The Thistle Archive

Media report

GLORY'S NOT FOR ME - IT'S FOR THE PLAYERS; Lambie Title Tribute to His Jags. IT'S been a long time coming - but still Partick Thistle fans had to wait for it … and wait for it. After drawing with relegation strugglers Forfar they had to hang on nervously to find out the result of the game involving nearest rivals Arbroath. Finally, the announcer at Station Park blared out that the Gayfield side had lost to Queen of the South and that the Jags were Second Division champions. The players and 1800 travelling supporters could at last party - and they did it in style.

Not since winning the Division One title in 1976 have Firhill fans had silverware to celebrate. They were joined in the festivities by beaming boss John Lambie who clutched the customary cigar as he danced and sang with them. It was the most emotional moment so far of Lambie's amazing third spell in charge of the club.

They had been on the brink of extinction when he returned as their saviour and Saturday's victorious scenes laid to rest the ghost of the Save the Jags campaign. The 60-year-old said: “I wasn't paying any attention to the result at Dumfries because I wanted us to go and win it off our own backs. A little bit of complacency crept in and I was raging at the two goals we lost. The players will want to relax but I won't allow them because we want to beat Arbroath next week in front of our own supporters.”

Lambie praised the fans who chanted his name. He said: “It's absolutely brilliant for them because they've been starved of success for too long. I took Hamilton into the Premier League twice but this is as good as anything I've achieved in the game. I was away from football for two years but I was delighted when I got the job at Thistle. Three years ago the club were going to the wall and we were third bottom of the Second Division. But it's not about John Lambie - it's about players.”

If anybody in the Jags squad deserved a medal it was Alan Archibald. The 23-year-old full-back has witnessed major upheavals in seven years with the club. He said: “This is absolutely brilliant and the ovation we got from the fans was unbelievable. It's a relief after all the hard times. All the hassle and the c*** with the Save the Jags campaign has all come to an end. The gaffer's very proud because he's Thistle through and through.”

Amid all the title talk, it had been overlooked that Forfar needed points to avoid the drop. But the Jags took the lead in the first minute with a Barry Elliot strike. Andy Cargill equalised seven minutes later and Ian Ferguson appeared to turn Partick party pooper with Forfar's second nine minutes from the break. But Paul McGrillen clinched a point for the Firhill side in the 76th minute.

Forfar boss Neil Cooper congratulated Thistle on their triumph but paid tribute to his players for their battling display. He said: “I'm very proud of them. They stood up and were counted and showed great character.”

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