Friday 21st February, 2020 at 8:00am
Scottish League Division One
31st August 1974
Partick Thistle 3 Dunfermline Athletic 0
Thistle’s results against Dunfermline had been pretty poor for a number of years prior to this fixture, so it was refreshing to witness the Jags recording a really well-deserved victory. An added bonus came from the fact that we managed to keep a clean sheet.
In the first-half there was little to suggest that things would turn out so well, but the Thistle boys came out of the traps with all guns blazing and were 2-0 up by the 47th minute. Had we known what lay in store, we could have enjoyed the half-time cuppa even more. Joe Craig was first to find the net in 46 minutes down at the City End of the ground and almost immediately Frank Coulston added a second. I don’t think “City End”is an expression in general use by Thistle people. I mean, of course, the goal to the left, looking from the Jackie Husband Stand. The icing on the cake was provided in 78 minutes when Bobby Lawrie came up with a third goal.
Our league campaign was therefore off to a sparkling start, but it didn’t last. In fact the harsh reality was that we finished a dismal 13th, out of 18 teams. All was to change, however, and the following season we won the 1st Division championship in grand style and so marched into the Premier League, finishing in 5th position. By contrast our opponents Dunfermline found themselves relegated.
The Thistle team in the featured match makes interesting reading:- Alan Rough, John Hansen, Danny Kellachan, Jackie Campbell, Robert (Nobby) Clark, Bobby Houston, Bobby Lawrie, Frank Coulston, Ronnie Glavin(who captained the side), Joe Craig, Denis McQuade. The team was oozing quality. How could they have finished 13th? Of course, we came good the following season, winning the First Division championship, followed by a 5th place finish in the Premier League, so we attained a higher slot in our very first season among the elite, than in any subsequent campaign(so far!)
The team manager around this time, and for a few years thereafter, was Bertie Auld. Opinion was divided about him among the Jags faithful – too defensive-minded, said some – knows how to get results, said others. The arguments could rage on for ever, so we’ll just leave it at that!
Thanks, as always, for your interest.
Robert R
P.S. The programme contained an invitation to purchasers to fill in a little coupon to be entered into a draw for tickets for England v Scotland at Wembley on 24th May 1975. Each home programme would contain such a coupon right through to the second-last match and the draw would take place at the final home game.
