In Conversation with - Stuart Bannigan
Sunday 5th September 2010
Saturday was in general a positive day for Partick Thistle. Thistle emerging from an entertaining game as 2-1 winners and in doing so reached, for only the second time, the semi-final of the ALBA Challenge Cup. The inclusion in the side, and the performance of, young Stuart Bannigan was another positive factor to take from the match.
Having come on as a substitute for the last 18 minutes of the First Round tie against Clyde it wasn’t Stuart’s first team debut on Saturday but it was his first start, and what an excellent 70 minutes he contributed, and it was clearly a memorable afternoon for the young midfielder.
“I was delighted and a little surprised to get a start against Ayr United. I didn’t find out that I was going to start the game until about 1:30pm and as I’ve said I was a little surprised but also really looking forward to it. It was good too that my mum, dad and aunt were at the game as well.”
“I really enjoyed the game although it was a wee bit hard to get into it at first. It was a tough match although first half I thought that things went well.”
Having enjoyed thoroughly his first start in the Thistle first team Stuart is understandably keen to repeat the experience.
“Hopefully I can make a few more appearances in the first team this season but it’s really up to the gaffer now. It would be great to get a few more games under my belt because at this stage of my career it’s all about gaining experience from playing at first team level.”
The fact that Stuart’s first start coincided with a Thistle victory would only have made the occasion that bit sweeter for him.
“First half I thought that we did really well and after the break the game really opened up. Ayr got more into the game but I felt that we deserved our victory. That’s us through to the semi-final with a place in the final just 90 minutes away which would be something to look forward to.”
