SPFL Ladbrokes Championship
Sat 3 August, 2019. Kick Off: - 15:00
The Indodrill Stadium
Prices
Adults: £18
Senior Citizens (over 65): £10
Juveniles (under 16): £4
Turnstiles are located in Hilton Road, behind and adjacent to KFC
Disabled Supporters
There is a communal disabled area under the main stand, which offers cover from inclement weather.
Supporters Buses / Car Parking
Supporters buses should park in Morrisons Supermarket car park
Car parking is available in Morrisons and town centre car parks. There is no charge.
Alternate Travel Options
Travel by car:
From Firhill Road, take M80 to A91 in Stirling and take exit 9 from M80. Follow A91 to Clackmannan Road/A907 in Alloa.
Travel by train:
Trains from Glasgow Queen Street to Alloa Railway Station running approximately once an hour on Saturday. From the station, it is a 12 minute walk to the stadium via King Street.
JagZoneLIVE v Alloa Athletic
Our audio commentary service, JagZone LIVE, will be broadcasting from the Indodrill Stadium as Partick Thistle get their 2019/20 Championship campaign underway.
The build-up to the game with our commentary team will begin at 2:45pm, 15 minutes ahead of kick-off.
The Maryhill men will be keen to get off to a good start in the league this season after securing progression from Betfred Cup Group F and Christopher Dobie will be joined by Jags midfielder, Craig Slater, on air for the duration of the game.
To listen to the broadcast, simply log in to your Jagzone account, click on the audio commentary tab and press the play button on the player.
Jagzone LIVE is only available to Jagzone subscribers so sign up here to listen to the show.
Advice for away supporters entering the stadium
Alloa Athletic have adopted a robust and thorough search policy for spectators entering the stadium, especially in relation to pyrotechnics & controlled containers. All bags will be searched and spectators may also be subject to search. Any supporter who refuses to be searched will not be permitted to enter the stadium. No supporter will be admitted to the stadium who are deemed to be under the influence of alcohol.
Supporters’ Buses:
City Centre Branch:
Pick ups:
Q Club – 11:45
Station Bar – 12:00
Non members welcome.
Please call 07979496154 or email for any further information.
John Lambie Jordanhill Branch:
Pick ups:
Jordanhill Station – 13:15
Thornwood Bar – 13:20
Prices:
Adults – £14
Concession – £8
All Jags fans are welcome but booking is essential.
For seats please contact Alistair on 07817612563 or email
For general enquires please contact Iain on 07779668357 or email
North-West Branch:
Pick ups:
Milngavie Station – 12:30
Esquire House – 12:50
Maryhill Community Halls – 13:05
Non-Members fares:
Concessions – £6.50
Full fare – £11
To reserve seats, please e-mail or call 0141 632 3604.
If you intend to travel regularly and are not already a member, why not join the North-West?
The benefits of membership are:
1. Your seat is guaranteed for every League, Betfred Cup, Challenge Cup (I’m reluctant to give it its’ latest name) and Scottish Cup match Thistle will play in Scotland (and Berwick) in season 2019-20 – apart from any played in Glasgow.
So, no need to e-mail or phone every time
2. Your membership can be paid in one lump sum or spread throughout the season in amounts to suit your budget
3. You could make a significant saving over the cost of travelling as a non-member.
After three years of holding membership prices, this year the North-West’s concession fare has again been held at £150 and the full fare actually reduced by £20 to £250 to bring about a fairer balance between the rates.
If, however, you are likely to be a less frequent traveller, we still look forward to having you aboard for a season which, hopefully, will see the excitement generated at the upper end of the table rather than in the cellar!
With the first fixture of the Ladbrokes Championship season now just hours away the sense of excitement around the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill is palpable. At the centre of that, Jags boss, Gary Caldwell, is doing his best to keep everyone calm and focused going into the new campaign.
The gaffer took time out of his day to speak to ptfc.co.uk and gave the latest news on his squad ahead of the trip to Alloa.
“We’re really looking forward to it. We’ve worked really hard since 13th June and we’ve had a great start in the Betfred Cup so confidence is high. It’s now about turning that preparation into performances, points and wins as we enter the league campaign.”
Alloa were a side that, under Jim Goodwin, built a reputation for effective, well organised but not particularly attractive football last season. although that style brought them an impressive eighth place finish, Caldwell believes they will be a different proposition this term.
“I think they will be a different side this season. They have a new manager, a new style and have even widened their pitch which gives some indication as to the way they are going to play. I think we will see them try to pass the ball more, trying to play more and we need to be ready for that because they have caused teams problems already with the way they are trying to go about their business.”
The Betfred Cup group stage has traditionally been a relatively happy hunting ground for Thistle and this season was no different as the Jags topped their group which, for the first time, featured a top flight team. The success so far in the competition provides a springboard that Caldwell is looking to make the best use of in the early stages of league competition.
“We’re really pleased with how our pre-season period has gone. It has been very effective and we’ve taken a lot from it. Playing competitive games this early is certainly a challenge but we’ve managed to top the group which was fantastic.
“We came in early so that we knew we would be ready for that group stage campaign but we also brought the players back early to get our tactical points across, build a team spirit and make sure everyone knew how we wanted to play the game. Obviously there is always a physical aspect to pre-season but, for me, the other aspects are just as important.
