The Thistle Archive

Joe, a striker, joined Partick Thistle in 1972 from Sauchie Juniors. After an impressive start, scoring six goals in his first eighteen league games, he attracted the attention of Liverpool's Bill Shankly who watched him in Scottish Cup action against Dumbarton on 28 February 1973 but didn't follow it up with a bid, despite Joe scoring in a 3-1 win that day. Joe, a Jag from 1972 to 1976, helped Thistle to the First Division title in season 1975-76. By now, he was a well oiled machine, scoring for fun and had formed a deadly two-up-top partnership with Dougie Somner. In all competitions, they rattled in 50 goals between them in what was Thistle's centenary season. His play was now being recognised at international level, and he was capped 4 times for Scotland under-23s during 1975-76. Joe signed for Celtic in September 1976 for £60,000, where he won the Scottish Cup and League Championship in his first season. Whilst at Celtic, he earned his only full international cap in a Hampden friendly against Sweden in April 1977. “Who scored for Scotland with his first touch before even kicking the ball?” has been a quiz question staple ever since.

Speaking to the Celtic Underground in 2020, Joe told the fascinating story of his big night:

The timing for me was quite bad because it was Willie Ormond’s last game as Scotland manager and he named me in the squad. I was on the bench and I got on for Ronnie Glavin and it was Roy of the Rovers stuff. I was just on when Sandy Jardine got past a guy and put in a great cross to the back post, the ball bounced and I headed it into the net, at the Celtic end as well. First touch of the ball. It’s every boy’s dream to score at Hampden but I missed a couple of snips after that when I should have scored and I could have walked off with a hat trick which would have been more impressive. I had a shower and was feeling really pleased with myself when I came out into the corridor where Mr Stein passed me by. He looked at me and said ‘Did okay, should have had a hat trick’ and he just walked on.

Joe moved to Blackburn Rovers in September 1978 where he remained until 1981 before joining Hamilton Academical. After his playing career, he managed Cowdenbeath for three years and later had coaching spells at Armadale Thistle and Airdrieonians. His son Steven was also a professional footballer, and also won a league title with Partick Thistle, how about that?!

Joe is included in our feature piece, The Definitive Who's Who Of The Partick Thistle Internationalists →

1976 - SFL FIRST DIVISION