Match Preview
It’s amazing to think that with the European Championships less than a week finished, Wimbledon still to reach the final stages and the British Open still a couple of weeks away that the football action, albeit a series of pre-season friendly matches, is about to start.
Thistle kick-off their pre-season itinerary tomorrow afternoon, the earliest we have ever played a pre-season friendly, with a match at Blue Square North outfit Blyth Spartans.
This will be the second time in recent seasons that Thistle will have faced English non-league opposition as part of their pre-season programme. In July 2006 Thistle made the trip to Lancaster City and on a baking hot afternoon won 2-1. Two years on it is interesting to reflect upon the fact that of the Thistle players on duty that afternoon just three, Jonny Tuffey, Simon Donnelly and Mark Roberts (pictured scoring the winning goal that afternoon) remain part of the Firhill set up.
Manager Ian McCall, who will miss tomorrow’s game, has always been keen to play down the importance of pre-season fixtures with the build up of fitness much more important than the actual result. It will, however, still be a strong Thistle side that will take the field at Croft Park tomorrow and the gaffer brought www.ptfc.co.uk up to date with some team news ahead of the game tomorrow.
“We will obviously be without Alan Archibald and Liam Buchanan. Stephen McKeown and Scott Chaplain both have wee niggles but they should be okay to play against Blyth. The plan is to also include a couple of trialists as we continue to look at strengthening our squad ahead of the start of the new season.”
Tomorrow’s match marks the end of week long break for the squad but it has been anything but a holiday for the players as the manager explained.
“It’s been triple sessions all round and the players have really worked hard. They’ve been getting up at 6:30am for the first session just after 7am. Sessions just after 11am and then again at the back of 4pm have been the order of the day. It’s all been about making sure the team is fully prepared for the start of the season and tomorrow’s game is an important part of that preparation.”
A large number of Thistle fans are expected to make the trip to Blyth and are sure, in addition to being tremendous ambassadors for Partick Thistle Football Club, to provide a colourful and vocal backdrop to the match.
For those intending to make the trip there is a reminder that the Blyth Spartans Social Club will be open from 12 noon and there will be a Happy Hour in place between 12 and 2. Thistle fans are ensured of a warm welcome.
Admission prices for the match have been set at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions and Blyth will be issuing a programme for this match.
For those staying at home www.ptfc.co.uk will have a presence at the game and we hope to have a match report online a short time after full-time.
