23rd October is a date that raises the interest of every Thistle fan. That was the day in 1971 when Partick Thistle humbled Celtic (then undoubtedly one of the top teams in Europe) by four goals to one in the final of the Scottish League Cup.
The line-up on that day is etched into the memories of everyone who had the pleasure of being there, and is a fundamental part of the education of any self-respecting Jags fan!!
This year marks the 38th Anniversary of that memorable occasion and it makes for an opportune time for the team collectively to be entered in the Thistle Hall Of Fame.
You can make the 23rd October this year a memorable occasion by joining the JagsTrust at its' tables at the Hall Of Fame dinner which will be held at the Glasgow Thistle Hotel in Cambridge Street, Glasgow.
The evening will commence at 1900hrs (for 1930hrs) and will include a 4 course meal followed by the induction ceremony with the evening topped and tailed by dancing until 1 o'clock in the morning with the band "Grounds For Divorce". Dress code for the evening is "Lounge Suit"
The cost of joining the Trust tables will be £40 per person. This is cheaper than would be the case if you bought the tickets individually from the club - we can offer this lower cost by buying a table. At this point, we have committed to buying two tables - should there be sufficient interest we will buy more tables subject to availability.
If you'd like to attend, please contact David Stewart or Allan Heron with your details.
Payment can be made by Paypal to the JagsTrust account which is paypal@jagstrust.com. We are also happy to receive the payment in two instalments if that makes being able to attend the event easier for you. Please ensure that you mark all payments via Paypal as "Hall Of Fame Dinner". We will also be able to receive payment in cheques or in cash.
This should be an excellent evening and is a rare opportunity to see all of our heroes together again. We hope you can come along and join in the recognition of these giants in the history of Partick Thistle.
Monday 28 September 2009
Scottish Football : Online Survey
Supporters Direct in Scotland have put together an online survey to measure the views of supporters on a range of footballing issues. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and covers pyramid leagues, youth football and the running of the game in Scotland.
The responses will be used to allow Supporters Direct to contribute to current and future discussions surrounding Scottish football. The closing date for responses is Sunday 18 October 2009.
The survey can be found at: www.surveygizmo.com/s/172960/scottish-football
All those who complete the ten minute survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a Scottish football club shirt of your choice (not that readers of this site will be assumed to have any choice in the matter!).
The responses will be used to allow Supporters Direct to contribute to current and future discussions surrounding Scottish football. The closing date for responses is Sunday 18 October 2009.
The survey can be found at: www.surveygizmo.com/s/172960/scottish-football
All those who complete the ten minute survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a Scottish football club shirt of your choice (not that readers of this site will be assumed to have any choice in the matter!).
Tuesday 22 September 2009
Firhill Centenary gala day
The Jags Trust are delighted to report that the sideshows at the club gala day raised almost £400 for Macmillan Cancer Care and with the cost of participation at only 20p for each stall, that demonstrates that our volunteers dealt with almost 2000 individual "shots" at the stalls! That's a throughput per volunteer of more than one wean a minute, which is why we were all a wee bit tired by 2pm, but it was great fun and we hope to take part in the next centenary event in 2076.The Trust provided all of the prizes for the stalls and in financial terms we achieved a more than 100% return on that investment. Look out for more of the same in the weeks and months to come, with members subscriptions being invested to either raise cash for the trust to buy shares, support community initiatives or help local charities.
Sunday 20 September 2009
September's Centenary Fund Draw
The draw for this month's Centenary Fund will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday the 22nd. With Alan Archibald's golf day taking place on Monday and my work commitments on that day it was simply not possible to have it on Monday. I hope that this short delay will not be too inconvenient and may I take the opportunity to wish everyone good luck in this draw.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Martin Towers
Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Martin Towers
Wednesday 16 September 2009
New Chair for Trust Board
One of the first items on the agenda for last Monday's meeting of the new Trust Board was to agree a new Chairperson for the coming year.
The Trust Board agreed that this person should be David Stewart and he takes this on with immediate effect.
Commenting on his new role, David said "I am honoured and apprehensive in equal measure to be appointed as Chairman of our Supporters' Association. It's clear that we face a difficult period ahead, but with some drive and determination from the Trust Board and the help of volunteers from amongst the fans, I am hopeful that in the year ahead the Trust will become a more visible, productive, approachable and stable organisation working hard for the benefit of the Club that we all care so much about."
