Tuesday 2nd September, 2025 at 11:16am
Partick Thistle club legend and Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Bone has passed away peacefully during the night aged 75.
Jimmy will always be remembered as the striker who made Arthur Montford declare ‘It’s four nothing’ back on October 23, 1971.
After starting what was to become a lengthy and far-travelled football journey with the Boys’ Brigade and then Airth Castle Rovers, Bridge of Allan born Jimmy, who had attended rugby playing Stirling High School, signed for the Jags in the spring of 1968 and made his debut in a friendly at Bury where he found the net in what was to end in a 3-3 draw.
After a first season that brought 17 goals and a hat-trick against Hearts, Jimmy and Thistle suffered the disappointment of relegation in 1970.
That was quickly moved on from with Jimmy being a major player in the side that bounced straight back up as Second Division winners the following season.
Just a few months after returning to the top-flight Partick Thistle defied all the odds to lift the Scottish League Cup by defeating Celtic 4-1 at Hampden with the afore-mentioned Mr Montford informing the world that Jimmy has ‘walked the ball into the net’ and ‘its four nothing’.
Just three months on from that success Jimmy netted his final goal for the club in a 4-1 success at Kilmarnock with a move to Norwich City taking place shortly afterwards.
Whilst at Carrow Road Jimmy helped the Canaries to promotion, won the first of his two Scotland caps when he played against Yugoslavia, scored Norwich’s first goal in English First Division following their promotion.
His second Scotland cap was marked with a goal against Denmark in a 4-1 success before a move to Sheffield United took place in 1973.
Jimmy returned north to play for Celtic, Arbroath and St Mirren where he was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson and then ironically won a ‘Goal of the Season’ award for a solo effort for the Paisley side against Ferguson’s Aberdeen side.
A stint in Canada with Toronto Blizzard followed before a spell with Hong Kong Rangers before Jimmy helped Hearts consolidate in the Premier League ahead of taking up the post of player/ manager at Arbroath.
Such was his impact at Gayfield Jimmy was inducted into the Angus club’s Hall of Fame in 2019 with his managerial career taking him onto Airdrieonians, Zambian side Power Dynamos, St Mirren, East Fife and Stenhousemuir.
A caretaker spell at Thistle was seen in 2007 when Jimmy stepped up from assistant manager to his great friend Dick Campbell to take the reins ahead of Ian McCall joining.
A hugely respected coaching figure within the Scottish FA Jimmy also held positions at Dundee United, Bidvest Wits, Ross County and Chester City as well as with the Governing Body.
Jimmy’s son David said: “I would like to pass on the thanks of the family to everyone at Partick Thistle. We would like to thank the staff that supported us at the weekend and the fans who have sent so many messages about my dad.”
“It is humbling for all of us to feel the love that people had for him.
Club Fan Rep Director Allan McGraw said: “Jimmy was a hero of mine. I watched him score in the 1971 League Cup Final and had the pleasure of meeting him at the 2021 Reunion Lunch. He was kind enough to sign a jersey for me at that event and we had a long chat about that wonderful day and other Thistle memories.”
“My heart felt condolences go out to his friends and family at this very sad time.”
*Jimmy is pictured (far left) with his wife, Shona, at Hospitality at The Wyre Stadium at Firhill earlier this year.
