Tuesday 29th September, 2026 at 3:10pm
With a draw against Raith Rovers the weekend before last, Mark Wilson’s Thistle side equalled a club record of 23 home league games unbeaten.
This impressive feat had only been achieved twice before in the history of the Jags and today we’re taking a look at how the present squad’s predecessors made it happen.
1910-1911 – Managed by George Easton
The first Thistle side in question started their streak in August 1910 a mere 18 months after the club had moved into Firhill Stadium.
Our maiden season in Maryhill hadn’t been a particularly good one with just six wins from 16 games on SFL duty at the new ground, however, that was made up for the following term.
Season 1910/11 began on the road with a 1-1 draw at Cappielow but Thistle were able to get their first win – worth two points at the time – on the board in their home opener against Motherwell. George Easton’s side turned a one-goal half-time deficit against the Well into a 2-1 win thanks to goals from a pair of 21-year-olds; Willie Gardiner and John King.
Overall, Thistle would win six and draw two of their first eight home matches that season without ever winning by more than the odd goal but that changed when Raith Rovers visited in December.
A crowd of 8,000 watched as George Elmore put the home side ahead on three minutes before Willie Gardiner popped up with a second in the eighth minute. Frank Branscombe made it three in second half meaning this was the joint-largest competitive victory Firhill had seen to that point.
More narrow victories followed against Morton and Hibs taking us into the New Year and one of the busiest weeks in the club’s existence.
On Monday, 2nd January, the Jags welcomed Third Lanark to Firhill for a 2pm kick-off with Thistle winning 1-0 courtesy of a George Keenlyside strike. There was no time to celebrate the triumph though because they were back in action 24 hours later against Rangers.
The Gers had also played the previous afternoon, drawing 1-1 with Celtic at Ibrox and they would have to settle for a point again against the Jags. Thistle, who were twice in front in the first half, relied on a penalty save from William Campbell to secure a 2-2 draw and maintain their unblemished home league record.
A benefit match was held at Firhill on the Wednesday but the regulars were spared a third game in three days as 11 changes were made to the line-up for that one.
Games quickly got back to a more regular schedule and with that came wins over Queen’s Park and Dundee, by scores of 3-0 and 3-2 respectively, preceding a 0-0 draw with Clyde.
Then the final game of that league season arrived as Falkirk visited Glasgow. Not only was the flawless Firhill record on the line but also the chance to finish in 4th place, above defending champions Celtic, having finished down in 16th the season prior.
The game started well with the woodwork struck twice in the opening 20 minutes but the Bairns, who were above Thistle in the table, fought their way into things and got a goal before half-time.
The Jags regrouped well over the interval and found the response they needed. James Steel netted twice and Alex McGregor once to win the match and create history with an unbeaten season at home and the club’s highest league finish to that point.
With that, the Maryhill streak carried into a second campaign and Thistle kicked off the new term with a 1-1 draw against Morton once again, this time on home soil.
That was followed by goalless stalemates against Falkirk and St. Mirren and then wins over Hibernian and Clyde with the 23rd and final game of the run coming against Hamilton on 14th October 1911 when a shorthanded Thistle side with five regulars absent eked out a 0-0 draw.
The streak’s end was brought about by the visit of Rangers on 28th October when Willie Reid was on target for the away side and the aptly named Gers ‘keeper Herbert Lock could not be picked.
All-in-all, George Easton’s side won 15 times and drew eight games on their 23-match unbeaten run at Firhill, scoring 35 and conceding 13 along the way – somewhat spookily, these statistics are identical to those of the present team’s ongoing streak.
1970-71 – Managed by David McParland
The next squad to go as long as that without losing at home in the league did so in 1970 and 1971 under the stewardship of David McParland.
Much like the team of 60 years prior, these Jags hadn’t shown any signs of homely fortitude beforehand having won just four of 17 games at Firhill as they were relegated during the 69/70 campaign. However, a new season offered the young Thistle side a fresh start and that was made clear in their opening league game when they found themselves 4-0 up after half an hour in Maryhill against Stenhousemuir with the game finishing that way.
More goals flooded in over the next few weeks with East Stirlingshire, Hamilton and Forfar all swept aside as the Jags netted 17 goals across their first four Second Division home fixtures. A 1-1 draw with Dumbarton represented a slight blip but they were quickly back on the horse and would win their next 10 league matches at Firhill – a joint-club record in its own right which stands to this day!
The winning stretch ended against Arbroath, though the draw was welcome as it was enough to clinch promotion and a return to the top flight of Scottish football at the first time of asking. Frank Coulston powered the Jags into a first half lead and although the Red Lichties equalised in the last five minutes, it wasn’t enough to stop the Red and Yellow locomotive steaming towards the First Division.
The Maryhill men concluded the campaign with a couple of wins, against Queen’s Park and Stranraer, meaning they won a quite remarkable 16 of 18 home league matches that season.
A young, hungry Jags squad were served up an appetising opening fixture to kick off their top tier return as city rivals Rangers travelled to Firhill but a fifth minute Gers opener for starters threatened to leave a sour taste in the mouth.
Thankfully the main course was much more appealing as the upstarts took a 3-1 lead into the break thanks to two goals from Johnny Gibson and one from Frank Coulston. Thistle held on for a 3-2 win to send an early statement and extend their streak to 19 games.
A pair of 2-2 draws against Clyde and Kilmarnock followed before a 2-1 win over St. Johnstone at Firhill which served as the send-off for a team who were taking part in the League Cup final against Scottish champions Celtic seven days later.
The heroes of ’71 did the business at Hampden and played at Firhill for the first time as trophy winners on 6th November when a hat-trick of headers from Denis McQuade delivered a 3-1 win, taking the undefeated streak of home league matches to 23 games, matching the exploits of George Easton’s squad.
Thistle’s opportunity to create a new benchmark came and went as Celtic exacted some cup final revenge by beating the Jags 5-1 on 27th November – goals they could have used a month prior.
The 23-game streak of McParland’s men included an impressive 19 wins and four draws, scoring 65 goals and conceding 17 as they did it, providing almost certainly the most exciting stretch of football Firhill has ever seen.
Now, Mark Wilson and the current crop of Thistle players have the opportunity to go one game further than either of those legendary sides could. Arbroath are the visitors this Saturday as the Jags look to claim an important three points and get to 24 consecutive league games without defeat at our famous home.
Be there for this weekend’s match by purchasing your ticket online now through Fanbase – CLICK HERE TO BUY!
