THE GROUNDS
Overnewton Park
In 1889 it was reported that Overnewton Park had been neglected because of the International Exhibition, which was taking place across Dumbarton Road in Kelvingrove Park. No further details are given to the neglect, but it is noted that the pitches had been moved to Clayslips (sic), which is presumably close to Clayslaps Road, in the vicinity of Overnewton Square.
The site, at Overnewton Square, is now bordered by modern housing, while a grassy play area still exists, alongside a playground and the Overnewton Square Recreation Centre. A makeshift goal has been erected on the grass.
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Jordanvale Park
However, by the start of the following season, improvements had been made to the ground, and dressing rooms had been built on the ground. Throughout the 1880-81 season, and the start of the next season, few games seemed to be staged at Jordanvale. The result of the first Scottish Cup tie at Jordanvale, against Pilgrims in October 1881, was protested against by the visitors, on the grounds that the enclosure was not properly roped and staked. The protest was upheld, and the game was replayed. (The original game was a 3-1 win for Thistle, the replay ended 7-1 for Thistle.)
Evidently the lessons had not been learned at Jordanvale, and the following cup tie against Petershill was also replayed again on the grounds that "enclosures had not been properly kept". After Thistle again won a replayed game, Glasgow Thistle attempted to protest the next cup tie, but this protest was not sustained by the SFA.
It may be that Thistle were victims of their own popularity, as they continually attracted large crowds for games, and the reputation of the Partick Thistle followers was also growing. In the 1882-83 season Mavisbank switched their Scottish Cup tie to Jordanvale to take advantage of the guaranteed large crowd, although they lost the game 14-2.
The large crowds would have been due, no doubt, to the fine home record at Jordanvale. Since moving in in 1880, they had been undefeated until Vale of Leven visited on November 1882 and inflicted the first defeat - by 6-1. Indeed, with Thistle moving from Whiteinch back to the centre of Partick at the end of the season, they finished their tenancy of Jordanvale having lost only four times in three seasons at the ground.
The site is now occupied by church buildings, at the corner of Edzell Street and Dumbarton Road.
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Muir Park
"Partick Thistle have a new ground. The old one was an eyesore to the public, and worse to the players. The new field will beone of the best in the country. It is situated in Dumbarton Road, it is being used as a strawberry field at present." Scottish Athletic Journal
The new ground was part of an estate known as Muir Park and was overlooked by a private zoo known as the Monkey House, operated by Glasgow waxworks owner Mr McLeod. The zoo stood to the north of the football ground, presumably towards Gardner Street, and was part of a public recreation ground known as the Partick Tea Gardens. In 1908 the Daily Record reported that "On Cup day the football ground accomodated a human menagerie that dwarfed for noise the animal collection further along". At the time of writing (2008) a bistro situated in Gardner Street was called 'The Tea Garden'.
Muir Park was opened with a game against Glasgow Thistle. The Partick Brass Band played before the game and at half-time for the large gathering of supporters. Fittingly, Partick Thistle won the game 9-0.
Despite the optimism at the start of the season, poor weather soon created problems with the state of the pitch. The field collected much of the water from the surrounding high ground. The club were unhappy at the prospect of having having to spend money on the pitch without first having a lease on the ground, but after a series of poor games due to the pitch, the sum of £30 was spent to drain the field. The players and club felt that they were not doing themselves justice on the old pitch.
The following season, 1884-85, saw Thistle spend a considerable amount to keep the ground in good order for the start of the season, as the SFA Annual gave the following details "Grounds, private, Muir Park, Partick (in centre of town), cars pass every two minutes. Dressing room on grounds." Notices had been erected at Muir Park, banning swearing.
Having spent money on the ground, the fear that Thistle had been living with, not having a lease, became reality. The grounds that Muir Park stood on were sold, to a Mr Ino Gairdner, and the search was on for a ground for the following season.
In an interview in the Scottish Weekly Record (1 October 1904) the then secretary Andrew Smith expressed his regret that the club was unable to purchase the Muir Park. "I often think what a splendid investment the purchase of Muir Park would have been for the club. It was sold at an exceptionally low figure for building purposes."