“It’s now down to us to take that form into the league campaign and maintain that winning mentality as we look towards the rest of the season. It has been a good start but it is only that; a start. We now need to make sure the hard work up until now doesn’t go to waste.”
Evan Galasso was one of a number of Thistle Weir Youth Academy graduates to have an impact on the first team during pre-season and time on the pitch for young Jags is something that remains at the forefront of the manager’s mind.
“I think Evan did very well against Airdrie and the likes of Callum Wilson have really impressed in training as well. There are one or two others who aren’t far away from that first team level but they have to keep working hard to earn that right. Competition for places is high and we won’t throw them in if they aren’t ready.
“I won’t put players on the bench or on the pitch if they don’t deserve it. We have to create a culture where everything is earned and that is especially true for those players coming through. If any other player from the Academy is showing the right level of ability and attitude then we have shown that we will give them opportunities.”
Finally the manager gave us the team news, including a disappointing new injury for youngster Callum Wilson.
“Callum Wilson unfortunately dislocated his shoulder in a game for the reserves in the week which is really unfortunate because it will probably mean he misses a number of months.
“The good news is that James Penrice is back training having missed the Clyde match at the last minute. everyone else has been training as well but it’ll come too soon for Mitch Austin I think. Mitch is on an individual programme just now so he is working extra hard to make up for the time he missed during pre-season, he is progressing really well though so hopefully we’ll see him in a Thistle top soon.
“Craig Slater had a wee setback unfortunately as a small infection got into the wound from the operation. Hopefully we’ll see him back on the grass running soon but it will still be a few weeks before he is able to get back training again.”
A more in-depth video interview with Thistle manager, Gary Caldwell, is available to watch on JagZone now as well interviews with Tam O’Ware and Lewis Mansell.
Jagzone members will also be able to watch extended highlights of the game.
Can’t make it to the Energy Check Stadium at Firhill? Jagzone members can listen to live audio commentary of the match. JagZoneLIVE begins at 19:30 tomorrow.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk.
The new Ladbrokes Championship season began this afternoon for Partick Thistle as the Maryhill men travelled to the Indodrill Stadium to face Alloa Athletic. After topping Betfred Cup Group F, the Jags were hoping to kick-start their league campaign with victory over the Wasps with the sides battling to a 1-1 draw. The hosts began much the better side and took a deserved lead in the 33rd minute as Steven Hetherington’s long-range effort deflected in off Steven Saunders. However, Gary Caldwell’s side came out with a bit of extra energy in the second half and were rewarded with a goal as Joe Cardle followed in for the rebound after his own header was saved onto the post by Neil Parry, slamming the ball home from a matter of yards. Both teams looked for the winner but there was no more scoring to be done as the game finished level and both sides took a point from matchday one. Jags boss, Gary Caldwell, spoke to ptfc.co.uk after the match, beginning by summarising the match from his view:
“It’s a disappointing performance. We were poor, even in the second half and I didn’t see that coming. It gives me a good idea of where we are as a team and what we need to work on next week.
“Alloa dominated the ball in the first half and we had a plan to stop them which didn’t work and I’ll take responsibility for that. However, I didn’t see enough effort in that first half which is unforgivable. We were standing off people, we weren’t moving into space and we didn’t ever really get to the levels we want from the players.”
Although he was still not happy with the team’s second half display, Caldwell was pleased to see his team threatening the Wasps’ goal after the interval.
“Their ‘keeper made some cracking saves. We came out after the break on the front foot and after a minute I think you could see something in terms of effort and drive that we didn’t in the first half.
“We told them what we thought at half time in no uncertain terms and I think that had an effect but it shouldn’t take that; we should be ready to go from minute one and we weren’t today which isn’t good enough.”
With a tough fixture at home to Dundee United next Friday the manager knows there’s a lot of work to be done to get ready for that match after today’s poor showing.
“We have to improve, it’s as simple as that. There were some positives today but we can’t paper over the cracks and pretend performances like that are going to get us anywhere near where we want to be.
“It happens in football, you have bad games but we need to learn from today and make sure we come back stronger against United.”
A more in depth video interview with Gary Caldwell will be available to Jagzone subscribers shortly as well as reaction from James Penrice and Joe Cardle.
Highlights will be available to view at midnight and will be free for Jagzone subscribers.
For a full list of all the great content you can access from just £5.99 per month as a Jagzone member, click here.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to ptfc.co.uk
Sat 3 August, 2019
SPFL Ladbrokes Championship 
The Indodrill Stadium
Parry has to turn a Kenny Miller effort round the post as Thistle look for the winner.
Alex Jones takes a neat touch to set off Cardle, he races towards the box but his shot across goal is too high
A Tam O'Ware header is tipped onto the bar and over as Thistle press.
A Joe CARDLE header is tipped onto the post but it comes straight back to him to slam into the roof of the net.
Great chance for Thistle! Gordon shows some trickery on the right and squares to Cardle at the penalty spot but Parry pulls off a great save.
Williamson puts a ball into the front post, Mansell gets a head to it but it's wide of the post.
The ball comes too Hetherington at the edge of the box and his shot makes its way through a pile of bodies and into the net.
Good chance for Thistle. Robson puts a great ball in from the left and it finds Shea Gordon but his header is tipped over.
Chance for Alloa but Cawley puts well wide of Sneddon's post.