The Thistle Archive

Edinburgh-born Sneddon began his career as a youth with local side Heart of Midlothian. After spending seven years in development at Tynecastle, Sneddon joined Fife’s Scottish League Two side Cowdenbeath and made over thirty appearances for the club. A highly rated youth player, Sneddon played on trial with Hibernian in 2017, however he signed for (then) Scottish Premiership club Partick Thistle on 15 June 2017. Sneddon found himself third-choice keeper at Thistle behind Tomáš Černý and Ryan Scully. A poor season led to Thistle being relegated from the Premiership, which led to Černy and Scully departing the club. For the 2018–19 Scottish Championship, Sneddon was promoted to back-up goalkeeper to Cammy Bell, and was first choice when Bell was injured during the season. Sneddon kept a clean-sheet in each of his first two appearances as a Jag (a 2-0 League Cup win at Stenhousemuir in July 2018 and a 5-0 Challenge Cup win at Stranraer in August 2018) and a tone was set; only 2 goalies in Thistle history went further.

Sneddon signed a one-year contract extension at Thistle for the 2019/20 season. Sneddon also received the number 1 jersey, changing from 23. Sneddon signed a further one-year contract with Thistle in December 2019, until May 2021. In the spring of 2020-21, Thistle, with Sneddon in goals, went 9 hours without conceding in the League, the third longest run in the club's history at that time. After winning the 2020–21 Scottish League One title with Thistle, Sneddon signed a new one year extension to his contract ahead of the Scottish Championship season.

As amazing as the clean-sheet runs in 2020-21 were, they would be bettered in 2021-22 as a club-record of 8 consecutive competitive clean-sheets was set following a 0-0 draw away to Queen of the South in December 2021, with Sneddon in goals all the way. When the end-of-season tally was made, Sneddon had matched Kenny Campbell's club-record of 21 competitive clean-sheets in a single season (1920-21). It was a double celebration as Sneddon also matched Alan Rough's club-record of 17 League clean-sheets in a single season (1970-71).

Amazingly, Jamie wrote himself further into the Thistle history books on the 3rd December 2022 in a League match at the Balmoral Stadium. With Thistle trailing 1-0 to Cove Rangers in the 5th minute of injury-time, he sauntered upfield when Thistle were awarded a corner kick. With some intelligent movement, he positioned himself perfectly to get on the end of Stuart Bannigan's cross and executed a perfect glancing header, directing the ball into the corner of the net beyond a helpless Stuart McKenzie in the Cove goal. The scenes which followed were unbelievable as Jamie was swamped by team-mates, background staff and tens of pitch-invading supporters! With his unlikely deed, he became the first Jag in history to score for Thistle in open play whilst serving between the sticks. Prior to Jamie, 'Daft' Rab Bernard had been the only on-duty Thistle goalie to score during a game. Rab had scored a penalty in a 4-0 League win at home to Morton on the 12th February 1921. Aside from Jamie & Rab, Tommy Ledgerwood was the only other to have started the game in goals and scored. Tommy, having got injured, was 'subbed out' to the left wing for nuisance value and sensationally scored in a 5-4 win vs. Hearts at Tynecastle on 4th November, 1950!