The ground was situated alongside Partick Bowling Club in Hamilton Crescent, and opposite the bottom end of West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground, facing Partick Town Hall (now the Partick Burgh Hall). Just three months after the last game at Muir Park, the Scottish Athletic Journal reported that the pitch was being already used for building purposes. The site is curently occupied by flats, between Hamilton Crescent and Gardner Street (presumably named after Ino Gairdner). The photo shows the site from Gardner Street, showing Muirpark Street and the flats.
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Inchview
The Scottish FA Annual for season 1885-86 detailed the new ground: "Grounds, private, Inchview, Whiteinch. Cars pass ground every ten minutes. Dressing room on grounds." By the start of season 1886-87 the club had set a table and seats erected inside the ropes for reporters. This example was followed a few months later by Queen's Park and Renton.
Inchview saw a record crowd drawn to a Scottish Cup tie with Rangers in September 1887, when 8,000 watched Thistle beat their old rivals 2-1. There was veiled criticism of the pitch, though, "...the surface at Inchview disadvantages to away team..." The pitch was again criticised after the next Scottish Cup tie, against Queen's Park, when the ground was described as "a very uncomfortable place to watch football in the wet".
The club improved the club house during the break before season 1888-89 began, although the Scottish Umpire were not impressed, and opined that they should knock it down and start again.
Thistle were leasing Inchview on a short-term basis, and the committee were reluctant to spend money on the ground. However, over the summer of 1891 they finally sanctioned some improvements to the clubhouse and ground which they hoped would be appreciated by players and supporters.
The changes presumably were acceptable - at least no grumbles were made public - and in 1893 Inchview became a Scottish League ground as Thistle joined the inaugural Second Division season. The 13-1 victory over Glasgow Thistle in March 1894 was the highest recorded in a Scottish League fixture at that time, and was Thistle's highest ever score for many years. However, the committee made some long-term ambitions clear when they announced that they were searching for a new ground after nine years - a ground that would be owned solely by the club, rather than being leased, with the attendant uncertainties leasing brought.
Although there was no immediate result to the ground search, it was a couple of years before problems with the ground were raised again. The pitch was re-aligned during the summer of 1896 and after just two months the players had taken a dislike to playing at home, much preferring to play away. The location and accommodation available was also being questioned. There were several vantage points around the ground that allowed non-payers a view of the game, while the lack of a stand was also commented upon. The committee's response was that the “ground committee” had been meeting with local businesses, trying to raise funds for the move away from Whiteinch.
The meetings were successful, and just two months later, in November 1896, the “ground committee”, headed by Mr. R.W.Mitchell, announced the conclusion of negotiations for a new ground - Meadowside. On a field closer to Partick than Inchview, adjacent to the Meadowside Ferry, it was ambitiously planned to build a ground to house upwards of 20,000, with a grandstand and pavilion.
There was delight from Partick Thistle players, supporters and committee alike, and all looked forward to their new home. However, there was still time to create some excitement at old Inchview. Rangers visited in the Scottish Cup - a crowd of 6,000 turned up at Inchview for the game, many more watching from outside vantage points, while others still didn't turn up over fears of overcrowding. A room in a house overlooking the field was requisitioned by the club for use as a pressroom. The game was lost 2-4.
Things were going well in the league. What better way to celebrate the new ground than playing top-class football in it. Thistle were second in the Second Division when the ground move was announced, but overtook Leith Athletic to win the division, and eventually to clinch promotion to the First Division.
Fittingly the last game at Inchview saw the return of some former players who had graced the Whiteinch pitch - John Proudfoot, John Wilkie and John Campbell brought their new Blackburn Rovers teammates to Glasgow for an exhibition game. Thistle won this last game at Inchview 4-3.
Now a new era of top football and a new ground waited for Thistle - at Meadowside.
The location of the ground is beside the present north entrance to the Clyde Tunnel. The building which houses the Tunnel entrance, and a housing estate, have been built on the site of the ground. Prior to new roads and the tunnel buildings being built, Dumbarton Road would have continued from Balshagray to Whiteinch under the current Clydeside Expressway. The ground was situated at the junction of Balshagray Avenue and Dumbarton Road. Ironically, a goal has been painted on the wall of the Tunnel building.
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