The terms of office to apply to our newly elected members was also decided by the drawing of lots. As a result of this, Tom Hogg and Graeme Cowie will serve for one year whilst Morag McHaffie, David Stewart and Martin Towers will serve for two years. All will be eligible for re-election at the end of their current period of office.
The Trust Board agreed that this person should be David Stewart and he takes this on with immediate effect.
Commenting on his new role, David said "I am honoured and apprehensive in equal measure to be appointed as Chairman of our Supporters' Association. It's clear that we face a difficult period ahead, but with some drive and determination from the Trust Board and the help of volunteers from amongst the fans, I am hopeful that in the year ahead the Trust will become a more visible, productive, approachable and stable organisation working hard for the benefit of the Club that we all care so much about."
The terms of office to apply to our newly elected members was also decided by the drawing of lots. As a result of this, Tom Hogg and Graeme Cowie will serve for one year whilst Morag McHaffie, David Stewart and Martin Towers will serve for two years. All will be eligible for re-election at the end of their current period of office.
Tuesday 15 September 2009
World Champion Signs For JagsTrust
"Its the only team I ever wanted to sign for.." says WBU lightweight world champion.....
World champion boxer Wullie Limond today signed up as a member of the Jags Trust. The champion boxer was eager to sign up as a member at Firhill. "I meant to join the Trust last year when Kieron mentioned it to me but never got round to it...". Wullie "never got round to it" as it was a busy year for the Garthamlock hero. 2009 was the year the fighter was fated to take the title of world lightweight boxing champion.
Wullie's effort to reach the top was frustrated in February of 2009, when his opponent for the vacant WBU title Godwin Mutampuka failed a medical at the very last moment. Wullie got his big chance a few months later and took the title via a unanimous decision against English champion Ryan Barrett on the 29th of June. It was a convincing win that saw Wullie dominating. In his usual clever boxing style Wullie held the centre of the ring for the whole of the fight u
sing his accurate jab to hold off his opponent whilst landing some hefty body shots to weaken him and take the title.
Wullie also caught the eye of the public when he knocked down Amir Khan in 2004 on live television in front of a massive audience. Khan won the fight but not without some controversy, as many thought he'd had been given a long count after he hit the canvas.
The world champion has been a Thistle fan all his life and supports the work the Trust does in the community. "I am happy to offer any support I can - if it helps the community I am happy to help." The world champion also joined the club's Centenary Fund the same day and ticked the JagsTrust box to help us in our efforts to get more of the club's shares in the hands of the fans.
World champion boxer Wullie Limond today signed up as a member of the Jags Trust. The champion boxer was eager to sign up as a member at Firhill. "I meant to join the Trust last year when Kieron mentioned it to me but never got round to it...". Wullie "never got round to it" as it was a busy year for the Garthamlock hero. 2009 was the year the fighter was fated to take the title of world lightweight boxing champion.
Wullie's effort to reach the top was frustrated in February of 2009, when his opponent for the vacant WBU title Godwin Mutampuka failed a medical at the very last moment. Wullie got his big chance a few months later and took the title via a unanimous decision against English champion Ryan Barrett on the 29th of June. It was a convincing win that saw Wullie dominating. In his usual clever boxing style Wullie held the centre of the ring for the whole of the fight u
sing his accurate jab to hold off his opponent whilst landing some hefty body shots to weaken him and take the title.Wullie also caught the eye of the public when he knocked down Amir Khan in 2004 on live television in front of a massive audience. Khan won the fight but not without some controversy, as many thought he'd had been given a long count after he hit the canvas.
The world champion has been a Thistle fan all his life and supports the work the Trust does in the community. "I am happy to offer any support I can - if it helps the community I am happy to help." The world champion also joined the club's Centenary Fund the same day and ticked the JagsTrust box to help us in our efforts to get more of the club's shares in the hands of the fans.
Friday 11 September 2009
Dunfermline game 19 September...help!!
As many Trust members will already know, the club is holding a gala day on 19 September to mark the centenary of the first match played at Firhill Stadium against Dumbarton Harp in September 1909.
The Trust has volunteered to help with the event and will be involved in manning sideshow stalls, but we need more people than the current Trust board since there are only eight of us in total. No particular skills are involved, just a willingness to chip in and help out by making sure that the stalls are well run and that all the kids taking part have a good time.
Please contact Tom Hogg on 07775 726560 or honved71@gmail.com if you can lend a hand.
