The Thistle Archive

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• SFL First Division Table
• League Cup Table
• July Cup Table

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1. Sun-16-Jul-1972 [n] (0-0) W3-0 Allmänna Idrottsklubben (July Cup Group 2 - game 1)

2. Wed-19-Jul-1972 [a] (1-0) W2-0 Sirius (July Cup Group 2 - game 2)

3. Thu-20-Jul-1972 [a] (5-0) W11-1 Västerhaninge (July Cup Group 2 - game 3)

4. Sun-23-Jul-1972 [n] (0-2) L0-5 Manchester City (July Cup Final)

5. Wed-26-Jul-1972 [a] (0-0) W3-1 Brynäs (Friendly)

6. Mon-31-Jul-1972 [h] (1-1) D2-2 Newcastle United (Friendly)

7. Sat-05-Aug-1972 [a] (0-1) L0-2 Southampton (Friendly)

8. Mon-07-Aug-1972 [a] (0-0) D0-0 Portsmouth (Friendly)

9. Sat-12-Aug-1972 [a] (4-1) W5-1 Cowdenbeath (League Cup Section 1 - game 1)

10. Wed-16-Aug-1972 [h] (0-0) D0-0 Morton (League Cup Section 1 - game 2)

11. Sat-19-Aug-1972 [a] (1-0) W2-0 Stranraer (League Cup Section 1 - game 3)

12. Wed-23-Aug-1972 [a] (0-0) D0-0 Morton (League Cup Section 1 - game 4)

13. Sat-26-Aug-1972 [h] (1-1) D2-2 Cowdenbeath (League Cup Section 1 - game 5)

14. Wed-30-Aug-1972 [h] (0-0) W2-0 Stranraer (League Cup Section 1 - game 6)

15. Sat-02-Sep-1972 [h] (2-0) W4-1 Dumbarton (SFL First Division - game 1)

16. Mon-04-Sep-1972 [h] (2-0) W3-2 Rot-Weiss Essen (Friendly)

17. Sat-09-Sep-1972 [a] (1-1) L1-2 Rangers (SFL First Division - game 2)

18. Wed-13-Sep-1972 [a] (0-1) L0-1 Honvéd (UEFA Cup 1st Round, 1st leg)

19. Sat-16-Sep-1972 [h] (1-0) L1-2 Arbroath (SFL First Division - game 3)

20. Wed-20-Sep-1972 [a] (0-0) L0-1 East Fife (League Cup 2nd Round, 1st leg)

21. Sat-23-Sep-1972 [a] (2-0) W3-1 Airdrieonians (SFL First Division - game 4)

22. Wed-27-Sep-1972 [h] (0-1) L0-3 Honvéd (UEFA Cup 1st Round, 2nd leg) agg: L0-4

23. Sat-30-Sep-1972 [h] (0-0) D0-0 Falkirk (SFL First Division - game 5)

24. Wed-04-Oct-1972 [h] (0-0) D0-0 East Fife (League Cup 2nd Round, 2nd leg) agg: L0-1

25. Sat-07-Oct-1972 [a] (0-2) L1-2 Ayr United (SFL First Division - game 6)

26. Sat-14-Oct-1972 [h] (0-1) L0-4 Celtic (SFL First Division - game 7)

27. Sat-21-Oct-1972 [h] (1-2) L1-3 Hibernian (SFL First Division - game 8)

28. Sat-28-Oct-1972 [a] (0-0) W1-0 East Fife (SFL First Division - game 9)

29. Sat-04-Nov-1972 [h] (0-1) L0-2 Aberdeen (SFL First Division - game 10)

30. Sat-11-Nov-1972 [a] (2-0) W3-0 Dundee United (SFL First Division - game 11)

31. Sat-18-Nov-1972 [h] (0-1) L0-3 Motherwell (SFL First Division - game 12)

32. Sat-25-Nov-1972 [a] (0-0) L0-2 Heart of Midlothian (SFL First Division - game 13)

33. Sat-02-Dec-1972 [a] (0-2) W3-2 Kilmarnock (SFL First Division - game 14)

34. Sat-09-Dec-1972 [h] (1-0) W1-0 Morton (SFL First Division - game 15)

35. Sat-16-Dec-1972 [a] (0-4) L1-4 Dundee (SFL First Division - game 16)

36. Sat-23-Dec-1972 [h] (1-0) D1-1 St Johnstone (SFL First Division - game 17)

37. Sat-30-Dec-1972 [a] (2-1) L2-4 Dumbarton (SFL First Division - game 18)

38. Mon-01-Jan-1973 [h] (0-1) L0-1 Rangers (SFL First Division - game 19)

39. Sat-06-Jan-1973 [a] (1-1) L1-2 Arbroath (SFL First Division - game 20)

40. Sat-13-Jan-1973 [h] (1-0) W2-0 Airdrieonians (SFL First Division - game 21)

41. Sat-20-Jan-1973 [a] (0-0) W3-0 Falkirk (SFL First Division - game 22)

42. Sat-27-Jan-1973 [h] (1-1) L1-2 Ayr United (SFL First Division - game 23)

43. Sat-03-Feb-1973 [a] (0-0) W1-0 St Mirren (Scottish Cup 3rd Round)

44. Sat-10-Feb-1973 [a] (1-0) D1-1 Celtic (SFL First Division - game 24)

45. Sat-24-Feb-1973 [a] (0-1) D2-2 Dumbarton (Scottish Cup 4th Round)

