SOME people were never going to believe them, but Partick Thistle are going up.
Doubters and detractors have been silenced in some style, and now many of the playing staff have another point to prove.
A week after the victory at Falkirk that saw them crowned Irn-Bru First Division champions, Alan Archibald's side lifted the silverware at Firhill on Saturday, the title celebrations coming after a remarkable 90 minutes that saw them come from 3-1 down against relegation threatened Dunfermline, to snatch a point to get the party started.
Having realised their dreams, Thistle can now prepare for that reality. The chance to play Scottish Premier League football on a regular basis has been a long time coming for most of Archibald's squad but some have come closer than others. Many within the Firhill ranks have dropped down from clubs in the top division to play regularly and help Partick to title glory; Ross Forbes and Steven Lawless both joined from Motherwell, while Sean Welsh and Conrad Balatoni came from Hibernian and Hearts respectively.
They were all denied their chance in it, but now they have earned the right in the top flight. With Chris Erskine and Paul Paton moving on to Dundee United, there will be new faces in the Thistle starting line-up next term but Lawless is determined to make his mark and remain one of them.
"I am happy to stay here with Thistle and I am looking forward to the SPL next year," Lawless said. "A lot of the boys deserve it, they have been brilliant this year – if they decide to move on that is up to them, they need to look after themselves first.
"I hope everyone stays because we have a really good team. We have obviously lost two going to Dundee United, so if we could make the right signings I don't think we have anything to fear, we can go up there and make our mark. A lot of the boys have got something to prove. Myself, Ross Forbes and Sean Welsh have come down from the SPL and not really had much of a shot. We have got something to prove and I am looking forward to it."
While one side dreamt of life in the highest echelon, Dunfermline must wait another week to secure their status as a First Division club. Victory at Firhill would have completed the job for Jim Jefferies' side but they now head into a final-day fixture with an already relegated Airdrie United side with a point of a lead over Fife rivals Cowdenbeath at the foot of the table.
"Cowdenbeath lost so we were home and dry because there is such a big gap in goal difference," Jefferies said. "I just feel really sorry for the boys that they didn't hold on. It was a combination of too much time added on and those young kids' legs got a bit heavy."
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