 |
20th August |
| What were the Thistle happenings on your special date? Check back daily for the midnight update… |
| born (20th August) |
| Steven Campbell |
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| b. Perth, 1986 |
| Paul Walker |
 |
| b. Kilwinning, 1977 |
| Donnie McKinnon |
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| b. Glasgow, 1940 |
| Alex Gourlay |
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| b. Dalbeattie, 1919 |
| Fred Pope |
 |
| b. Glasgow, 1909 |
| Tom Hyslop |
 |
| b. Auchinleck, 1871 |
| died (20th August) |
| Willie O'Donnell |
 |
| d. Glasgow, 1989 (65) |
| Willie Gardiner |
 |
| d. Largs, 1977 (88) |
| matches (20th August) |
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access match hub | |
| Sun-20-Aug-2023 [a] (0-2) L0-4 Heart of Midlothian (League Cup 2nd Round) |
| – Hearts didn't have to break sweat for the win. Poor defending at corners led to Graham's OG (header going wide hit off him, 11) and a free header (45). Squandered possession by Muirhead invited a 25-yard run and a third goal (48). It was 4-0 (74). Apart from an encouraging spell before half-time, there was nothing to offer. Not even a corner in the 90 minutes. |
| Sat-20-Aug-2016 [a] (0-1) L1-2 Aberdeen (SPFL Premiership - game 2) |
| – A wild tackle by Osman led to a 25-yard free-kick for 1-0 (28). Azeez and Edwards went close but when Lindsay lost possession it gifted a 2nd (58). Welsh was sent off (disputing a booking, 87) but a spirited display saw Erskine fire home an 18-yarder (90) then desperate defending on the line denied Thistle a draw. |
| Sat-20-Aug-2011 [h] (0-0) D1-1 Hamilton Academical (SFL First Division - game 3) |
| – Bottom v top. It was 0-0 at half-time but both teams had seen plenty of goalmouth action. Sub Elliot scored on his debut (68) after a surging run and return pass but when Fox fumbled a in-swinging corner it was 1-1 (76). Both teams went all out for a winner but a curling free-kick over the bar was as near as Thistle got. |
| Sat-20-Aug-2005 [h] (1-2) W3-2 Dumbarton (SFL Second Division - game 3) |
| – 2 defensive lapses by Santala saw Dumbarton go 2-up in 12 mins. Roberts (on his debut) pulled one back with a powerful shot (27) then the turning point came when Dumbarton were reduced to 10 men (head butt, 38). Roberts scored with an angled drive (61) and Santala bundled one in at the back post (68). |
| Sat-20-Aug-1994 [h] (0-1) L0-2 Rangers (SFL Premier Division - game 2) |
| – “Gorham plugs the holes in a rocky Rangers defence” (GH). An OG by Byrne (8) set up Rangers who were not at their best. Better luck might have made a difference but Taylor hit the bar just on half-time and magnificent saves to deny him and English meant it was Rangers' day. A header killed off Thistle's challenge (77). |
| Tue-20-Aug-1991 [h] (1-0) W2-0 Albion Rovers (League Cup 2nd Round) |
| – Rovers had a goal disallowed for off-side and 2 minutes later an own goal when trying to clear a lob/cross by Law put Thistle ahead (34). They attacked continuously but it took until 53 minutes to make sure when McGlashan volleyed in a long clearance by Murdoch. Comfortable. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1988 [a] (0-0) W1-0 Kilmarnock (SFL First Division - game 2) |
| – Kilmarnock made the better start and MacLean was soon busy. Docherty was pulled down by the keeper but Flood's pen was saved (21). MacLean had more fine saves in the second half and was saved by the woodwork once. McGuire poked a loose ball home (80) for 2 scarcely deserved points. |
| Wed-20-Aug-1986 [h] (0-0) L0-1 East Fife (League Cup 2nd Round) |
| – A rock-solid defence and brilliant goalkeeping were the foundations of East Fife's win. Smith hit the woodwork before half-time. The winner was a fierce shot from 15 yards (67). Even with Kelly outstanding, increasingly frustrated Thistle only had themselves to blame for squandering umpteen chances. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1983 [a] (0-0) W2-1 Clyde (SFL First Division - game 1) |
| – Johnston went close with a lob early on. Clyde had their chances too but McNab saved well. Thistle survived a pen appeal then McDowall flashed a Kay cross just wide. Watson grabbed a double (low drive following a corner, 67 and a header from a Buckley cross, 70). Clyde pulled one back by way of consolation (86). |
| Sat-20-Aug-1977 [a] (0-0) L0-3 Motherwell (SFL Premier Division - game 2) |
| – Thistle only had a long run and shot by Houston mid-way through the first half to show all afternoon. Motherwell took some time to get their act together but with three second half goals they ran out easy winners. Thistle, with 4 bookings, were a sorry looking bunch, apart from Rough who had some fine saves. |
