club-list included only Partick Thistle.

William died in the second quarter of 1898, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, aged 31.

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Bio Extra

In the 1881 census 14-year-old William (the eldest) lived with his Dunfermline-born mother (Joan), his brothers Thomas (11) & Samuel (9) and his sister, Isabella (7). As we understand it, William played in the Partick Junior Cup Final at Inchview sometime at the beginning of 1886-87, and this is possibly how he came to the attention of the Partick Thistle committee. His finest moment as a Jag was undoubtedly scoring against Rangers in April 1887. Played in pelting rain, the match was even in the 1st half. Suter and Johnston were prominent. Rangers had chances but their forwards were erratic. Flannelly scored for Thistle and after a period of pressure Rangers headed the equaliser from a corner.

William was a riveter in the shipyards and, in April 1889, an interesting little news piece (see 'Scrapbook' tab) underlined just how common it was for footballers to be employed in the yards. For the benefit of Clydebank FC, a match was fixed up between J. & G. Thompson (William's employers) and the Singer Manufacturing Company. The shipbuilders were able to rustle up a pro-looking team, including 3 Thistle players; John McCorkindale and Thomas Campbell as well as William. In the same line of work msot likely, our man ended up in the Newcastle area, where he died in only his 32nd year. His poor mother ended up in the Govan Poorhouse, which even today survives as part of the Queen Elizabeth hospital.

(WS/AFK/JK)



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