The Thistle Archive

Midfielder George was born in Mauchline in Ayrshire in 1885, and became a Jag in October 1905. He made his debut on 16 December 1905 against Queen’s Park in the SFL First Division. George played over 60 matches for Thistle, with his last appearance coming against Port Glasgow Athletic in the SFL First Division on 7 March 1908, a 1-1 draw. George scored 3 goals during his time with Thistle. His career at Thistle spanned the 1905-06; 1906-07 and 1907-08 seasons. In the 1905-06 season he appeared on 9 competitive occasions. In 1906-07 George played 29 competitive matches, and in his final season at Thistle on 24 occasions. These three seasons were the final Thistle years at Meadowside. George subsequently joined Ayr United.

Away from the football, George qualified as a teacher and, in 1907, became second master of Busby Public School in Renfrewshire. He enlisted as a Private in the Glasgow Highlanders in August 1915 and, after receiving his commission, was transferred to the 3-9th London Regiment where he was a Second Lieutenant. When training in the use of a spring gun, which was a catapult type gun used to lob grenades into enemy trenches, the practice projectile failed to fire. George leaned over the trench to check it, at which point the gun activated. The test projectile hit George in the face, and he died from his injuries a short while later, on 14 March 1916. George was buried at Mauchline 4 days later, and the flags at Firhill flew at half mast while Thistle defeated Hibs by 4 goals to 1.

We commemorate his life in our feature piece, The Partick Thistle Fallen →.