Chris Erskine glad to give Jags fans parting gift

SOME Partick Thistle fans were angry when they found out Chris Erskine had agreed to join Dundee United next term, but after his efforts yesterday, they will simply be gutted.

As last hurrahs go, his 78th-minute goal was something special and the midfielder revealed he was delighted that he had found a way to prove that gaining promotion for the club still meant the world to him.

“There was maybe a wee bit of added pressure in the back of my head, because I knew I wasn’t going to be here and it maybe gives you the incentive to give a wee bit more so nobody questions your desire. I’ve always given 100 per cent for the team but maybe, because I knew personally I wasn’t going to be here, I just tried a wee bit extra.

“When it came out, we’ve got a thing on Facebook and me and Paul Paton [who is also joining United in the summer] were getting a bit of stick on that, but both of us wrote a wee comment to thank everybody for our time at the club.

“I’ve loved every second I’ve had here. I’ve had four years here and it’s been brilliant and at the end of the day Thistle took me from the Juniors and gave me my chance, so I just kind of explained that to everyone and thanked them and 99 per cent of the fans replied back to me saying thanks for everything you’ve done.

“That was a bit of a relief because you never know how people are going to react, but it’s just football and people move on. I’m sure the club will be brilliant next year.

“They’ve got a really talented squad and a great manager and I don’t think they’ve got anything to fear next year. The good thing is I’m leaving as a champion and getting a wee goal was brilliant. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”