The Thistle men’s side are gearing up for their third play-offs appearance in as many seasons. May and June of 2023 provided a carnival of football for Thistle fans, even though we still bear the scars of Dingwall.
That play-off campaign saw a magical atmosphere in the stands. The now famous “Boing Boing” came into its own, as our ferocious front line carved open Queens Park and Ayr United in the Quarter and Semi-finals.
Two players that encapsulate that play-off campaign have been instrumental to our third place finish this season.
Brian Graham and Aidan Fitzpatrick, both proud members of TJF, are the subjects of Thistle Pin number 20, The Boing Boing Pin!
The Boing Boing Pin will go on sale on the online TJF shop, accessible by members only, on Wednesday 8th May at 7pm.
By purchasing yours, you help TJF to meet our £10kpm pledge to the Football Club and £2kpm pledge to the Youth Academy, while also supporting good causes in the wider Thistle community.
BBG
Brian joined the club in January 2020 from Ross County, immediately hitting the mark in a debut defeat against Arbroath. Despite his best efforts, Thistle suffered relegation months later, and he would be tasked dragging us back into the Championship at the first time of asking.
In his three and half years at the club, Brian’s stats are frankly astonishing. He’s played 160 times (147 starts), scoring 81 goals (76 in competitive action). On league duty, he’s found the net, on average, once every other game, providing the vital backbone of both the League One title-winning side and three top four finishes in the Championship.
Brian seems to age like a fine wine, getting better every season he dons the red and yellow. Earlier this year, he became the first Thistle player since 1960 to reach the 20 goal mark in back-to-back seasons, and only the fourth player to score 20 league goals in a season since the Second World War. He’ll be determined to add to his tally of 24 in our two-leg tie against Airdrie this week.
The most remarkable thing of all is that Brian has achieved this purple patch of his career not just as men’s team captain but also as the manager of Partick Thistle’s women’s team, guiding the Petershill side to back-to-back top sixes and their first ever cup final.
Fitzy
In contrast to Brian, who discovered the Firhill faithful later on in his career, Aidan Fitzpatrick knew the joys and heartache of Partick Thistle from the outset.
Aidan was a product of the Thistle Academy and made his Jags debut a mere four months after his 16th birthday, in a friendly against Dumbarton. In doing so, he became the first player born in the 21st century to notch-up an appearance for the Thistle first team.
He would go on to score in his first competitive appearance, against Albion Rovers in the League Cup in July 2018.
Aidan would play 30 games in his debut first-team season, scoring on 7 occasions, before Norwich City snapped him up for a £350k fee. A familiar story of promising young talent making the move down south.
The Covid-affected period would see Fitzy return to Scotland and Queen of the South, initially on loan and then permanently, before Ian MccCall tempted him back to Firhill for last season’s campaign.
In that time, Fitzy has gained a maturity to match the talent. The stats illustrate not just an eye for goal but also the a vital source of assists. This season alone he has found the net, or set someone else up for a goal on 20 occasions.
Fitzpatrick has found the net for Thistle 25 times almost 120 appearances. At the age of just 23, let’s hope he’s part of the Partick Thistle Boing for years to come!
How to buy a Boing Boing Pin 📌
TJF members can purchase a Boing Boing Pin on the TJF shop, from 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday 8th May).
Access details for the shop are in the latest members’ email. Get in touch if you cannot find them.
Each Thistle Pin costs £10 including UK P&P. You can also add previous Pins to your collection, and help support TJF and the Club.
If you’re not yet a member of TJF, you can sign-up today from only £1 per month, and become part of Thistle’s fan ownership journey.
Special thanks to Craig Dunn 📷 for capturing the original photo on which this month’s Pin is based