The transport of delight that is a night at the pictures is an old-time Glesca staple. A stumble up Byres Road and a sharp turn into Ashton Lane is ultimately rewarded by careering through the front doors of the Grosvenor Cinema, which is to film houses what caviar is to a fish supper.
Therein lies a tale of Hollywood eminence, Emmy nominations, Hampden triumph, modern trials and tribulations in the championship, Chic Charnley and…Spartak Brno.
All this accompanies the premiere of One Team in Glasgow, a four-part documentary on Partick Thistle’s 2024-25 season that culminated in the play-offs. There is no need for a spoiler alert. Those who are attuned to the timeless narrative of the Maryhill Magyars know they are too authentic to adhere to stereotypical happy endings.
The film is rather a homage to the ordinary fan, devised and executed by what could be dubbed Hollywood royalty.
Ordinary is not a term of denigration. It is, rather, an acknowledgement of the power, passion and loyalty of those who sacrifice themselves upon an altar of hope every Saturday and regularly in midweek.
It is thus essential viewing for every Jag but also alluring for every one of us who has ventured out on a Saturday accepting that we will be rewarded for the price of admission by fleeting moments of joy and regular dollops of brutal, painful reality.
Partick Thistle legend John Harvey, now 93, was among the A-listers at the film’s premiere
The Thistle project is thus comforting and somewhat inspiring. It is recorded in sublime style. Its birth was midwifed by Charles B Wessler, producer of Green Card and collaborator with the Farrelly brothers, and Donald McClymont, a Thistle director based in Palm Springs rather than Panmure Street. McClymont offered Wessler an all-access pass to the Jags and the producer headed to Maryhill for a keek.
‘Charlie came over for the weekend and was enthused by what he saw,’ said Sam Neave, director of One Team in Glasgow. ‘He met great people and spent time talking to Chic Charnley.
‘He only understood one in four words that Chic said but he was eager to tell the Thistle story.’ Incidentally, Wessler’s understanding of one word in four of Chic’s verbal meditations is understood to be an international all-comers’ record.
Neave, a three-time Emmy nominee, was brought on board and ‘hundreds of hours’ of footage were shot.
‘Charlie has a great sense of what makes a story and I knew on the first weekend I was here there was something in it,’ said Neave. ‘I feel this story fell into our laps.’
Neave, who was shortlisted for an Emmy for his work on The Jinx, an outstanding documentary, said: ‘I am pleased with how it all turned out. I believe the film is really good and it has made me a better filmmaker. I have made genuine friends here. The fans and the club opened their arms to me.’
Glasgow’s famed Grosvenor Cinema played host to a mix of Thistle fans and luminaries
The film is sustained by the drive and the energy of the fans. But it has a footballing star, the Brando of Barmulloch. Brian Graham, the Falkirk striker, was the leading scorer behind Thistle’s surge for a promotion place in the filmed season and was even manager for a short spell.
He was reflective when he was cornered at the premiere. ‘I spent five fantastic years here. I met fantastic people and it was sad when I left the club for various reasons I will not get into.
‘I am a boy who grew up in Barmulloch and I was a Celtic fan as a kid but when you play for Partick Thistle you get it and you take it to heart. You take it personally. We could not get to the Premiership then but I gave it my upmost and tried my hardest.’
Thistle, of course, play St Mirren in the second leg of the play-off tomorrow night and Graham is behind them.
‘I am delighted for Mark (Wilson, manager) and the players,’ he added. ‘They have a real chance. Not getting Thistle up was one of the biggest downs of my life. It will live long in the memory.’
Former Thistle striker and manager Brian Graham was a central figure in the film’s tale
Memories of a happier variety were part of the story at the Grosvenor. John Harvey took a seat and spoke softly but surely of his career at Thistle. His mind and voice displayed all the enthusiasm of the youngster who signed for Thistle after the Second World War.
Now 93, he told tales of the famous Jag, Johnny MacKenzie, his most difficult opponent, Billy Steel, and the trip to the then Czechoslovakia for the return leg of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1963.
‘Aye, Spartak Brno,’ he said with a sigh. Thistle won 3-2 in the first leg but the travel to Brno was problematic. ‘The management were bloody hopeless. I look back and shake my head. This was our trip. We flew to London, then flew to Switzerland, took a Russian plane to Prague and then sat on a bus for six hours to go to Brno. Six hours.
‘The morning of the game they took us down to see some caves. Lots of caves. That was the last thing we needed. We got beat 4-0.’
Harvey scored in the first leg and also against Rangers and Celtic in his career. ‘The best one against Rangers was when we won the Glasgow Cup,’ he said. ‘I had a good record against Celtic. I played at Parkhead 18 times and only lost five.’
A match against Celtic was the highlight for Denis McQuade, one of the heroes of the 1971 League Cup final. Jock Stein’s side was dismissed 4-1 by a rampant Jags and McQuade recalled the triumph fluently.
‘Some of the greatest days of my life were when I was at Thistle,’ said McQuade, now 75. ‘The cup final was obviously the highlight. That sort of stuff changes your whole life. Everywhere you go it keeps coming up.
‘We had a very good side and it was very fortunate that I happened to be there when all the stars aligned.’
He recalled vividly the mood before taking on a Celtic side that had been in the final of the European Cup just one year before.
Director Sam Neave was Emmy-nominated for The Jinx and is hugely proud of the Thistle film
Thistle boss Mark Wilson and his players acclaim the fans at the end of the 1-1 first leg at Firhill
‘I remember it being very normal. We went to Esquire House for a meal then made our way to Hampden. We were very positive that we were going to have a good day. Obviously, it exceeded our expectations. But Dave McParland (manager) had set us up to attack and that is what we did.
‘Celtic won a lot of games because people were frightened of them but we were not frightened of them. We decided to go for them and that is what we did. Mind you, they beat us 5-1 two weeks later at Firhill. Nobody remembers that.’
But that final lives on. ‘On the way here tonight, I was passing the Ubiquitous Chip and the Wee Pub had a sign saying it had been opened in 1971,’ said McQuade. ‘I took that as a good omen and popped in for a pint.
‘A guy half recognised me and asked me my name. I told him. He immediately said he was at the game and we had a good chat.’
The lights then came down in the Grosvenor and the tumultuous story of One Team in Glasgow took centre stage. It is a wonderful tale. But the Jags have the chance tonight to add a glorious postscript.
■ One Team in Glasgow is on STV Player
