Who do Third Lanark fans consider to be their main derby rivals?
There are a number that I think could possibly fit into that categary ie Queens Park where I believe there was regulary 20,000 at games between these two great sides in the 1950's. Also I guess the other Glasgow teams Partick Thislte, Clyde and a certain two other teams in the city would at a guess be considered. But who did HiHi fans see as their greatest rivals and were some of the other teams around the Glasgow area eg Airdrie, Morton considered???
You know as a kid i don't have many recollections of 'derby' enemies but i believe Clyde more than Queens Park would be the obvious choice. Their ground Shawfield was no more than a mile from Cathkin and i guess they would be considered 'bigger' and therefore more of a threat than Queens Park even although Hampden was closer. I did attend some games against QP and don't remember any animosity between the support but then again the Queens support were above even talking to us commoners. I can't recall seeing Thirds playing Clyde so i'm a bit in the dark about this.
Interesting to hear from any 'old hands' on this point.
I don't think QP and the Thirds crossed paths very often back then, at least I don't have any strong recollections of any games. I think what it was was the fact that thirds were in and out of the first div. and QP were in and out of the second division so I don't think their paths crossed all that often despite the close proximity. Could this be it? Anyway I remember going to the Clyde park (Shawfield) and I hated that park! With the dog track round it,it wasn't as intimate as Cathkin
Reference. Thirds' derby games. Their greatest rivals in this respect was Queens Park. Attendances in the fifties could be as high as 25/30,000 particularly the New year's day matches either at Cathkin or Hampden.
Older fans incidentally may well remember, the prevailing rules in the fifties re the number of games all teams would be asked to play over the festive period. Assuming Christmas & New years day fell on a Friday- then a likely programme for Thirds would be -
Saturday 19 Decr. Thirds v Partick Thistle.
Friday 25 Decr. Hamilton v Thirds.
Saturday 26 Decr. Raith Rovers v Thirds.
Friday 1 Jan. Thirds v Queens Park
Saturday 2 Jan. Rangers v Thirds.
Saturday 9 Jan Thirds v Celtic.
An average of two games per week, in the worst possible extremely heavy ground conditions.
with most teams carrying the part time tag, - was it the good old days, even at the
exhorbitant cost of 10p per game ?. What do you think.? Let's have your views please.
By golly, that Festive season fixture list would have the modern day imposters running to their agents to arrange a foreign 'specialist' to diagnose their latest 'injury' before jetting off to a Southern Hemisphere sunshine paradise to nurse their 'knock' -- all salary paid in full of course.
Always believed the 'Derby' tussles with the Bully Wee carried a bit of added spice.
I keep attendance records for all Scottish clubs though for the period before 1961-62 many are estimates. Highest I have for Thirds at home v other Glasgow clubs in the league are:
Those are all estimates. I have the following accurate (as submitted to the SFL) figures for home league games v Glasgow clubs. Bear in mind ALL the 46-47 and 47-48 matches listed below were played at Hampden as were some others which I've indicated.
. I can't recall seeing Thirds playing Clyde so i'm a bit in the dark about this. 
