Season 1901-02 in the Second Division began with concerted efforts to reduce the players’ wage bill which had been unsustainable the previous season in the First Division, and was even more untenable following relegation at the end of the previous season.

Several high profile players, including Tom Atherton and David Proudfoot, had left the club, and the squad had been pared back to a much smaller number.

With wholesale changes made to the forward line, early league results were inconsistent, and Thistle were always chasing Port Glasgow Athletic, who set the early pace at the top of the league.

Indeed, it wasn’t until the turn of the year, with Port Glasgow almost out of reach at the top of the league, and Thistle knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Kilmarnock, that Thistle at last went on a consistent run, winning nine games in a row. That good run coincided with young Alexander McAllister of Bearsden becoming Thistle’s regular centre forward.

The winning run was too late to catch Port Glasgow, who won the Second Division title. However, off the pitch Thistle President William Ward had been lobbying First Division clubs with a vision of an expanded top division. The proposal was successful at the Scottish League AGM, and Thistle were rewarded with promotion.

The next season would see Thistle back in the top flight of Scottish football.

Read the full review of the 1901-02 season here.

The financial statement announced that income for the 1901-02 season had been £1400, 4s, 9d, while expenditure was £1474, 15s, 2d. The loss was explained by a disappointing season and postponements.

The biggest gate of the season at Meadowside was for the game against fellow title challengers Port Glasgow Athletic in January – a game that was described as the title decider seven games before the end of the season. However, that attendance was not reported in the newspapers.

The meeting was described by the Daily Record as “… of the most harmonious nature. All the old officials were re-elected which was a very wise proceding considering how capably matters have been managed this season at Meadowside.”

The Evening Times reported that the important business of the evening – a proposal to form the club into a limited liability company – wasn’t entertained by the members.

The following office bearers were elected:

President William Ward
Vice-President: Ritchie Robertson
Hon. Treasurer: George Easton
Hon. Secretary: John Gilchrist
Match Secretary: Robert Little, 48 Hayburn St, Partick
Committee: W.Reid, W.L.Kirkwood, AM.Smith, James Gilchrist, John McColl.

Although relegated to the Second League, the Partick Thistle look forward to the coming season without the slightest tremor, and their ambition will be to again qualify for First Division honours. In this connection they have had a varied career. First promoted in 1897, the maintained their position the following year, but were reduced to Second League rank in 1898, only, however, to be again promoted last year; so that this is their third appearance in the ranks of the Second Leaguers.

Last year £380 was paid in transfer fees, so that money was not spared in securing men whom the executive thought were the best procurable; and with the biggest wages bill in the club’s history, nothing but disappointment and disgust, instead of success and satisfaction, rewarded the executive for their enterprise.

This year quite a different plan has been followed, and no extravagant transfer fees have been incurred, but the committee have worked hard to get together a strong team, compatible with a due regard to economy. Of last season’s team, eight have been signed on again, while the losses are Fletcher, Kay, Haggart, Proudfoot, Atherton, Gibbons and Hyslop.

Fifteen players have been signed on up to date, but one or two additions may yet be made. The following is the list:

Robert Campbell

Goal, Wilkie; backs Campbell and A.Wilson; half-backs Harvey, Gailey (Clydeside Wanderers), and Lamont; forwards Wilson (Rangers), Kerr (Clydesdale Wanderers), Spence, Reid, Muirhead, Cousar (Irvine Meadow XI), Fairbairn (Celtic), and Conner (late Vale of Leven and Hearts). Walker, of Lanemark, a clever half back, has been signed as an amateur, whilst the club will also have the services, when required, of amateurs Paul and Kirkland.

This is a good list, and the only difficulty to be faced is how to utilise the players to the best advantage. The left wing forwards are in the majority, but several of these, such as Reid and Muirhead, are quite capable of adapting themselves to other positions. Practice has been going on for the last two weeks, under the directions of the trainer, John Nutt, who has the playing pitch in bowling green order. The officials are practically the same as last season, with the exception of presidentship, which is now filled by Mr William Ward, who is proving very popular, and, as an old player, has the necessary experience. It has been arranged that St Bernards open Meadowside on the 15^th; thereafter the League schedule will be proceeded with.

