The Thistle Archive

What can possibly be said about Chic that hasn't already been said? John Lambie made him one of his first signings during his first spell as Thistle manager in January 1989 and despite some initial reservations from the Jags support he quickly became very popular. No more so than when he helped inspire Thistle to a famous Scottish Cup victory over a then Premier League St Mirren side. Chic left Thistle for the first time at the end of the 90/91 season in a deal that saw him and Davie Elliot leave Firhill for St Mirren with George Shaw, Mark McWalter plus cash moving in the opposite direction. It was a move that never worked out for Charnley and after a spell in Sweden he was back of Firhill in November 1993 and was soon weaving his magic, twice helping Thistle to beat the drop. He was given a surprise free transfer after the second escape act and that looked to spell the end of the Partick Thistle story for James "Chic" Charnley. Not so, he was back in Thistle colours once more in February 1998 when money raised through "Save the Jags" enabled John McVeigh to bring Chic back. There was no happy ending this time as Thistle took the drop with Chic missing the last few weeks of the season suspended.