Thursday 25th August, 2016 at 5:33pm
Partick Thistle Football Club was today (Thursday 25/08/2016) delighted to welcome Aileen Campbell MSP, Minister for Public Health and Sport, to Firhill to mark the Club’s 140th birthday. Prior to a lunch with the Board of Directors, Ms Campbell toured the ground and, later, cut a football-themed cake made in Thistle colours.
In addition to celebrating the significant milestone in the Club’s history, the lunch provided the Board with the opportunity to take the Minister through the wide range of success stories, both on and off the pitch, to have come out of Firhill over the last 12 months.
Partick Thistle chairman, David Beattie, said: “It was an honour to have the Sports Minister at Firhill today to mark this significant anniversary. As we move through our 140th year, we were proud to share this Club’s great history with her – but we also wanted to impress on her the progress we have made in recent years in terms of financial stability and rooting this Club in the Scottish Premiership.”
“Around Firhill and amongst our fans, there’s a quiet belief in what we are doing and what we are building. At every level, on and off the pitch, the steady progress we are making is now being noticed and respected. We remain ambitious and passionate about our football, yet increasingly professional and competent in how we go about our business. That’s a great way to mark 140 years as a Club.”
Aileen Campbell MSP, said: “As a football fan, I recognise Partick Thistle is a Scottish sporting institution and I was pleased to help the club celebrate its 140th birthday. The Club clearly remains deeply rooted in its local community and is doing great work to strengthen its long-standing connections, including allowing under 16s free entry to Firhill. The introduction of the PTFC Trust, which represents the fans’ shareholding in the Club, and its Board diversity are also welcome developments. This is all to be commended, and can provide an example for other clubs to follow.
“Everyone at Partick Thistle takes great pride in their history but I was impressed that the club and the board continue to look forward. Innovation is welcome, but, like Thistle, clubs also need to build from the foundations of strong connections with supporters and communities.”
