Thistle’s teenage prodigy lost out in the pain game
Things have been a bit tense at Partick Thistle since it emerged they’ve been saving money by not running a team bus to away games.
It seems to be a decision related to a boardroom shuffle in the wake of proposed takeover of the club.
On this day in 1962, however, Thistle had some good news to announce.
They had snapped up one of the hottest prospects in Scottish football.
Manager Willie Thornton had beaten off competition from Hearts, St Mirren, Birmingham City and Blackpool to capture 16-year-old Duncan MacColl of Drumchapel Amateurs.
Transport was never a problem during his time with the Jags – although a better-equipped physio department might have helped extend his career.
Duncan recalled: “I had been with the Scotland schoolboys team that played against Wales at Rugby Park, and England at Tynecastle.
“There were quite a few others who became professionals – Alex Totten, who started out at Liverpool, Ian Mitchell of Dundee United and the Rangers trio Bobby Watson, Derek Trail and Dennis Setterington.
“I signed for Partick Thistle on a Friday night, and took the train to play for the reserves against Aberdeen at Pittodrie the following day.
“We won the game 4-2 and I scored. But I probably only played for about 15 minutes each half because I just wasn’t used to the physicality.
“My direct opponent was Dave Smith, who went on to be a great player for Aberdeen and Rangers.
“I was top scorer in the Partick Thistle reserves for two seasons, and got a lot of help from experienced men like John Harvey and Alex Wright.
“We won 4-0 against a Celtic side that included John Fallon, Jim Craig, Jim and Frank Brogan, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox.
“That was before Jock Stein took over at Parkhead.
“My first-team debut came against Falkirk in 1964, but a few weeks later I picked up a thigh injury that persisted for several months.
“I had cortisone injections in my leg, and the less said about that the better.
“There wasn’t great treatment for injuries back then, and the club had only Jackie Husband doing physio work. Whenever I attempted a comeback, the thigh would go again.”
Duncan regained his fitness by heading overseas.
He went on: “I got a free transfer from Thistle and went to Canada, where I played for a team in Hamilton for the summer.
“We played Montreal, and I was up against Stanley Matthews. I was 18 and he was 47!
“I came back to Scotland in the September, when the season had already started.
“That didn’t help with getting a club. But there were letters waiting for me from Rangers, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea.
“I then went from club to club, trying to sort out my future.
“I joined Celtic for a month under Jock Stein, but they didn’t sign me.
“After that, I had two months at Kilmarnock . But, again, there was no offer.
“That led to me joining Barnsley, where I was alongside my former Partick Thistle team-mate, Martin Ferguson, Sir Alex’s brother.
“My next move was to play for Ballymena United in Northern Ireland.
“Former Partick Thistle player, George Smith, was the manager and they would fly me over for games on a Saturday morning.”
Another trip abroad saw Duncan try his luck in South Africa.
He said: “I went to Boksburg. We had former Aberdeen player, Ken Brownlee, in the team and ex-Thistle striker, Norrie Davidson.
“After that I decided to come home and get myself a proper job.
“I worked in sales for Nestle, while playing some junior football with East Kilbride and Shettleston.”