Martin's Month - October 2009

3rd – Today is the first occasion that the Trust are using the Warriors' shop in the Jackie Husband stand as an area for people to sign up for the Centenary Fund. The news in the morning that 4 players have signed contract extensions and that income from the Centenary Fund helped to achieve this is a great boost. There is a good level of interest and 4 new members are signed up (another member joins in the Main Stand along with 2 Junior Jags thanks to the efforts of Steven Hollinsworth aka Wee Scamps). I am also pleased to report that my colleague Graeme aka Woodstock Jag gave this month's pie the “thumbs up”. As for the game itself we record a 2-0 victory which takes us to the top of the division – only 28 games to go!

12th – A Jags Trust Board meeting this evening. Before the meeting those who attended the game away to Dundee tell the rest of us how well the team played and how unlucky we were. As for the meeting there are, as usual, lots of things to discuss and these include the Centenary Fund, Kieron's report on Community Development, the Hall of Fame Dinner Dance and the Race Night that is being held in November. Other fundraising initiatives are also discussed and further details on these will be published on the Trust website when they have been confirmed.

17th – Back in action at Firhill today for a game against Ayr United. The Trust are back in the Warriors' shop between sections 6 & 7 to allow people to sign up for the Centenary Fund, join the Trust or to buy horses/tickets for the Race Night on the 27th of November. We have a lot of interest in these and sign up another 4 Centenary Fund members. Also making an appearance today was the Jags Trust t-shirt which went down very well alongside my red jumper (the t-shirt is a lovely yellow). The game itself saw us keep up our record of clean sheets in the league here at Firhill as we record a very well deserved 2-0 win. It was nice to see that Mark Roberts got a good ovation from the Thistle fans when he was substituted (it was even better though to see him miss that header in the second half).

20th – The Centenary Fund draw at Firhill today. After the success of our recent attempts to get people signed up on matchdays it is time for October's draw. Congratulations to all of the winners – especially Joyce Towers who won a signed ball (well done Gran). The Citroen car will be drawn on the 31st against Raith Rovers, so still a chance for those who did not win anything today.

23rd – An evening that I have been looking forward to for several weeks – the Hall of Fame Dinner Dance to induct the 1971 League Cup winning team. The event is at the aptly named Thistle Hotel in Glasgow and the Trust had taken 3 tables at it. I am at the table with some of my fellow Board members and forum users and their wives. The evening is hosted by Dougie Donnelly and he does a good job (well for a Clyde fan). The meal is very nice and credit goes to the hotel staff who did an excellent job in making sure things ran smoothly. The inimitable Bertie Auld helps with the raffle – congratulations to those who won prizes. The auction had a number of excellent prizes – a framed '71 replica top which was signed by the team, a threeball at Loch Lomond golf course, a trip to the Manchester Derby in April plus others. Two of the items went for over £1,000 and the others all raised good funds as well. There was a great speech by Robert Reid who talked about the day itself and the manager at that time, David McParland, gave an excellent and funny speech about his time in charge. Unfortunately I had to leave before the dancing started so I could not show my “moves” but I am sure that there was as much fancy footwork on the dance floor as there was on the pitch on that wonderful day in 1971.

31st – A game against Raith Rovers today to finish the first third of the season. It is also a further opportunity to sell tickets and horses for the Race Night on the 27th of November in the Aitken Suite. Business is fairly quiet but we do manage to shift a few tickets and horses on the day. There is more good news later in the evening with a further two commercial sponsors just about signed up. I would also like to thank the Jags fan who made a very generous donation towards the Race Night, I won't embarrass him by naming him here but he knows who he is – thanks again! We also get another new member of the Centenary Fund – every little helps. The draw for the car is made at half time and I think everyone is relieved that neither a Jags Trust Board member or a Thistle player wins it! It was also very encouraging to see so many youngsters turn up in their Halloween costumes – I did not realise that Batman supported the Jags! A few “grown ups” also had costumes on (you know who you are) but they were not in the same class as the youngsters. Well I suppose I need to mention the game now. Thistle did not play as well as they have done recently but some credit should go to Raith Rovers who executed their game plan very well. Although the game was lost 2-1 we are still only 4 points from the top of the table with 72 points still to play for and if we all stick together then I do believe that we have an excellent chance of being promoted.