The Thistle Archive

After several years in the Thistle Weir Youth Academy, this young central midfielder got the call to join Kris Doolan's Thistle for some first team experience in the summer of 2023. Wearing the #3 shirt, Ché (along with his Academy mates Sallu Turay and Jamie Taggart) got the nod to come off the bench for the final half hour of a 2-1 pre-season friendly win at Kelty Hearts. As fate would have it, it was one Lochgilphead boy replacing another, as Ché came on for Zander MacKenzie! He played out his debut in an unusual right back role. Frustratingly, the final season of Ché's Academy journey was interrupted by an ankle break in September 2023, and he finally returned to full training early in the new year. His wee brother, Rudi, is also a player with the Thistle Weir Youth Academy.

The 17-year-old Ché was involved in several first-team matchday squads in the latter half of 2023-24 and, in early May 2024, he came on for his competitive debut late in the second-half at Tannadice, where champions Dundee United were enjoying their trophy presentation evening. In July 2024 - along with his Academy mates Luis Cameron & Thomas Horn - Ché formally joined the senior squad, signing a two-year modern apprentice deal. Having just completed his first pre-season in full-time football, Ché was fixed up for a season-long loan deal with Mick Kennedy's title-challengers, East Kilbride of the Lowland League. He literally made his debut on the same night (2 Oct 2024) coming off the bench in the 5-0 league win at Gretna.