The Thistle Archive

John, who mainly played at right half, signed for Thistle in August 1920 and played a whole season in the Scottish Alliance with the Partick Thistle Reserves. With Thistle shuffling personnel during the hectic New Year period, John was handed his first team debut at Love Street on 4 January 1921. 8,500 turned out in “Spring-like weather” (SC). Kenny Campbell in goals kept 2nd bottom St Mirren at bay as they enjoyed most of the play, but it was Thistle who took the lead through Andrew Comrie (30). Shortly after the restart David Johnstone scored for 2-0 and although Saints continued to dominate, they found the excellent Campbell unbeatable and so it was a winning debut (and a clean-sheet) for John McFarlane at right half.

John got a second run-out as a first teamer in a Monday evening league game against Celtic on 28 March 1921. Strangely, it was played at Ibrox due to ground reconstruction works at Firhill. With Thistle in the middle of negotiating a succesful but gruelling Scottish Cup campaign, there were several changes to the team which had drawn the semi-final with Hearts (also at Ibrox) 2 days earlier. (In fact, the replay against Hearts 2 days later was also set for Ibrox, a most unlikely 5-day freak-streak!) Thistle lost 0-1 to Celtic on the night (1 of only 2 "home" defeats in the 23 games that season) but the second-string boys put in a good effort and were unlucky. “Partick's half-backs were unspairing, both of themselves and of the Celtic forwards. McFarlane - not by the way the gentleman who has been playing centre forward - stuck well into Cassidy and came fairly well out of the tussle.” (DR, 29/3/1921).

Despite doing well in his two appearances, that was the end of his first class activity as a Jag. John wasn't re-signed for season 1921-22 but he did get another run-out in August 1921, partnering Bob McFarlane up front in a benefit match to raise funds for the Arran War Memorial. 1,000 were at Firhill on the Tuesday evening of 23rd August and John marked his finale with a goal. In what was a keenly fought contest, he hit a good drive past David Robertson midway through the second half, inspiring Thistle to come back for a 3-3 draw. John's footballing career movements weren't easily traced, but we've worked hard at it to get it right. He was one of the many Scots who were tempted over to play in the United States. Along with fellow ex-Jags Neil Turner and Bill Carnihan, John played with Bethlehem Steel from late 1922 onwards. It was there we found a photo, published in the Sporting Post in September 1924 (see 'Scrapbook' tab).

John spent 5 seasons in the American Soccer League, with mixed fortunes. He finished as a runner-up with Bethlehem Steel in two editions of the American Soccer League (1922-23 & 1923-24) before transferring to Indiana Flooring midway through the 1924-25 campaign. He moved on to the struggling Philadelphia FC in December 1925 who finished second bottom and forfeited 3 games before spending his final season with JP Coats in 1926-27. Although he almost always played at right half or centre half, there were a few occasions when moved to outside right with both Bethlehem Steel and Indian Flooring. On one such occasion for the former (a 1-1 draw away to National Giants on 30th March 1924) he was sent off near the end for kicking 'Miller'. On a Sunday too! Although never a prolific scorer, he found the net for each of his clubs here and there. His last goal came for J & P Coats on 28th November 1926, a diving header which salvaged a 2-2 draw away to Brooklyn Wanderers.