Friday 3rd December, 2021 at 9:59am
Partick Thistle FC is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul McDonald as new director of the Thistle Weir Youth Academy.
Former Jag Paul takes up the role with immediate effect and arrives in Maryhill with almost 20 years of youth academy and player development experience, most notably and recently with Kilmarnock.
Among the players Paul helped guide on the pathway from Killie’s youth system were 18-year-old winger Liam Smith, now at Manchester City, and current Celtic left back and Scotland international Greg Taylor.
On his appointment, Paul said: “I’m very proud to be appointed as the Thistle Weir Youth Academy’s new director and every bit as pleased to return to Firhill as one small part of this brilliant football club.
“We have seen the fruits of a successful youth academy at Firhill in the recent past, just as we can see the benefits of it within the current first team squad. It’s my job to make sure that success both continues and grows even greater in its impact in the future – all the ingredients are here to achieve just that.”
Paul is no stranger to Firhill, a regular visitor with Hamilton Accies under John Lambie at the start of a very successful playing career, before turning out in red and yellow in season 1998/99, during which he would be reunited with Lambie.
Thistle fans of a certain vintage will recall Paul’s vital penalty strike, against Forfar Athletic at the end of that season, which saved the Jags from dropping into the fourth tier shortly before fortunes were turned around under Lambie.
Paul added: “It’s amazing to think back to that game, it seems a very long time ago now. John Lambie was not only a Thistle legend but someone who was instrumental in the success I enjoyed in my playing career, so to score such an important goal for him and the club at that critical stage was a real stars aligning moment. I’m just glad it proved a turning point and the club enjoyed one of the best spells in its recent history so soon after. It meant my time at the club as a player ended on a positive note and I only have fond memories of Firhill – here’s to adding more in this new chapter.”
Everyone at Partick Thistle Football Club wishes Paul all the very best in his new role.
Gerry Britton, Thistle CEO and trustee of the Thistle Weir Youth Academy, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Paul is joining to lead the Academy in driving the club’s youth player development set-up, building on the strong foundations in place.
“Paul is hugely respected across Scottish football, boasts an outstanding track record in player development across the youth age groups and importantly also brings a real knowledge of Scottish youth football and its governance. That he is a former player is a bonus which only adds to the strong tint of red and yellow throughout the club’s key management roles.
“I’m sure all supporters will join us in offering Paul a very warm welcome back to Firhill and ensure that collectively he has our full backing to enable him to enjoy real success in his second spell at Partick Thistle.”
