Thursday 11th September, 2025 at 8:50am
This is indeed a sad time for anyone whose life intertwined with my friend and teammate Jimmy Bone.
I’ll leave it to others to detail Jimmy’s long and successful career in football as a player, manager and coach. But suffice it to say that it is a career which any young person approaching the game would be excited to accomplish.
It’s my privilege to share with you what I observed during and after the years that our football careers crossed in the early seventies.
Honest, Hard-working, Fit, Positive, Brave, Supportive, Intelligent, Calm under pressure – these are the characteristics that came to my mind as I started to put this tribute to Jimmy together.
Jimmy was a pleasure to play alongside as he always gave 100% and combined his exceptional work rate with a keen footballing brain and clinical finishing.
55 years ago, Davie McParland – another Firhill legend – put together a really well-balanced Jags squad. Jimmy quickly established his reputation as our goal scorer-in-chief as we won promotion to the First Division and went on to our historic League Cup campaign in 1971.
When teamed up with Frank Coulston they were a formidable twin striking force which helped bring us some of the club’s finest moments. Unfortunately for us, but amazing for Jimmy, his goal scoring feats had not gone unnoticed down south, and we lost him to Norwich City less than 5 months after the 1971 Cup Final.
This was the first indication that Jimmy was not afraid to take on any challenge as a player then subsequently as a coach and manager. You can see this from the variety of roles, countries and clubs Jimmy touched in his long career.
Nevertheless, he undoubtedly had a special place in his big heart for Partick Thistle and made himself available for many events and reunions the club has organised over the years.
Jimmy Bone was a joy to play alongside and an example to every young professional footballer, but more importantly a marvellous human being.
It has been an honour to know him and count him as a friend – a sentiment that I know is shared by all of his Jags teammates.
Denis McQuade 5/9/2025
Denis (left) alongside fellow 1971 League Cup heroes Alan Rough, Alex Rae, Jimmy Bone and Bobby Lawrie.
For Supporters of both Partick Thistle and Airdrieonians please note there will be a minutes’ applause before kick-off tomorrow night.
