BOBBY HOWITT

29.09.1952 Rangers [n] W3-1 (Glasgow Cup Final)
Bobby Howitt (1-1, 43 mins); Bobby Howitt (2-1, 67 mins); Johnny MacKenzie (3-1, 89 mins)

This rocket-shot starlet of Davie Meiklejohn's highly successful team gave 7 seasons of great service to the Thistle cause as an inside forward, before going on to have a decent career which ended with an English Second Divison title with Stoke City as a player in 1962-63, and a Scottish Second Division title with Motherwell as a manager in 1968-69. Nothing phased Bobby - his first goal for Thistle came in the Glasgow Charity Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden Park in May '49, and the press were full of praise for the cool-headed teenager.

Another one of the many highlights in his happy days as a Jag came at Hampden Park on Monday, 29th September, 1952, as 46,435 bore witness to Thistle lifting the Glasgow Cup for only the third time in their history.

It was the 23-year-old Bobby Howitt who turned out to be the hero of the hour, equalising just before half-time and putting Thistle ahead midway through the second half. His wing partner, the late great Johnny MacKenzie, sealed the victory close on time to secure the Cup.

“Howitt’s leading goal was brilliantly made and taken. He ‘dummied’ Little from Thomson’s throw-in and, veering to Woodburn’s right, shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area – again with his left foot.” (The Glasgow Herald)

Rangers, not for the first or last time, had been well and truly Howittzered.

Go on Bobby!