Brother of David, George, Lawrence and William who all played for Thistle. On leaving Thistle he joined Blackburn Rovers, scoring on his debut and playing 37 times, scoring 14 goals (top scorer in 1897-98). He left Ewood Park for Everton where he scored 30 goals in 84 games (top scorer in 1898-99) before he joined Watford. After being suspended for “insubordination” in December 1902 he returned to Thistle for a season before ending his career with Hamilton. Worked in the shipyards of the Clyde.

Career: Partick Thistle 1894; Blackburn Rovers 1897; Everton 1898; Watford 1902; Partick Thistle 1903; Hamilton Academical 1904.

Representative honours: Glasgow v East of Scotland 1894 (cap below); v Sheffield 1895

Glasgow v Edinburgh cap, 1894

John is featured on Thistle fan Ross Martin’s genealogy website Raindrops, where he has further images of the Proudfoot family.

Partick Thistle team group 1952. Back row (left to right): Crawford, Davidson, Ledgerwood, Gibb, Mathers, Stott. Front row: McCallum, Howitt, McGowan, Sharp, Walker.

The photograph was previously unknown and a team photo from this season wasn’t included in the 2002 Official History. The picture was taken prior to the Leage up tie against Hibs in August 1952.

The close season threw Scottish football into disaray as the top clubs demanded more say in how the game was run, or they would break away from the Scottish League and run their own competition. Thistle distanced themselves from the breakaway. Agreement was eventually reached with the big clubs getting their own way.

Thistle had signed several top players to improve the team that had won promotion from the Second Division the preious season and wer trying to stay in the top league.

After good away draws against Celtic and Rangers in the opening games, however, the season was a disappointment. Chances weren’t taken and wins were thin on the ground. Experienced players were disappointing and tragedy befell Willie Freebairn.

The season finished with Thistle once again relegated to the Second Division, although it would be 70 years before the club were relegated from the top division again.

Read the review of season 1900-01 here

Full-back
Career: Lugar Boswell, Craigston Strollers. Partick Thistle 1898; last game 1905. Moved to Rangers 1905, On loan to Millwall Athletic 1905, Bradford City 1906-15, Retired from football 1915.
Apps 207, goals 2.

Debut: v Hibernian (A) 10/12/1898
Second Division Championship winner 1899-1900
1 Scottish League Cap 28/02/1903 v Irish League
Honours with Bradford City – FA Cup Winner 1911, Football League Division Two Championship winner 1907-08.

Born in Lugar in 1882.

Made his debut for Thistle against Hibs in December 1898, replacing the regular left back Andrew Wilson, who was injured. He made a good impression in his first season:

“A stout defender is Campbell, who took Wilson’s place at left-back in the PT team. No doubt he is a rusher, but he came off on Saturday anyhow, and burst up the Hibs forwards repeatedly.” [Daily Record 12/12/1898]

“Campbell and Auchencloss gave a grand display at Easter Rd and saved their goal time after time” [Scottish Sport 13/12/1898]

“Campbell was somewhat erratic, but shone out brilliantly at times.” [Daily Record 19/12/1898]

“Campbell a plucky little fellow but is given to miskicking.” [Scottish Sport 20/12/1898]

… his young partner, Campbell, while keeping up the dash he has displayed all along, has added much to the resourceful side of his play. [Daily Record 25/12/1899]

After leaving Meadowside he played for Rangers making nine appearances and scoring once before he moved to England and Millwall Athletic in the Southern League in 1905. He spent one season at Millwall, playing 28 games before moving to Division Two side Bradford City. He partnered Fred Farren in the City full back line, helping the club to win the Division Two title in 1907–08 and then the FA Cup in 1911. He played a total of 223 league games and 24 FA Cup games for City before retiring after football in England was suspended because of the First World War.

He was also a keen angler and cricketer with the Clydesdale Cricket Club. He died on 13 March 1931 in Ayr Hospital aged 49.

“Renowned for his hefty clearances, the popular full-back was one of the stars of the FA Cup triumph. On a tour of Belgium, the locals nicknamed him L’Aime, due to the fact he rarely had a smile off his face.” [bantamspast.co.uk]

You can view film of the game at Scottish Screen Archive. Its a fascinating picture of pre-1927 Firhill without the Main Stand.

Biographies of the eleven players who represented Thistle in this game can be found in the Partick Thistle Legends book, which is now sold out from most outlets. At the time of writing, Amazon have some copies available.

Thistle moved to Meadowside in 1897 after announcing plans to leave Inchview in November 1896.

Read more about Thistle’s early grounds here.