Largs football: George Wall column pays tribute to Pat Rall

Pat Rall (Image: Newsquest)

Pat was a character and a good friend who followed Thistle through thick and thin.

He was long-time, full-on supporter doing a lot of work in the background that no one else wanted to do.

I remember Pat decked out in Thistle colours , top hat and all with a Thistle flag when we won the West in 1991. He will be missed.

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Largs bounced back in style, with a five-star showing to floor in-form Troon on Saturday.

It was much needed after a poor night for Largs against Darvel. Darvel were a much better team and Largs just never showed up. 

My prediction of Largs being there or there about and the end of the season is well off if they play like that.

The performance really surprised me BUT what a comeback against Troon. I never made the game as I was at the Morton v Ayr game. A great result winning 5-1 against a team I was being told good things about. That was the correct way to answer any critics like me after that Darvel game.

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A first for me on Thursday, taking a plane to training. I flew to Belfast for a training session with the Northern Ireland over 55s squad. A great bunch of guys. In and out in the one day. It’s a hard life.

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Anyone watch the Community Shield at the weekend where Arsenal beat Man City on penalties? A really good game which looked like a Man City win until Arsenal scored at the death to take it to penalties. It’s time someone stopped Man City.

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Penalties also in the Woman’s World Cup, with Sweden knocking out the holders, USA. First time I have seen a penalty shoot-out decided by VAR.

Sudden death and they had to use VAR to decide if the ball was over the line. It was - but only just . England through on penalties also. I must admit I like penalties.

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Scottish football is now back in full swing, with all the divisions up and running. Looks again like Rangers and Celtic will fight it out at the top.

Although Kilmarnock beating Rangers was a surprise. Let’s hope for good football. I really enjoyed the Morton v Ayr game at the weekend. The ref let a lot go in the game which added to the excitement of the game with a few on field confrontations taking place. It you get a chance to go to a Morton game watch the antics of manager Dougie Imrie on the touchline. It’s entertaining.

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Largs Thistle 35s, sponsored by Cullis Amusements, play Stewarton at Inverclyde this Friday in 7pm kick-off.