46. Wed-28-Feb-1973 [h] (1-0) W3-1 Dumbarton (Scottish Cup 4th Round replay)

47. Sat-03-Mar-1973 [h] (1-0) D1-1 East Fife (SFL First Division - game 25)

48. Sat-10-Mar-1973 [a] (0-0) D0-0 Aberdeen (SFL First Division - game 26)

49. Tue-13-Mar-1973 [a] (0-1) L0-2 Hibernian (SFL First Division - game 27)

50. Sat-17-Mar-1973 [h] (1-2) L1-5 Ayr United (Scottish Cup Quarter Final)

51. Wed-21-Mar-1973 [h] (0-1) L0-3 Dundee United (SFL First Division - game 28)

52. Sat-24-Mar-1973 [a] (0-0) D0-0 Motherwell (SFL First Division - game 29)

53. Sat-31-Mar-1973 [h] (1-0) W3-0 Heart of Midlothian (SFL First Division - game 30)

54. Sat-07-Apr-1973 [h] (0-0) D1-1 Kilmarnock (SFL First Division - game 31)

55. Sat-14-Apr-1973 [a] (0-2) L0-5 Morton (SFL First Division - game 32)

56. Sat-21-Apr-1973 [h] (0-1) D1-1 Dundee (SFL First Division - game 33)

57. Sat-28-Apr-1973 [a] (2-1) W3-1 St Johnstone (SFL First Division - game 34)

58. Tue-01-May-1973 [a] (1-0) W1-0 St Pauli (Friendly)

59. Thu-03-May-1973 [a] (2-2) L2-3 Vejle Boldklub (Friendly)

60. Mon-07-May-1973 [a] (1-1) W4-1 Aalborg Boldspilklub (Friendly)

61. Wed-09-May-1973 [a] (?-?) D1-1 Hvidovre (Friendly)

62. Sun-13-May-1973 [a] (0-1) L0-3 Köln (Friendly)

63. Tue-15-May-1973 [a] (?-?) L1-7 Rot-Weiss Essen (Friendly)

1972-73 summary

P63 W22 D16 L25 (1.302 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 13th club out of 37 in the Leagues. At the end of 1972-73, 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:

1972-73 (Reserves) →

1972-73 (Z-List) →

Squad List 1972-73

sortable table headers

• Sorted by position then name. Page refreshes will return this order.
• Table is limited to the 32 players listed in any competitive first-team matchday squad this season.
• Quoted ages are dated @ Sat-28-Apr-1973, the last competitive match of the season.
• Average age of the starting eleven this season was 25y, 0m, 8d. (per DB snapshot @ 18-Feb-2025)

notes

Promoted Dumbarton (champions) and Arbroath (runners-up) were the new participants. 2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw. Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored. Table per John Litster, data integrity verified by the Thistle Archive. Abbreviations (where necessary): EC = European Cup; CWC = Cup Winners' Cup; UFC = UEFA Cup; R = Relegated.

see also:

1972-73 (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 difference, then by goals scored. For the first time in the history of the League Cup, top clubs and bottom clubs were paired together in the same groups, under a more conventional seeding system. To co-incide with this, both the winner and runner-up progressed from the group stage, another first for the tournament. 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 8th time out of 27 (1946-47 to date) Thistle win their League Cup group, and progress to the 2nd Round (R2). Thistle win back-to-back League Cup groups for the first time.

see also:

1972-73 (season overview) →

notes

2 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw. Those finishing level on points were placed in order of superior goal difference. The 2 group winners in this 7 team tournament qualified for the final. Tabulated by The Thistle Archive from the match results supplied by Gordon Peden. Abbreviations (where necessary): F = Advanced to the final; PO1 = advanced to the 3rd & 4th placed play-off; PO2 = advanced to the 5th & 6th place play-off

see also:

1972-73 (season overview) →

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

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