The Trust has volunteered to help with the event and will be involved in manning sideshow stalls, but we need more people than the current Trust board since there are only eight of us in total. No particular skills are involved, just a willingness to chip in and help out by making sure that the stalls are well run and that all the kids taking part have a good time.
Please contact Tom Hogg on 07775 726560 or honved71@gmail.com if you can lend a hand.
Monday 7 September 2009
Brown McMaster
Many of you will have seen coverage in the Sunday press on Brown McMaster and, in particular, the question of whether he has satisfied the SFL requirements in relation to an interest in more than one club.
The JagsTrust has been advised that there has been no change in the ownership in the shares held by the McMaster family.
Any change in ownership of these shares needs to take full account of the basis in which they were gifted in the first place which was to preserve the future of Partick Thistle (as recorded at Companies House) and not as a consideration in relation to services rendered or to be rendered. Any transaction based solely on the needs of Brown McMaster to preserve his position as President of the Scottish Football League is not necessarily the same as one that is in the best interests of Partick Thistle.
In particular, any proposal to transfer these shares to another major shareholder who is currently a sleeping partner would not be welcomed by the JagsTrust.
If Mr McMaster needs to divest himself of his shares, AND has the best interests of Partick Thistle at heart, then the Trust would be more than happy to receive his shares on the same basis as he was granted them.
The JagsTrust has been advised that there has been no change in the ownership in the shares held by the McMaster family.
Any change in ownership of these shares needs to take full account of the basis in which they were gifted in the first place which was to preserve the future of Partick Thistle (as recorded at Companies House) and not as a consideration in relation to services rendered or to be rendered. Any transaction based solely on the needs of Brown McMaster to preserve his position as President of the Scottish Football League is not necessarily the same as one that is in the best interests of Partick Thistle.
In particular, any proposal to transfer these shares to another major shareholder who is currently a sleeping partner would not be welcomed by the JagsTrust.
If Mr McMaster needs to divest himself of his shares, AND has the best interests of Partick Thistle at heart, then the Trust would be more than happy to receive his shares on the same basis as he was granted them.
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Martin's Month - August
To give members of the Trust a better insight as to what members of the Trust Board do there will be a new monthly feature, which starts today with my "diary" for the month of August:
1st - The first home game of the season and the first opportunity to hand out Centenary Fund application forms. Fortunately the weather is fine and the team turn in a good performance with a 5-1 win. We run out of forms a bit early so must remember to take more at the next game!
10th - A JTB meeting this evening at Maryhill Community Halls. The first part of the meeting is open to all fans and 2 supporters come along - thanks guys. We discuss at length what the Trust should do at the forthcoming Shareholders' meeting and eventually decide that abstaining is the best course of action. The rest of the meeting deals with issues including the Centenary Fund, fundraising and player sponsorship. We decide that we will sponsor Craig Hinchcliffe's away top but that "Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres" is what will appear in the programme and on the club website.
11th - I have a meeting with Eddie Prentice in the afternoon to discuss the Centenary Fund with him. The meeting is very productive and we agree on a number of things (some of which you will see the benefits of in future home games). There is just enough time to head back to the city centre and grab a bite to eat before heading to Firhill for Archie's testimonial against Liverpool (okay a Liverpool XI). Thistle play well and there is a good turnout for Alan.
15th - First league game of the season at Firhill (I have a bad feeling in the morning as games against Ross County never make for good viewing). Meet up with fellow JTB members and we take up our positions for giving out Centenary Fund forms. There is a good take up from the fans and I head to my seat just before kick off feeling more positive about the game than I had earlier - new found positivity doesn't last long! My early morning bad feeling was right - another awful game to watch involving Ross County, well at least we didn't lose.
20th - The Shareholders' meeting takes place this evening in the Aitken Suite. I had only to walk from Queens Cross to Firhill and I was soaked by the time I got in - what a country for weather! The meeting takes place in a fairly positive atmosphere and there is a productive Q&A session. Members of the JTB ask various questions and make constructive points - prices in the Aitken Suite on matchdays, stewarding of small away supports and the selling of season tickets are all brought up. I make a point on selling season tickets in 3 instalments over May, June & July and the Chairman says that they will look at this.
