The Thistle Archive

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1. Sat-09-Aug-1952 [h] (0-3) L1-5 Hibernian (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 1)

2. Wed-13-Aug-1952 [a] (1-0) W5-2 Celtic (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 2)

3. Sat-16-Aug-1952 [a] (0-1) L1-5 St Mirren (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 3)

4. Wed-20-Aug-1952 [h] (1-0) W2-0 Clyde (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final)

5. Sat-23-Aug-1952 [a] (0-1) L1-3 Hibernian (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 4)

6. Wed-27-Aug-1952 [h] (0-0) L0-1 Celtic (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 5)

7. Sat-30-Aug-1952 [h] (1-2) D2-2 St Mirren (League Cup Division A, Section A - game 6)

8. Sat-06-Sep-1952 [h] (1-1) D1-1 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 1)

9. Wed-10-Sep-1952 [h] (2-0) W4-2 Third Lanark (Glasgow Cup Semi Final)

10. Sat-13-Sep-1952 [a] (0-0) W4-0 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 2)

11. Sat-20-Sep-1952 [h] (1-3) L1-5 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 3)

12. Sat-27-Sep-1952 [a] (0-0) W1-0 Queen of the South (SFL Division A - game 4)

13. Mon-29-Sep-1952 [n] (1-1) W3-1 Rangers (Glasgow Cup Final)

14. Sat-04-Oct-1952 [a] (0-0) W2-0 Clachnacuddin (Tommy Hazle Benefit)

15. Sat-11-Oct-1952 [a] (1-1) L1-2 Heart of Midlothian (SFL Division A - game 5)

16. Sat-18-Oct-1952 [h] (1-1) W4-1 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 6)

17. Sat-25-Oct-1952 [a] (1-0) W2-1 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 7)

18. Sat-01-Nov-1952 [a] (0-0) L0-1 Airdrieonians (SFL Division A - game 8)

19. Sat-08-Nov-1952 [h] (1-2) L1-3 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 9)

20. Sat-15-Nov-1952 [h] (1-0) W3-0 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 10)

21. Sat-22-Nov-1952 [a] (0-0) D1-1 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 11)

22. Sat-06-Dec-1952 [a] (0-5) L0-6 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 12)

23. Sat-13-Dec-1952 [h] (1-2) W5-4 Hibernian (SFL Division A - game 13)

24. Sat-20-Dec-1952 [a] (1-0) L2-4 Aberdeen (SFL Division A - game 14)

25. Thu-25-Dec-1952 [a] (0-0) L1-3 Third Lanark (SFL Division A - game 15)

26. Sat-27-Dec-1952 [h] (0-2) L0-3 Falkirk (SFL Division A - game 16)

27. Thu-01-Jan-1953 [a] (0-1) D2-2 Clyde (SFL Division A - game 17)

28. Sat-10-Jan-1953 [a] (0-1) D2-2 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 18)

29. Sat-17-Jan-1953 [h] (0-1) D2-2 Heart of Midlothian (SFL Division A - game 19)

30. Sat-31-Jan-1953 [a] (2-1) D2-2 Raith Rovers (SFL Division A - game 20)

31. Sat-07-Feb-1953 [h] (0-0) L0-2 Clyde (Scottish Cup 2nd Round)

32. Sat-14-Feb-1953 [h] (2-1) W4-2 Motherwell (SFL Division A - game 21)

33. Sat-21-Feb-1953 [h] (3-2) W5-3 St Mirren (SFL Division A - game 22)

34. Sat-28-Feb-1953 [a] (0-1) W3-2 East Fife (SFL Division A - game 23)

35. Sat-07-Mar-1953 [a] (0-2) L1-3 Celtic (SFL Division A - game 24)

36. Sat-14-Mar-1953 [a] (2-2) W3-2 St Mirren (Friendly)

37. Sat-21-Mar-1953 [h] (0-0) D0-0 Third Lanark (SFL Division A - game 25)

38. Sat-28-Mar-1953 [h] (0-0) L0-3 Dundee (SFL Division A - game 26)

39. Sat-04-Apr-1953 [a] (0-0) D1-1 Hibernian (SFL Division A - game 27)

40. Mon-06-Apr-1953 [h] (1-2) D2-2 Queen of the South (SFL Division A - game 28)

41. Sat-11-Apr-1953 [h] (0-2) L1-2 Rangers (SFL Division A - game 29)

42. Sat-25-Apr-1953 [h] (1-0) W3-2 Airdrieonians (SFL Division A - game 30)

43. Mon-27-Apr-1953 [h] (1-1) L*2-2 Queen's Park (Glasgow Charity Cup Quarter Final) * lost coin toss

44. Tue-12-May-1953 [n] (2-1) W3-1 Heart of Midlothian (Hospitals Fundraiser)

1952-53 summary

P44 W17 D10 L17 (1.386 ppg) Historical PT average: 1.412 ppg (@ 14-Jan-2026) The points-per-game measurements (ppg) above are calculated from our all games criteria, based on 1 point for a draw and 3 points for a win across all eras. How does this season compare? The answers are at your fingertips via our 21 (sortable) results summary tables → Thistle finish as Scotland's 9th club out of 32 in the Leagues. At the end of 1952-53, the club's historical average finish remains 9th. + League finish averages - League finish averages Table limited to the official 125 League seasons. The evolving strength of Aberdeen and Dundee United as well as the emergence of a plethora of strong new clubs vying for Top 12 places has gradually eroded Thistle's position in the Scottish game, pushing the club down around 2½ places in the pecking order since the mid 60s. sortable table headers

see also:

1952-53 (Reserves) →

1952-53 (Z-List) →

Squad List 1952-53

sortable table headers

• Sorted by position then name. Page refreshes will return this order.
• Table is limited to the 22 players who featured in any competitive first-team match this season.
• Quoted ages are dated @ Mon-27-Apr-1953, the last competitive match of the season.
• Average age of the starting eleven this season was 26y, 8m, 15d. (per DB snapshot @ 18-Feb-2025)

notes

Promoted Clyde (champions) and Falkirk (runners-up) were the new participants. 2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw. Those finishing level on points were placed in order of superior goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded). Table per John Litster, data integrity verified by the Thistle Archive. Abbreviations (where necessary): R = Relegated.

see also:

1952-53 (season overview) →

Results Summary: PTFC League →

Results Summary: PTFC League (home) →

Results Summary: PTFC League (away) →

Results Summary: PTFC Top-Flight →

Results Summary: PTFC Top-Flight (home) →

Results Summary: PTFC Top-Flight (away) →

Results Summary: League finish averages →

notes

2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. Teams finishing level on points were placed in order of superior goal average. Thistle were seeded in the top half of the group stage draw which pitted all 16 top-flight sides against each other, thus ensuring that 4 'lesser' teams from the bottom half of the draw would qualify for the two-legged Quarter Finals. Tabulated by The Thistle Archive by triple corroboration, using the match results published at Wikipedia and London Hearts before verifying them against our own database. For the 6th time out of 7 (1946-47 to date) Thistle fail to qualify from their League Cup group.

see also:

1952-53 (season overview) →

• The Thistle kit image for this season is © Historical Football Kits and is reproduced here by kind permission.

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