Thursday 14th August, 2025 at 4:13pm
Partick Thistle regret to advise that their former midfielder Sammy Johnston passed away on Thursday, August 14 at the age of 58 after a period of illness.
After starting his playing career at St Johnstone, Sammy was recruited for The Jags by John Lambie in March 1991 from his second club Ayr United in a swap deal that saw goalkeeper Cammy Duncan move in the opposite direction.
A debut for Thistle came against Morton at Cappielow in a 1-1 draw on March 23, 1991 with Sammy finding the net for the first time as a Maryhill Man when he opened the scoring against Clydebank in May, 1991 although it was a bitter-sweet strike as the Bankies went on to win 7-1.
Injury restricted Sammy’s appearances the following season however he returned to the team for the successful promotion match that secured Premier League football against Forfar.
Brother to Scotland internationalist Allan, and uncle to Scotland internationalist Max, Sammy would play two years in the top-flight before moving across the Irish Sea to join Ballymena United before returning to Scotland for a stint with Stranraer.
In 1994 Sammy headed west to Glenavon for a three-year period before moving onto Coleraine and Finn Harps ahead of a return to Firhill in 1998 as player/ assistant manager to Tommy Bryce.
In total Sammy would play 72 times for Partick Thistle and score four goals and after leaving for a second time he would go to play in the Juniors with Pollok as well as having coaching positions with both Neilston and Arthurlie.
Club Director Allan McGraw said: “I remember Sammy being part of the team that won us promotion in 1992 and going on to do well in The Premier League. We were informed a couple of weeks ago that he was ill but it is was still a shock to hear that he had passed.”
“I would like to offer condolences to his family on behalf of everyone at Partick Thistle.”
