Thistle Pins
What are Thistle Pins?
Thistle Pins are limited edition metal pin badges, depicting Partick Thistle heroes throughout the ages. They are released on a monthly basis, and are sold at £10 each (including P&P) to raise funds for The Jags Foundation. They can be bought through our members-only shop.
If you want to be eligible to purchase a Thistle Pin you’d better sign-up to the Foundation today if you haven’t already!
The McParland Pin
The first Thistle Pin was the McParland Pin, commemorating the late Davie McParland.
It was launched to celebrate the Foundation reaching 600 members, back in July 2022.
The Doolan Pin
The second Thistle Pin, launched in August 2022, was the Doolan Pin.
At that point, of course, Kris was known as the legendary Number 9, with more than 400 appearances and a goalscoring centurion. Now he’s Partick Thistle’s Gaffer and back where he belongs: at Firhill!
The Husband Pin
The third Thistle Pin, launched in September 2022, was the Husband Pin.
Jackie was a true Firhill legend. A one-club-man after whom one of Firhill’s stands is named.
The McQuade Pin
The fourth Thistle Pin, launched in November 2022, was the McQuade Pin.
Denis McQuade, the Mad Monk, epitomised in human form the joys and tribulations of Partick Thistle. Part of the ’71 Cup Winning team, Denis continues to be a great friend to the Firhill Faithful.
The Three Kings Pin
The fifth Thistle Pin, launched in December 2022, was the Three Kings Pin.
This Christmas special depicted three Jags Legends off the pitch: John Lambie, Bertie Auld and Pat Quinn. A notorious back-room trio of the ’80s and, in their own respective ways, footballing greats.
The Squiddy Pin
The sixth Thistle Pin, launched in January 2023, was the Squiddy Pin.
Chris Erskine was the enigmatic star of the 2012-13 title winning season who always wore his heart on his sleeve. You never knew what Squiddy was going to do next when he donned the Red and Yellow.
The Mackenzie Pin
The seventh Thistle Pin, launched in February 2023, was the Mackenzie Pin.
Johnny Mackenzie, the Firhill Flyer, remains to this day the only native Gaelic speaker to have played for Scotland. We were proud to launch his Pin alongside his grandson as part of World Gaelic Week.
The Reid Pin
The eighth Thistle Pin, launched in March 2023, was the Robert Reid Pin.
Robert is the proof that not all footballing heroes wear strips. For many years, he has told the story of Partick Thistle better than we could ever hope to. We’re incredibly lucky to have him as our Club Historian and a fellow fan of our team. He’s one of our own and every bit as much a Firhill legend as those on the all-time scorers lists.
The Hawksworth Pin
The ninth Thistle Pin, launched in April 2023, was the Hawksworth Pin.
Mhairi Hawksworth was a vital part of the Thistle Women’s team. She was there in the earliest stages of its formation as part of the Thistle Weir Academy. Mhairi helped guide Thistle to three promotions, eventually reaching the top-flight of Scottish women’s football.
The Banzo Pin
The tenth Thistle Pin, launched in May 2023, was the Banzo Pin.
Stuart Bannigan, the longstanding engine of the Thistle midfield, is the closest to a “one-club-man” Thistle have seen in the modern era. In his testimonial year, we could think of no more fitting tribute than to give the most booked player in Jags history his own Pin.
The Kingsley Pin
The eleventh Thistle Pin, launched in early July 2023, was the Kingsley Pin.
Kingsley is the David Shrigley-inspired Thistle mascot we all know and love. We were delighted to turn the Thistle sun-god into a Pin to mark the launch of our junior memberships.
Every junior member will receive a Kingsley Pin as a gift.
The Lawrie Pin
The twelfth Thistle Pin, launched in early August 2023, was the Lawrie Pin.
Bobby spent six seasons at Firhill, helping the Jags to promotion and to 1971 Cup glory. His was the second goal at that fateful day at Hampden. The outside-left and cult hero.
The Charnley Pin
The thirteenth Thistle Pin, launched in late August 2023, was the Charnley Pin.
Chic is a cult hero, having spent four spells at Firhill. Lambie’s prodigal son, the midfield maestro provided madness, mayhem and even a bit of red mist from time to time.
The Duffy Pin
The fourteenth Thistle Pin, launched in late September 2023, was the Duffy Pin.
Neil spent four seasons at Thistle, during what was arguably Firhill’s golden era. He was part of the team that should have won the Old First Division but for the many postponements brought about by The Big Freeze.
The Rae Pin
The fifteenth Thistle Pin, launched in late October 2023, was the Rae Pin.
Alex Rae remains the only Thistle captain ever to have held major silverware aloft at Hampden Park. We can only hope that he’s joined by another talisman or two in the years ahead.
Rae’s goal, just nine minutes in, opened the floodgates for the most famous result in Jags history. The ultimate rejoinder to those who were sure that we “had no chance”.
The Archie Pin
The sixteenth Thistle Pin, launched in early December 2023, was the Archie Pin.
Alan Archibald has just about done it all at Partick Thistle. From the promising young wing-back, to the no-nonsense centre-half and Club Captain, unexpectedly turned manager and even a return as an assistant manager.
Under his stewardship, Thistle enjoyed not just one of its most famous titles, but also one of its most sustained periods in the top flight of Scottish football in modern times.
The Collins Pin
The seventeenth Thistle Pin, launched in January 2024, was the Collins Pin.
Gerry Collins is most fondly remembered as John Lambie’s right hand man in the dugout. But he also played for Thistle and had a short spell as manager.
His greatest successes, other than promotions and two league titles, include the Tennent’s Sixes triumph of 1993.
The Lindau Pin
The eighteenth Thistle Pin, launched in February 2024, was the Lindau Pin.
Peter Lindau was a talisman and a cult hero at the turn of the century. The Swede was brought to Firhill by John Lambie to transform the fortunes of a side stuck in the third tier.
Everyone remembers Lindau for the famous hat-trick he scored at Forthbank to secure automatic promotion in 2001. And despite what others will tell you, there’s only ever been on Swede in Glasgow!
The Doc and Demi Pin
The nineteenth Thistle Pin, launched in March 2024, was the Doc and Demi Pin.
This Pin celebrates two long-standing members of the Partick Thistle Women’s Team, Clare Docherty and Demi Falconer. We’re proud to call them JF members and Thistle heroes.
This Pin marks the incredible achievement of the PTWFC team in season 2023-24, reaching the Sky Sports Cup Final for the first time.
Acknowledgements and Queries
If you have any questions about Thistle Pins, drop us an email at membership@thejagsfoundation.co.uk.
Pin purchases made on or before 17th March 2024 should now have been dispatched.
As always, we would like to thank Peter Smith of Steelmen Pins both for inspiring our own version of his idea and for helping us to get Thistle Pins up and running.