| Wed-20-Aug-1975 [a] (1-0) W2-1 Dundee United (League Cup Section 4 - game 4) |
| – Anderson and Rough were in brilliant form as United piled on the pressure but it was Joe Craig who opened the scoring as the defence dithered (23) when he was set up by Somner. Thistle held firm until Rough conceded a pen (74). More United pressure came to nothing and Hansen (J) blasted home a loose ball (88). |
| Wed-20-Aug-1969 [h] (0-1) L0-1 Dundee (League Cup Section 3 - game 4) |
| – Dundee looked classy but their forwards lacked any punch. Not that Thistle's were any better. The only goal came with a well-worked move in just 30 seconds then the woodwork saved Thistle and denied Glavin. The Dundee keeper had a fine game and was the main reason they took both points. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1966 [a] (0-2) L0-4 Motherwell (League Cup Section 3 - game 3) |
| – “Thornton and Reid must go“ said the banner as Thistle slumped to a heavy defeat. A goal (24) when Niven parried a long shot and a disputed penalty (39) made it 2-0 then Muir shot a penalty wide (49) but Thistle enjoyed a better spell until goals 67 (looking for off-side) and 70 put the result beyond any doubt. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1960 [a] (1-1) L1-3 Third Lanark (League Cup Section 2 - game 3) |
| – Thistle's 2 corners in the 1st min came to nothing. Donlevy hit the post and Smith scored from the rebound (17). All Thistle's neat play was fruitless and Thirds levelled with a lob from out on the touchline (28). They hit the bar, Thistle went close twice before goals (77 and 82) sealed the win. |
| Wed-20-Aug-1958 [a] (0-1) L1-3 Motherwell (SFL First Division - game 1) |
| – Much-changed Motherwell were superior and played some fine football. Some crude defending kept them at bay but they scored 12 and 57 to put them well ahead. A shot was saved by Renucci but was judged to have gone over the line (78). Kerr's goal (81) looked off-side. Renucci had some magnificent saves. |
| Tue-20-Aug-1957 [h] (0-0) D0-0 Clyde (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final) |
| – A rare example of an excellent goalless draw. Stout defensive work kept Clyde at bay and it was the heroic performance of the Clyde goalkeeper that frustrated all the Thistle forwards as they shared the chances round. Still no goals but a much improved performance, Smith in particular. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1955 [h] (3-0) W4-0 Raith Rovers (League Cup Section 2 - game 3) |
| – A whirlwind start had pointless Rovers on the back foot. Crowe stabbed in a MacKenzie shot (10) then McParland scored from a Sharp pass (35) then for 3-0 (36). The second half was almost one-way traffic but it took until the last minute for a Sharp header from a MacKenzie cross to round off a convincing win. |
| Wed-20-Aug-1952 [h] (1-0) W2-0 Clyde (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final) |
| – Thistle were undoubtedly the better team. Davidson gave them the lead with a pen (hand ball, 16) then Walker hit the bar from 25 yards. Stott scored an opportunist goal from a difficult angle (55) and it was only after Gibb was carried off after a rash tackle (62) that Clyde wasted some chances and twice hit the post. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1949 [a] (0-3) L2-5 Dundee (League Cup Division A, Section C - game 3) |
| – Thistle had no answer to the speed and quality of Dundee's play and trailed 4-0 before Sharp got the 1st of his 2 goals (74 and 88). Not for the first time Stott (a future-JAG) ran the defence ragged and bagged a hat-trick. Too many forwards had an off-day and they failed to live up to their growing reputation. |
| Wed-20-Aug-1947 [a] (0-0) L0-1 Rangers (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final) |
| – Thistle played well against the wind. Just after half-time Mathie hit the post with a header then Glover's shot was cleared off the line. A header (67) won it and Thistle faded. Time was running out for McSpadyen (his 2nd last game) and overweight McKennan (after being out injured for 10 months). |
| Sat-20-Aug-1938 [a] (1-1) W4-2 Raith Rovers (SFL First Division - game 2) |
| – Yet again McSpadyen and McKennan made the difference. Rovers missed several good chances before Wallace scored (header, 20) but it was 1-1 at half-time. Rovers pressure came to nothing and goals by McKennan (a magnificent 35-yard free-kick, 58 mins), Picken and McSpadyen made it 4-1 before Rovers scored - the last three goals coming in the last 5 minutes. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1932 [a] (1-1) L1-2 St Johnstone (SFL First Division - game 2) |
