STUART BANNIGAN’S testimonial has been a long time coming. Now that it is on the horizon, organisers are keen for their fellow Partick Thistle fans to get involved.
Last month it was announced that the long-serving midfielder – who celebrated his 30th birthday during the 2-2 draw at home to Cove Rangers – will be receiving his testimonial next year and will be inducted into the Maryhill club’s Hall of Fame this November.
To mark the player’s decade of service at Firhill, multiple events spread across 2023 will be taking place – including a comedy night, a race night, a testimonial dinner and the match itself – with all funds raised going to Bannigan and his nominated charity, the PTFC Charitable Trust.
The finer details have still to be ironed out and supporters can expect further updates in the coming months but in the meantime, Thistle fan Euan Ronald – one of four members of the testimonial committee – is excited by prospect of next year’s events.
“We are trying to tie down dates at the moment,” Ronald said. “A couple of the guys were involved in Dools’ testimonial, Craig Liddell and Graham Wilson, and the reason they asked me is that I’d helped out of golf days and things like that. These guys have the experience of having already done it with Kris Doolan.
“Everybody got a lift [from Doolan’s testimonial] and it brought the fans together. It was a bad time with the choice of manager and the way Dools’ exit happened. The match itself was fantastic.
“Craig and Graham offered to take it on for Banzo and they invited myself and Craig Walker, who does media work with the club.
“When we first met there was still the whole situation with lockdown and the pandemic. We were actually hoping to run it in 2021/22 or 2022/23 but we didn’t want to risk it. So we put it back. He has actually been at the club for 12 years now. He went out on loan in 2010/11.
“It ended up having to go on the back-burner but thankfully he’s still there! The other thing we looked at was the possibility of running it over the season, rather than the year, but this way buys us a bit more time for events and what-not.
“Our aim is to generate as much funds as possible but we’re looking to do that in a way where people can enjoy themselves. We are just trying to maximise it.
“It’s also the case that some people will be available for some things but not for others – I don’t golf, for example, so I won’t be golfing at the golf day, and there will only be so many people that can make that.
“The comedy night for Dools was brilliant, it was hosted by [comedian and Thistle fan] Ray Bradshaw and we are looking to do something like that again. We want to maximise opportunities to do something enjoyable.
“And given the lift that fans got from Kris Doolan’s – it’s obviously a difficult time at the moment with the shares and all that. If there is something that can unite the fans and bring them all together, then I’m all for it.”
The club itself has lent its support to the cause but the organisers are keen for others to get involved too.
“We would love any suggestions of help or sponsorship,” Ronald said. “There is a Twitter page, a Facebook page and an email address that fans can contact. We are very keen to get fans, non-fans – anyone that can support in any way possible to come and help.
“The club have been very supportive so far. We’re also meeting with [kit manufacturer] O’Neill’s to get strips made, home and away.
“The club are allowing us to use the Alan Rough Suite, we just need to confirm the dates. There was a race night held there for Doolan but then the comedy night was at Webster’s. The club have offered the use of the lounge and hosting the dinner there might be an option as well, rather than going to a hotel. The club have been very supportive.”
As a popular figure at Firhill, Bannigan – affectionately dubbed ‘Banzo’ by team-mates and fan alike – is thoroughly deserving of his big day when it finally rolls around.
Ronald explained: “You don’t get many testimonials these days and there are even fewer one-club men, so it’s a reward to Banzo for his loyalty to Partick Thistle. He has nominated the PTFC Charitable Trust as his chosen charity, so we will be donating to the charity as well.
“The club stuck by Stuart Bannigan when he had a serious injury in 2016. He has been loyal to the club as well. All football supporters love excellent players but they also love loyalty.
“They love being able to call a player one of their own and that’s what Bannigan is. He has come through the ranks and he’s never been anywhere else, apart from a brief loan at Ayr United. He is a local boy from Bishopbriggs and I think people can identify with that.”
It is customary for players celebrating their testimonial to score a goal during the match to mark the occasion but given Bannigan’s fondness for collecting bookings, perhaps a yellow card would be more fitting in this instance.
“He’s got 18 goals and 70 yellow cards in all that time! We are talking about doing a countdown,” laughed Ronald. “Dools talked about his favourite goals but I told Stuart that wouldn’t take very long, maybe he could talk about his favourite bookings instead! Hopefully he doesn’t get sent off during his testimonial…”
Supporters can contact the Stuart Bannigan Testimonial Committee on Twitter, Facebook or by emailing info@banzotestimonial.co.uk.
