DOUGLAS THISTLE

Douglas Thistle AFC was formed in 1969 by Jake Ramage as an under 18 team to give the young lads in the village a chance to play organised football, and perhaps to go on to bigger and better things

 

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Jake had a nucleus of local players and he promptly started scouting around, bringing in players from Lanark and Lesmahagow and even further afield.  Jake's right hand man was John Taylor and latterly Willie Cronin who gave the wee man a lot of support and assistance in running the team.

Back row left to right -  Stuart McLeod, Tommy Cronin, Robert Hastings, John Nicholson, Robert Muir, Eric McCutcheon, John Taylor

Front Row left to right - Ian Norris, Billy Walker, Harry Neil, Tommy Anderson, Robert Romer, Les Norris

Back Row Left to right - Jim Docherty, Eric McCutcheon, Bobby Smith, Jim Paisley, Alec Millar, John Taylor

Front row left to right - Les Norris, John Syme, Johnny Walker, Tam Pearson, Tommy Anderson, Colin Ingles

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It became ever harder to attract under 18 players and the Thistle eventually went to full amateur status, allowing Jake to bring in experienced players to keep the side going 

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In the South of Scotland Cup competition the Thistle often found themselves travelling to the borders.  These are some of the players and officials on the bus returning from a successful defeat of Hawick Waverley

 

Top picture  - Kerr Finlay. Kenny McLeod, Ian Colquohoun, Billy Cowan, Jimmy Marchbanks,  John McCabe,  Geordie Lindsay, Billy 'The  Bear' Walker, Jake Ramage

Bottom picture - Rab McGinley, Michael Mullen, Peter Smith, Kenny McLeod, Billy Cowan, Bobby Smith, and Paddy Grieve

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In addition to the players pictured Jake brought back Alan Scanlon from Lanark Thistle as well as ex Douglas Amateur veterans Kenny Sludden and Stuart Hope 

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One of the Thistle's most satisfying result was beating the strong going Lanark Athletic in a South of Scotland cup tie at Lanrk by three goals to nil, with Tommy Cronin bagging a hat trick 

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Celebrations following a Thistle night out

 

 Left to right - Jim Allison, Robert Hastings, Shane Nolan, Jim Doherty, Kenny Sludden, Kerr Finlay

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In season 1980/81 Shane Nolan took over the running of the team for a short spell, followed by Tommy Cronin and Alan Scanlon

Ian Kennedy, Wull Brown, Drew Somerville, Davie Barr, Billy Brown, Robert Dunbar, Stevie Doherty,

Brian Frame, Jim Allison, Robert Corrigan, Billy Cowan, Tommy Rundell, Colin Gardiner

In 1984 former Douglas AFC boss Shulf McMillan was approached to take over the running of the team sponsored by Jackie Ramage of Ramage Bros.  Tommy Cronin and Alan Scanlon had put together a decent side, and it was hoped that Shulf may be the catalyst to take the team to a higher level

South of Scotland Cup

Jimmy Marchbanks being presented with the South of Scotland Cup

                  

SCOTTISH CUP RUN 1985

Douglas Thistle AFC prior to their Quarter final tie in the 1985    Scottish Cup

 Top Row left to right - Kenny Sludden, Brian Holbrook, Billy Cowan, Josh Hemple, Davie Barr, Jimmy Marchbanks, Harrison, Tommy McCormick

Front Row left to right - Tommy Rundell, Robert Corrigan, Stevie McHugh,Ben Swinburne, Stevie Doherty and John Hamilton

Jimmy Marchbank, centre of picture, and goalkeeper Davie Barr back left, keep their eyes firmly on the ball as team mate Robert Corrigan comes under pressure from the Springboig attack

In the replay of this cup tie at Cranhill the game finished 1-1 after extra time, Jimmy Marchbanks missing a penalty for the Thistle in extra time. Springboig won the toss for home advantage and in the third game they defeated the Thistle by four goals to three.

 SCOTTISH CUP RUN 1986

The following year Douglas Thistle again had a great cup run going out in the 6th round to Scottish Cup veteran campaigners Cambusbarron Rovers

                        

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After two great cup runs in successive years Douglas Thistle folded in 1986, succumbing to the perennial problems asociated with running a successful football side; lack of assistance in running the team, no committment from players, and general dropping off of support.