After a seven-month absence, we’re delighted to announce that Thistle Pins are back with number 22!
This time we pay tribute to a defensive supremo from the Lambie years, the Magyar ModFather himself: Scott Paterson!
Yes, that’s right! February 2025 marks the release of the Shaggy Pin 📌
The Scenic Route to Firhill
Born in the North East of Scotland, Scott Paterson began his career with Aberdeen’s second side, Cove Rangers (then of the Highland League). The promising 20 year-old quickly attracted the attention of Graeme Souness’ Liverpool, making the switch to Anfield in 1992 for a fee of £15,000. Injury misfortune would ultimately deny him a top flight career on Merseyside.
In search of regular game-time, Scott subsequently spent four years with Bristol City, before plying his trade as something of a Nomad across England, Wales and Scotland between 1996 and 2001.
Looking to build on his 2nd Division title-winning team, John Lambie signed “Shaggy” from Morton, and the defender almost instantly became a fans’ favourite. Scott was never shy in the tackle, but he also brought flair to the Thistle back-line. Waltzing out of defence, inch-perfect passes up the park, it was little wonder the Firhill faithful took to him.
The golden season
Paterson’s performances at the back were absolutely vital to Thistle’s title-winning season in 2001-02. But in many ways, he is better remembered for his contributions at the other end of the park on one of Thistle’s all-too-rare cup runs.
In the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup, Scott scored his first (spectacular) goal for the Jags at Firhill, in a 2-2 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
In the rain-soaked replay up north, he would go one better, thundering home the decisive free-kick from long range. With victory came Thistle’s first trip to Hampden for a national cup semi-final in nearly three decades, where they’d lose out to eventual winners, Rangers.
In the first season back in the top flight, Scott would again feature prominently in the Thistle defence, before moving on a pre-contract to Dundee United. Alas for Shaggy, injuries would again greatly limit his game-time at Tannadice, and after another brief loan spell at Firhill, and short stints at St Johnstone and Gretna, he played-out the rest of his career back where it all started, with Cove Rangers.
All in all as a player, Shaggy featured 72 times for Thistle, scoring twice.
Shaggy's return to Firhill Road
Following his retirement from playing, Scott moved into coaching, holding various roles behind the scenes at Aberdeen and Livingston. Then, in early 2013, Paterson rejoined with his defensive foil Alan Archibald, as his assistant in the Firhill dugout.
The Lambie legends would ultimately deliver not just First Division title glory, but would remain in the dugout during Thistle’s most successful period in the modern era: five successive seasons in the top flight and a top-six finish.
Since leaving Firhill in 2018, Paterson has continued his coaching career, firstly with Cowdenbeath and now with Dundee.
How do I get a Shaggy Pin 📌
If you’re a TJF member, you can get your hands on a Shaggy Pin for just £10 including UK P&P, when they go on sale from 7pm this evening (Thursday 27th February) on our shop.
The sale of Thistle Pins, and other TJF merchandise, help us to meet and beat our three member pledges to the Club, Academy and Women’s team. This season, we are likely to break the £200k barrier for the first time, making a huge difference to the foundations of our football club.
If you’re not a member, it’s really easy to join TJF, and there are affordable membership rates for all, regardless of circumstances. Help us on the road to 2000 members and be part of your Club’s biggest ever fans community.