| – Play was “a muddle of imperfections” (GH). St Johnstone's 1st goal (25) looked suspiciously off-side. Ewing wasted a glorious chance but scored (on his only game for the club) with an unmarked header (40). A poorly defended 20-yard free-kick in the second half won it. 2 poor teams. |
| Tue-20-Aug-1929 [h] (1-1) W3-1 Third Lanark (Glasgow Cup Quarter Final) |
| – Thirds took a surprise lead (4). Grove hit the post then Thistle levelled through Simpson (30). Thirds started the second half the better and Thistle struggled to make any headway until a fine shot by Torbet (60) then Simpson scored the best goal of the game from Ballantyne pass (87). |
| Sat-20-Aug-1927 [a] (2-2) W3-2 Kilmarnock (SFL First Division - game 2) |
| – A good match saw chances at both ends then Kilmarnock went 2-up (30). Jackson dropped the ball after being “charged“ for the 1st. Defensive weakness let Hair in twice (38 and 44). Play was open and even after that and when the keeper unwisely came for a cross, Salisbury beat him to it (80). |
| Sat-20-Aug-1921 [h] (0-1) W3-2 Morton (SFL First Division - game 2) |
| – Lucky to be just a goal down at half-time, Thistle were transformed after half-time with goals from McNiven (bundled ball and keeper over the line, 60), Kinloch (set up by Harris) and Blair (solo effort) as the 3 inexperienced forwards struck some form. Morton scored two minutes from the end. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1910 [a] (0-0) D1-1 Morton (SFL First Division - game 1) |
| – Morton were easily the better team in the first half but a combination of stout defending and poor shooting left it goalless at half-time. The second half was faster and more exciting. Steel scored for Thistle from a Branscombe pass. Morton pressed and got a deserved equaliser for a point apiece. |
| Thu-20-Aug-1908 [a] (1-0) W3-2 Clyde (Masonic Lodge Fund Raiser) |
| – Masonic Lodge fund raiser. Both teams experimented with guests from the Juniors. A clever goal by Callander put Thistle ahead at half-time then Davidson and Gray put them well ahead. 2 late goals put a better complexion on things from a Clyde point of view. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1904 [h] (0-3) L0-5 Celtic (SFL First Division - game 1) |
| – Howden saved a penalty in the opening minutes and Thistle were seldom seen as an attacking force. “Celtic were soon in rollicking form“ (DET) and ran riot to lead 3-0 at half-time. Just to finish off Thistle's miserable day, Curran missed a penalty just before the end. |
| Tue-20-Aug-1901 [h] (0-1) L0-2 Queen's Park (Willie Paul Benefit) |
| – A 2nd Willie Paul testimonial. Thistle struggled to get a team up and had 2 QP players playing for them. Queens were far the better team and scored in either half. Although the full-backs were sound, the half-backs “didn't shine”. The forwards were “an uneven lot” (ET). A 2,000 crowd was poor for a Thistle legend. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1898 [a] (0-4) L2-6 Rangers (SFL First Division - game 1) |
| – After a fine 20-minute spell by Thistle (with regulars still missing), it was all Rangers who won the league winning every game. 4-0 at half-time. Thistle almost scored after the break but soon it was 6-0. “Following a spell of tricky football by the Rangers” (GH), Thistle scored a couple through Currie and Lindsay. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1892 [a] (1-5) L2-6 Kilmarnock (Scottish Alliance - game 1) |
| – Kilmarnock (who finished 2nd the previous season) were too good for Thistle. They trailed 4-1 at half-time (a goal by Ingram) and with the wind at their backs an even second half saw a goal each - Paul scoring with “a hard drive“. “A brilliant victory“ (ASH). Regular half-back Freebairn (D) made his only appearance in goal. |
| Sat-20-Aug-1887 [a] (2-2) L3-5 Dumbarton Athletic (Friendly) |
| – To open Athletic's new ground (St James). They scored (3) but Thistle equalised (6) then went ahead but it was 2-2 at half-time. In the second half Thistle were under pressure and soon it was 4-2. They contested the 4th goal (as off-side) and threatened to quit - but didn't - and a goal to either team finished the scoring. |
| 20th Aug (day ranking: 267/360) | |||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | - | A | Pts | GD | ppg |
| 32 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 47 | - | 70 | 39 | -23 | 1.219 |
| compiled to our All Games criteria @ 25-Jun-2026 | |||||||||
| Thistle's Historical Summary | ||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | - | A | Pts | ppg |
| 6912 | 2774 | 1453 | 2685 | 11926 | - | 11261 | 9775 | 1.414 |
| compiled to our All Games criteria @ 11-Oct-2026 | ||||||||