Jaggernaut Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 The legend is interviewed in today's Herald. Â Would somebody be so kind as to copy and paste the article here? (I've used up my freebies on the site!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpool Jags Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/the-day-that-stein-and-a-young-dalglish-were-stung-by-thistle.25723425 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted October 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks for the link, BJ, but I'm blocked from accessing the whole article; hence the request for a cut and paste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CillitB4ng Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Davie McParland is 75 now, yet he can recall every moment of those League Cup final celebrations with true clarity after humbling Celtic on October 23, 1971. That's because the legendary Thistle manager does not drink. However, McParland would love to see Alan Archibald make it a Firhill 'double' by beating Celtic tonight and taking another step closer to Thistle's holy grail. Â Thistle have only won two trophies in their history, having won the Scottish Cup in 1921 by beating Rangers, and then McParland's incredible side thrashing a star-studded Celtic team 4-1 at Hampden. The 43rd anniversary of that triumph was last week and the goals from Alex Rae, Bobby Lawrie, Dennis McQuade and Jimmy Bone are imprinted on McParland's mind. He had only been in the job for 18 months - the man who had spent 16 years as a Thistle player succeeded the veteran manager Scott Symon - when he outwitted Jock Stein to deliver the club's last trophy. "I don't think Jock Stein underestimated us but I do think some of the Celtic players felt the medals were already in their pockets," said McParland. "They thought they would win at a canter and we took advantage of that. "I told my players on the bus going to Hampden that we could win. If you don't go into any game with that attitude, you might as well stay at home. I don't know if the players believed me but I had to get them revved up." McParland's words had an effect. Rae and Lawrie had Thistle 2-0 up in 15 minutes and McQuade and Bone compounded the pain for Celtic for an incredible 4-0 half-time scoreline that reverberated around Britain. This was a Celtic side which had reached a European Cup final just 17 months earlier and would make the semi-finals in that same 1971/72 campaign. Celtic's emerging talent, Kenny Dalglish, cut the deficit in the second half, but nothing could stop McParland's side from lifting the League Cup. "I had only been a manager for 18 months but that was the pinnacle of my career, " said McParland. "It was a shock because we won so convincingly. "What was really nice was taking the trophy back to Firhill where all our fans had got back from Hampden. Then the players got changed into their good suits and we went for a meal at the Buchanan Hotel in Glasgow. You have to enjoy these moments because they don't last long. I don't drink at all, so it was easier for me to take everything in that night. "I don't get to Firhill as often as I would like to now, because it's not so easy to walk, but sometimes my daughter drives me there. "Alan Archibald is doing a very good job and playing good football. He got them promotion just as I did in 1970/71. "He's been in charge about the same amount of time as I was when we beat Celtic, so maybe that's an omen. If they beat Celtic, they would have a great chance. If Thistle got to the final, I would get a ticket and go to that." McParland also played a part in bringing silverware to Celtic Park too. He quit as Thistle manager in 1974 and was in charge of Queen's Park when Stein took him to Celtic in 1976 as his assistant. Celtic won a league and Scottish Cup double in 1977 but McParland had to leave when Billy McNeill took over from Stein as manager in 1978. "It was the right club but the wrong time for me, " said McParland. "I was assistant manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world. "I loved being there. It just didn't work out but I got to work alongside one of the best managers in football and that was priceless." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted October 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Â Davie McParland is 75 now, yet he can recall every moment of those League Cup final celebrations with true clarity after humbling Celtic on October 23, 1971. That's because the legendary Thistle manager does not drink. However, McParland would love to see Alan Archibald make it a Firhill 'double' by beating Celtic tonight and taking another step closer to Thistle's holy grail. Â Thistle have only won two trophies in their history, having won the Scottish Cup in 1921 by beating Rangers, and then McParland's incredible side thrashing a star-studded Celtic team 4-1 at Hampden. The 43rd anniversary of that triumph was last week and the goals from Alex Rae, Bobby Lawrie, Dennis McQuade and Jimmy Bone are imprinted on McParland's mind. He had only been in the job for 18 months - the man who had spent 16 years as a Thistle player succeeded the veteran manager Scott Symon - when he outwitted Jock Stein to deliver the club's last trophy. "I don't think Jock Stein underestimated us but I do think some of the Celtic players felt the medals were already in their pockets," said McParland. "They thought they would win at a canter and we took advantage of that. "I told my players on the bus going to Hampden that we could win. If you don't go into any game with that attitude, you might as well stay at home. I don't know if