Dave McParland: Forward-thinking manager ‘made his players believe’

Legends like Kenny Dalglish, Jimmy Johnstone, Lou Macari, Tommy Gemmell, David Hay, Bobby Murdoch and Tommy Callaghan lined up in the green and white hoops.

Yet, by half-time, Thistle had effectively secured themselves one of Scottish football’s biggest upsets, Bone himself scoring the fourth goal with no reply – news of which inspired a number of Rangers fans to abandon their side’s league game at Ibrox to swell the 62,500 crowd across the city at Hampden and share in the Jags’ celebrations.

“The biggest thing was we went into the game actually thinking we would win it,” the former Norwich City, Sheffield United and St Mirren striker said.

“After the game, Davie came and said, ‘well done, I thought you would win’.

“I also played alongside him – it was his last season as a player and my first season as a player.

“He was the ultimate professional and, when he took over as assistant manager, then manager, it was very, very good on the training field.

“He was an inspiration, he was a really nice guy and he was very good to his own players.”