25th - I am at Firhill in the afternoon to represent the Trust at the Centenary Fund Draw. Whilst there I take the opportunity to discuss a couple of issues with Eddie before getting on with the draw. 28 individual winners later and my name wasn't one of them, my JTB colleague Allan Heron does win a prize (I must remember to mention my commission when I see him at the game tonight). After grabbing a bite to eat (a very nice fish supper if you must know) I meet up with a couple of colleagues at Firhill. Tom takes a bundle of Centenary Fund forms and says he is going to the pub (I like his style) and Allan isn't for paying any commission (well that's the last prize he will win). Again we get a decent response with our efforts in handing out application forms , unfortunately the team don't fare so well and a last gasp goal ends our involvement in the League Cup (well the League is the main thing). I meet with a supporter after the game who had contacted me with an idea for the Trust and we discuss it whilst walking up the road.
29th - A must win game at Firhill today against Morton! A couple of JTB colleagues have failed late fitness tests for Centenary Fund duty but on the plus side we have a debutant - young Graeme is making his first start of the season. The weather stays dry but it is very windy - I keep having awful visions of me chasing after a couple of hundred forms as they blow around the South Drive (thankfully I manage to keep a tight grip on them, which is more than the Morton defence did with Liam). We manage to get nearly all of our forms handed out and now its game time. After a nervy start the team get on top and we run out 5-0 winners - a great way to end the month!
What happens in between those dates you ask (don't you), well there is a lot of discussion that takes place on the Trust Board Google Group and I always have a look at what is being discussed on the JagsForum so that I have a sense of what people are thinking about various topics.
If you have any questions or comments then please feel free to post them and I will do my best to address them.
1st - The first home game of the season and the first opportunity to hand out Centenary Fund application forms. Fortunately the weather is fine and the team turn in a good performance with a 5-1 win. We run out of forms a bit early so must remember to take more at the next game!
10th - A JTB meeting this evening at Maryhill Community Halls. The first part of the meeting is open to all fans and 2 supporters come along - thanks guys. We discuss at length what the Trust should do at the forthcoming Shareholders' meeting and eventually decide that abstaining is the best course of action. The rest of the meeting deals with issues including the Centenary Fund, fundraising and player sponsorship. We decide that we will sponsor Craig Hinchcliffe's away top but that "Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres" is what will appear in the programme and on the club website.
11th - I have a meeting with Eddie Prentice in the afternoon to discuss the Centenary Fund with him. The meeting is very productive and we agree on a number of things (some of which you will see the benefits of in future home games). There is just enough time to head back to the city centre and grab a bite to eat before heading to Firhill for Archie's testimonial against Liverpool (okay a Liverpool XI). Thistle play well and there is a good turnout for Alan.
15th - First league game of the season at Firhill (I have a bad feeling in the morning as games against Ross County never make for good viewing). Meet up with fellow JTB members and we take up our positions for giving out Centenary Fund forms. There is a good take up from the fans and I head to my seat just before kick off feeling more positive about the game than I had earlier - new found positivity doesn't last long! My early morning bad feeling was right - another awful game to watch involving Ross County, well at least we didn't lose.
20th - The Shareholders' meeting takes place this evening in the Aitken Suite. I had only to walk from Queens Cross to Firhill and I was soaked by the time I got in - what a country for weather! The meeting takes place in a fairly positive atmosphere and there is a productive Q&A session. Members of the JTB ask various questions and make constructive points - prices in the Aitken Suite on matchdays, stewarding of small away supports and the selling of season tickets are all brought up. I make a point on selling season tickets in 3 instalments over May, June & July and the Chairman says that they will look at this.
25th - I am at Firhill in the afternoon to represent the Trust at the Centenary Fund Draw. Whilst there I take the opportunity to discuss a couple of issues with Eddie before getting on with the draw. 28 individual winners later and my name wasn't one of them, my JTB colleague Allan Heron does win a prize (I must remember to mention my commission when I see him at the game tonight). After grabbing a bite to eat (a very nice fish supper if you must know) I meet up with a couple of colleagues at Firhill. Tom takes a bundle of Centenary Fund forms and says he is going to the pub (I like his style) and Allan isn't for paying any commission (well that's the last prize he will win). Again we get a decent response with our efforts in handing out application forms , unfortunately the team don't fare so well and a last gasp goal ends our involvement in the League Cup (well the League is the main thing). I meet with a supporter after the game who had contacted me with an idea for the Trust and we discuss it whilst walking up the road.
29th - A must win game at Firhill today against Morton! A couple of JTB colleagues have failed late fitness tests for Centenary Fund duty but on the plus side we have a debutant - young Graeme is making his first start of the season. The weather stays dry but it is very windy - I keep having awful visions of me chasing after a couple of hundred forms as they blow around the South Drive (thankfully I manage to keep a tight grip on them, which is more than the Morton defence did with Liam). We manage to get nearly all of our forms handed out and now its game time. After a nervy start the team get on top and we run out 5-0 winners - a great way to end the month!
