YOU'LL never win anything with kids, apparently.
It was a phrase uttered infamously by Alan Hansen, and one which his former side, Partick Thistle, have just proven wrong. After a nine-year wait, the Firhill club are going up once again after Alan Archibald and his players clinched the Irn-Bru First Division title on Saturday, goals from Andy Dowie and Chris Erskine enough to claim a deserved win over Falkirk and finally get the party started.
When the Thistle squad emerged to celebrate with their ecstatic supporters afterwards they wore t-shirts emblazoned with the words "Kids v Experience" and "#wegotthis". The message was simple but effective.
Thistle had been written off in some quarters following the departure of manager Jackie McNamara, with questions being raised about how a young squad would cope with a hectic fixture schedule and the pressure being applied by an experienced Morton side. The doubters have been proved wrong, their questions answered and Thistle's dreams realised.
"All of that just inspired us," defender Conrad Balatoni said. "We wanted to go and prove all these people wrong. We know what the papers have said and what other people said about how we wouldn't do it and that Morton have got the experience to win it.
"The Morton manager said that we would slip up and we went and proved everyone wrong with the unbeaten run since the gaffer has come in. Jackie had a big part to play in the first half of the season. Overall, it has been fantastic."
Hopes were high at Firhill last summer that this could be their year to finally seal a return to the Scottish Premier League and that optimism has now paid off in some style. A solid start under McNamara has been followed by a remarkable run of form since Archibald stepped into the dug-out in February, Thistle now deservedly claiming the first division crown. They have coped superbly with everything that has been thrown at them, with management and players now able to revel in their achievements.
"Going into the season, we didn't really know what was going to happen but we got off to an unbelievable start and we carried on from there," Balatoni said. "It is a credit to everyone involved with the club. It is a fantastic achievement, especially when you look at the age of the squad. The boys haven't got a lot of experience in title challenges but they are all a credit to themselves."
Like many of his Firhill team-mates, Balatoni had to take a step back to make a leap forward in his career, the defender dropping down into the first division from Hearts, initially on loan. His contribution this season has been crucial and the 22-year-old is delighted to be able to repay the fans who have taken him to their hearts.
"When I first came here, I was a 19-year-old rookie and I made my mistakes," he said. "The Thistle fans have been different class and hopefully they know that I have learned from my mistakes. They have been brilliant with me. It is great to have that support; I love it when they sing my name."
While Thistle celebrated with supporters, sprayed champagne and posed for photos, the Falkirk players headed for home as an ultimately unsuccessful campaign draws to a close. The opening weeks of Gary Holt's reign may not have yielded a win but there is potential for future success within the club's ranks.
"We have to go again," said Lyle Taylor, the Falkirk striker. "Next season we want to start stronger and be able to mount a challenge."
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