The Thistle Archive

Media report

Nelson keen to hold on to place… CRAIG Nelson, a young man who at one time would have been an ideal candidate for the leading role in television’s “Lucky White Heather” advertisement, hasn’t quite put all his bad fortune behind him, but the Partick Thistle goalkeeper is certainly causing quite a stir in his first season in the premier division. Nelson is just a couple of months too old or he would certainly be going to Switzerland with the Scottish under-21 side this week, but considering the traumatic footballing experiences he has had in his young life, it is understandable that he is content to be playing at his current level.

After having produced a display of magnificent proportions in Thistle’s 1-0 win over Falkirk — a result which lifts his side into fifth place in the table — Nelson spoke about the downs and the downs which have bedevilled his career and had him wondering at one stage whether he would ever make it. His first big chance came when he signed for Airdrie, but the then manager, Gordon McQueen, who ironically was a spectator at Brockville at the weekend, gave him a free transfer. “I couldn’t have been good enough,” said Nelson, “and it was a real downer. I then stepped back to the juniors with Ashfield and our coach told me that if I was good enough I would be back in the senior game within a year. That’s when Thistle came along, but I had another stroke of bad luck when the club sent me on loan to Cork City to gain experience — I played just two games for them and broke a wrist.” Thistle had also signed another keeper, Andy Murdoch, from Celtic, and things began to look even more bleak for Nelson. “I honestly thought I was in line for another free transfer until Andy got himself injured and I was given my chance near the end of last season. I had eight shut-outs in 11 matches, we won promotion, and here I am, although Andy is playing so well again I can’t afford to relax.” Maybe it was that threat which spurred him on to get himself fit for Saturday’s match against Falkirk. John Lambie, the Thistle manager, was certainly in two minds whether to field him. “Craig had a bad back injury all week,” said Lambie. “In fact it was so bad that even I was a better keeper than he was in training last week, but he wanted to play and it paid off for he was brilliant. Mind you, that doesn’t say a lot for our defence who gave Falkirk so many chances. I’ve made no secret that I haven’t been happy with that department this season — that’s why I tried to bring the likes of Graham Roberts and Terry Butcher to Firhill.”

Neither Lambie nor Nelson tried to hide the fact that they are a bit apprehensive about Thistle’s upcoming programme — Rangers, Aberdeen, Celtic, and Hibernian — and the Firhill side will be without central defender Grant Tierney for the next couple of weeks as he is to go to hospital for a delicate operation. “We know we are going into matches where our backs will be against the wall,” said Lambie, “but at least we now have a wee cushion and if we can pick up a point or two in the next few weeks it will be a bonus. You can take it, however, our lads will be playing their hearts out.” Young Mr Nelson, who admitted that his back injury had worsened as the game progressed on Saturday, also has a sense of humour. “Am I afraid of anyone in the Rangers’ team?” he asked. “The lot of them. They are without doubt the best side in the country so my best plan would probably be to board up the goals.”

Back to Brockville, however, and it is amazing how people have different views of the play. Lambie thought his side should have scored two or three more than the one goal scored by Gerry Britton after 14 minutes, while his counterpart Jim Jefferies was convinced that his men were the far better side and should have won. “We’ll play worse this season and win matches,” said the Brockville manager. “Their goalkeeper was so outstanding that if we had got a penalty he would probably have saved it.” My view was that Falkirk probably deserved a point but they were far too deliberate near goal, while Thistle were the more direct side — they knew where the goal lay and took the shortest route, although they did miss a couple of good chances which could have finished the match.

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