What happens in between those dates you ask (don't you), well there is a lot of discussion that takes place on the Trust Board Google Group and I always have a look at what is being discussed on the JagsForum so that I have a sense of what people are thinking about various topics.
If you have any questions or comments then please feel free to post them and I will do my best to address them.
Tuesday 1 September 2009
The Centenary Fund
As we enter the month of September the centenary of Firhill grows ever nearer and our minds focus on not only the great times we have had at "The Stadium of Dreams" (copyright Campbell Hughes) but what the future holds for our Club. Nobody knows for certain what the future will bring but the one thing that is certain is the fact that Partick Thistle needs to generate more revenue each season.
The Centenary Fund is the main fundraiser for the Club and the better it does then the more money is generated for the Club as well as more shares going to the Trust. Over the last couple of months the Trust and the Club have been in regular discussion about how we can, by working together, move the Centenary Fund to the next level. At the moment the Centenary Fund is on course to be the most successful fundraiser the Club has ever had and that is down to the great backing given by the fans - thank you!
As they say in adverts for a certain supermarket chain, "every little helps" and that is also true of the Centenary Fund. It would not take a huge percentage of people who regularly attend games at Firhill, but have not as yet joined, to sign up to make a significant difference to the income being generated as every new member regardless of the level they sign up for is profit to the Centenary Fund.
At each of the home games this season members of the Trust Board have been handing out application forms (and may we take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have taken one and/or have stopped to talk to us - it is much appreciated). The plan is to have a presence at every home game this season and we are looking at the ways we can improve our matchday operation.
In our discussions with the Club we have stressed the importance of getting the facility for people to join online available and the indications are that this will be in place sooner rather than later. We are also aware that people expect the draws to take place on their scheduled dates with the results being published as soon as possible after the draw. This has been communicated to the Club and improvements in this area will occur.
We are aware that the financial climate means that everyone has to make tough decisions on what they spend their money on and your backing is never taken for granted. If you have already joined the Centenary Fund then we thank you and if you are in a position to join then we would urge you to do so. If anyone wishes to ask a question or make a suggestion regarding the Centenary Fund then they should add their comments to this article or get in touch with the Club (mail@ptfc.co.uk).
You can download an application form by clicking on the Centenary Fund link at the top of the page, once completed you can either post it to Firhill or hand it in at the office on a matchday. We would also ask that you put JT in the box provided as this means more shares for the Trust.
Thank You.
The Centenary Fund is the main fundraiser for the Club and the better it does then the more money is generated for the Club as well as more shares going to the Trust. Over the last couple of months the Trust and the Club have been in regular discussion about how we can, by working together, move the Centenary Fund to the next level. At the moment the Centenary Fund is on course to be the most successful fundraiser the Club has ever had and that is down to the great backing given by the fans - thank you!
As they say in adverts for a certain supermarket chain, "every little helps" and that is also true of the Centenary Fund. It would not take a huge percentage of people who regularly attend games at Firhill, but have not as yet joined, to sign up to make a significant difference to the income being generated as every new member regardless of the level they sign up for is profit to the Centenary Fund.
At each of the home games this season members of the Trust Board have been handing out application forms (and may we take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have taken one and/or have stopped to talk to us - it is much appreciated). The plan is to have a presence at every home game this season and we are looking at the ways we can improve our matchday operation.
In our discussions with the Club we have stressed the importance of getting the facility for people to join online available and the indications are that this will be in place sooner rather than later. We are also aware that people expect the draws to take place on their scheduled dates with the results being published as soon as possible after the draw. This has been communicated to the Club and improvements in this area will occur.
We are aware that the financial climate means that everyone has to make tough decisions on what they spend their money on and your backing is never taken for granted. If you have already joined the Centenary Fund then we thank you and if you are in a position to join then we would urge you to do so. If anyone wishes to ask a question or make a suggestion regarding the Centenary Fund then they should add their comments to this article or get in touch with the Club (mail@ptfc.co.uk).
You can download an application form by clicking on the Centenary Fund link at the top of the page, once completed you can either post it to Firhill or hand it in at the office on a matchday. We would also ask that you put JT in the box provided as this means more shares for the Trust.
Thank You.
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