Partick Thistle Football Club


Firhill c.1966


Partick Thistle Football Club is a professional football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club play in the Maryhill area, and have not played in Partick since 1908, and currently play in the Irn Bru League First Division.


History

Partick Thistle were formed in 1876 in the burgh of Partick and originally played on what is now the site of the Partick railway station and Morrisons supermarket. They have had a number of other homes in Partick including at the site of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and for one season at Ibroix Stadium, before finally settling at Firhill Stadium Maryhill in 1909. They had to move as their Meadowside ground was demolished to make way for the Meadowside Granary, which has also now been demolished.


The club have undergone a period of decline in fortunes since the mid 1980s and in 1998 the club almost went out of existence. Faced with massive debt, it looked as though they would certainly go bankrupt until the supporters organised a 'Save the Jags' campaign. This managed to at least ensure the club's survival although they were still relegated to the Second Division that year.

In 2001 they won promotion from the Second Division to the First Division, and the following year they managed to win promotion from the First Division to the Scottish Premier League, the top division in Scottish football, under the leadership of Thistle legend John Lambie. They were relegated back to the First Division in 2004 - after finishing 10th the previous season - having finished bottom of the SPL (12th). The club's aim at the start of the following season was to get out of the First Division and back into the SPL. Thistle instead were relegated to the Second Division. On 14 May 2006 Thistle won promotion to the Scottish First Division due to a heroic performance against Peterhead in the first division playoff final. Thistle headed into the playoff decider with a 2-1 deficit to overturn, and the prospect of
facing a home side likely to sit and protect their lead from the first leg. But the Jags squad was fuelled by anger and disappointment at throwing away a 1-0 half-time lead in the first leg. After conceding an early goal in the 5th minute from Peterhead's striker Martin Bavidge, Thistle's chances looked slim and they needed at least 2 goals for a chance of promotion.

Goals from Thistle's season-long goal hero Mark Roberts scoring his 22nd goal of the season and Billy Gibson's dramatic injury time equaliser took the game to extra time. Thistle put on the pressure and created the best chances but couldn't break
through Peterhead's strong rearguard. The game went to penalties and Thistle went through, winning 4-2. Penalties: Roberts, Kilgannon, B. Gibson and Ritchie.

Since 1996 the Jags have been relegated 4 times, promoted 3 times and been through financial difficulties which almost saw the club shut down in 1997.


The Stadium

Partick currently play at Firhill Stadium, Maryhill, Glasgow, which is situated at Queens Cross, it comprises of 3 stands, the original Main Stand, the Jackie Husband Stand, named after one of their most famous players, and the North Stand, which was constructed to allow entry to the SPL, this stand has achieved the name of The Viagra Stand, due to the fact that when it was first built it was only half erect, also currently at the City End, there is hope for plans to build a fourth stand and accommodation, at present this is still in the decision stage of Glasgow City Council.

Main Stand


The main stand, running along one side of the ground, is the oldest of the stands. It was built with an originalcapacity of 6,000, but now holds somewhere closer in the region of 2,900 seats. There is a small enclosure of terracing at the front of the main stand.


Jackie Husband Stand


All home fans are now housed in the stand opposite the main stand, the Jackie Husband Stand. This is an impressivelarge cantilever stand which was built on the site of a huge section of enclosed terracing nicknamed "the Shed" bysupporters of Partick Thistle. The stand was constructed in 1994 with a capacity of 6,263 and is named after formerplayer Jackie Husband.


North Stand


The newest stand is the North Stand, at one end of the ground. This was built in 2002 to meet the Scottish Premier League criteria on stadium capacity, which stated at the time that member clubs must have 10,000 seats in their ground. Ironically this criteria was changed at a later date to only 6,000 seats, which not only allowed for the relegation of Partick Thistle, but meant they had spent much of their resources on a stand that under new regulations was unnecessary. In 2003 it had acapacity of 2,079.


The Strip

Thistle's original colours were navy blue shirts with white shorts, similar to those currently used by Dundee. These were replaced for the 1936-37 season by the clubs current red, yellow and black favours. Since the change in colours, the club have predominantly played in red and yellow hooped jerseys with black shorts, although for a period in the early 1970s took to the field in yellow jerseys with red shorts. Other, shorter-lived variations have involved replacing the hoops with
stripes, playing in red shorts and a single season experiment with a red and yellow halved jersey.


Trophies


Thistle won the Scottish Cup in 1921 beating Rangers 1-0 in the final, and more famously they won the Scottish League Cup in 1971 by defeating Celtic 4-1 in the final. They have triumphed seven times in the Glasgow Cup.


Support


The club's fans traditionally come from the north-west part of Glasgow and pride themselves on being anti-sectarian in contrast to factions of the support of their much larger Glasgow neighbours, Celtic and Rangers. Their main rivals are Clyde F.C., Airdrie United F.C., Greenock Morton F.C.

The club also draws many temporary fans, as the ground is close to the University of Glasgow. Many students from outside Glasgow choose to follow Thistle while there, some ending up supporters for the rest of their lives.


Well Known Fans

Justin Currie from Del Amitri is a well known Jags Fan, maybe that's why he penned the song Nothing Ever Happens!!
CBS' The Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson is also a well known Jags Fan.


Other Facts

Thistle's best ever placing in the Scottish League is third place, which they have achieved on three occasions: 1947-48, 1953-54 and 1962-63. They have qualified for mainstream European competitions twice, appearing in the Fairs Cup in 1963-64 and the UEFA Cup in 1972-73. They also participated in the inaugural Intertoto Cup in 1995.


Club Records

Most league goals in a season: Alec Hair - 41, First Division, 1926-27
Most capped player: Alan Rough - 51 caps, Scotland
Most league appearances: Alan Rough - 410, 1969-82
Record attendance for a club game: 49,838 v Rangers, First Division,
18 February, 1922
Record attendance at Firhill: 54,723 Scotland v Northern Ireland,
25 February 1928
Record defeat: 0-10 v Queen's Park, Scottish Cup, 3 December, 1881
Record victory: 16-0 v Royal Albert, Scottish Cup 1st round,
17 January,1931
Record points total: 75, Second Division 2000/01
Record transfer fee paid: £85,000 to Celtic for Andy Murdoch,
February, 1991
Record transfer fee received: £200,000 from Watford for Mo Johnston
1982


Honours

Scottish League Division Two:
Winners : 1896-97, 1899-1900, 1970-71
Runners up : 1901-02

Scottish League First Division:
Winners : 1975-76, 2001-02
Runners up : 1991-92

Scottish League Second Division:
Winners : 2000-01

Scottish Cup:
Winners : 1920-21
Runners up : 1929-30

Scottish League Cup:
Winners : 1971-72
Runners up : 1952-53, 1955-56, 1957-58


Other honours

Glasgow Cup:
Winners : 1934-35, 1950-51, 1952-53, 1954-55, 1960-61,
1980-81,1988-89

Glasgow Merchants' Charity Cup:
Winners : 1926-27, 1934-35, 1948-49

Tennents' Sixes:
Winners : 1993
It is an unknown fact that Thistle are the current holders of the
Tennents' Sixes as the tournament was never played again after
1993.