the players believed me but I had to get them revved up." McParland's words had an effect. Rae and Lawrie had Thistle 2-0 up in 15 minutes and McQuade and Bone compounded the pain for Celtic for an incredible 4-0 half-time scoreline that reverberated around Britain. This was a Celtic side which had reached a European Cup final just 17 months earlier and would make the semi-finals in that same 1971/72 campaign. Celtic's emerging talent, Kenny Dalglish, cut the deficit in the second half, but nothing could stop McParland's side from lifting the League Cup. "I had only been a manager for 18 months but that was the pinnacle of my career, " said McParland. "It was a shock because we won so convincingly. "What was really nice was taking the trophy back to Firhill where all our fans had got back from Hampden. Then the players got changed into their good suits and we went for a meal at the Buchanan Hotel in Glasgow. You have to enjoy these moments because they don't last long. I don't drink at all, so it was easier for me to take everything in that night. "I don't get to Firhill as often as I would like to now, because it's not so easy to walk, but sometimes my daughter drives me there. "Alan Archibald is doing a very good job and playing good football. He got them promotion just as I did in 1970/71. "He's been in charge about the same amount of time as I was when we beat Celtic, so maybe that's an omen. If they beat Celtic, they would have a great chance. If Thistle got to the final, I would get a ticket and go to that." McParland also played a part in bringing silverware to Celtic Park too. He quit as Thistle manager in 1974 and was in charge of Queen's Park when Stein took him to Celtic in 1976 as his assistant. Celtic won a league and Scottish Cup double in 1977 but McParland had to leave when Billy McNeill took over from Stein as manager in 1978. "It was the right club but the wrong time for me, " said McParland. "I was assistant manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world. "I loved being there. It just didn't work out but I got to work alongside one of the best managers in football and that was priceless." Â Thanks! I am always in awe of Mr. McParland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks! I am always in awe of Mr. McParland. Â Ditto. Â Taking his comment about his lack of mobility completely on face value I'd willingly chip in a few quid towards a taxi to get Davie to and fro Firhill. I'm presuming he hasn't relocated to Wick or Penzance? Can't think of anyone alive more deserving of the respect of Jags fans. If we can come up with hundreds for a football top, I'm sure we could raise a fraction of that towards a taxi and day's hospitality for a true Jags legend. Besides he's teetotal so there could be a pint in it! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulo Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Excellent, thanks for this. Possibly my father's favourite ever player, so I'll be directing him to buy the Herald today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Wragg Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) Dave McParland was and still is my favourite player and manager of all time a real credit to the game and a very worthy legend, unlike him though, I couldn't remember much on the night we won the League Cup, but what a great feeling in Maryhill after the game , lets hope tonight will see us going through in the Glasgow Derby. Lets hear it for the Jags !!! Edited October 29, 2014 by Harry Wragg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angry gaz Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) "I told my players on the bus going to Hampden that we could win.If you don't go into any game with that attitude, you might as well stay at home". Â ...tel them this tonight Archie. Edited October 29, 2014 by angry gaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winter of '63 Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Legend is an overused word in Football but David McParland as both player and manager is the true Partick Thistle Legend...nobody else, not even Alan Rough or Jackie Husband, can compare. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 Legend is an overused word in Football but David McParland as both player and manager is the true Partick Thistle Legend...nobody else, not even Alan Rough or Jackie Husband, can compare. Â Most definitely. He would've walked into the Jags Hall of Fame if he had quit football when he retired as a player. Conversely there would be no way he wouldn't be in the HoF even if he'd never kicked a ball for us. He really should be inducted twice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a f kincaid Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 The "Davie McParland stand"? Anyone agree it's time the stand behind the goal got a name? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norgethistle Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Only 7 years left till we win our next cup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpool Jags Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 ^I can just about live with that as long as it's a major one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willjag Posted October 31, 2014 Members Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 How disappointed are we all going to be if we don't win anything that year!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Got a feeling '21 Is going to be a good year, Especially if you and me See it in together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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