Wednesday 23rd October, 2024 at 2:54pm
On Saturday the club was blessed to host a truly exceptional line-up of Partick Thistle legends in matchday hospitality, capping a successful day on and off the pitch.
The Alan Rough Lounge, packed to capacity, enjoyed the company of the majority of the 1971 Scottish League Cup winning team, plus an array of other superstars of the 1970s.
The full line-up on Saturday was: Jimmy Bone, Jackie Campbell, Frank Coulston, Joe Craig, Alex Forsyth, Alan Hansen, John Hansen, Bobby Houston, Bobby Lawrie, John Marr, Denis McQuade, Alex Rae, Alan Rough and Dougie Somner. We were also thrilled that two more recent former players, Andy Murdoch and Ian Maxwell, joined the tables of special guests.
A few names merit special recognition, indeed one in particular who is to receive special recognition from the club – as announced in hospitality and then in the stadium on Saturday.
Alan Hansen, who served the club from 1973 to 1977 and was part of the 1975/76 First Division winning squad, made a return to the Wyre Stadium at Firhill for the first time this century. Spending much of the day next to his brother John, who he watched winning the League Cup in 1971, the Hansen brothers were at the centre of the excitement all afternoon including stepping in during the delay to kick-off to walk on to the pitch, share a few stories and take the ovation from the Jackie Husband and John Lambie stands.
The celebrations were added to with the club’s announcement on Saturday that Alan Hansen is to be inducted into the Partick Thistle Hall of Fame, joining brother John who is already a member as part of the 1971 cup winning squad. A date and details of a Hall of Fame event to celebrate this is being worked on and fans will be updated as soon as any announcement can be made.
Final word and thanks must go to one of the greatest ever to wear red and yellow, Denis McQuade, who was the driving force behind what must be one of the highest quality Thistle reunions of all time. Denis, thank you for all your hard work and diligence, and we hope you were able to enjoy the day as much as everyone else did.
Thistle legends – thank you!
