Ben Stanway has made more than 100 Partick Thistle appearances and Mark Wilson believes the aim of returning the club to the Scottish Premiership was a huge factor in the midfielder signing a surprise one-year deal to stay at Firhill. The 21-year-old had been widely expected to leave in the summer after a standout campaign in which he scored 12 goals last term, as Partick Thistle narrowly missed out on promotion by losing to St Mirren in the play-off final.
Why did Stanway stay at Firhill?
Wilson said Stanway wanted to remain part of the club’s push for promotion and viewed the chance to help Thistle move back into the top flight as a major motivation. The manager said the midfielder has been at the club since he was 11 and that a successful promotion season would be the perfect reward in his tenth year at Thistle.
“He wants to be part of something special here at Thistle,” said manager Wilson.
“He's been here since he was 11, so 10 years at the club.
“In his tenth year, if he can get promotion, it would really be the icing on the cake for him.”
The academy graduate had been linked with moves to several Premiership clubs throughout last season, and Wilson said in January that his departure was practically a
“foregone conclusion”. However, the Thistle boss said he is delighted with the way events have turned out.
“His performances were so eye catching of course there was going to be interest,” said Wilson. “If I'm being truthful, I was resigned to probably losing him.
“But we always kept ourselves in with a chance, by keeping in constant dialogue with him – particularly [assistant manager] Alex Rae. As time progressed that window of opportunity opened a wee bit.”
What comes next for Partick Thistle?
Partick Thistle are at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Livingston on Friday in a match live on BBC Scotland, after opening the season with a 1-0 win away to Greenock Morton. Wilson is hopeful Stanway can build on that and help take the Glasgow club back to the top flight for the first time since 2018.
“He's got a song about him from the fans as well; it's not often you get that,” added Wilson.
“He just felt an absolute connection with this club and a drive to help Partick Thistle out of this division.
“That's testament to the lad. He's got a real purpose and determination about him that our young players - and even our experienced ones - can learn from.”
Watch: Partick Thistle v Livingston on Sportscene
Key Facts
- Ben Stanway has made more than 100 Partick Thistle appearances.
- The 21-year-old signed a surprise one-year deal to stay at Firhill.
- Stanway scored 12 goals last season as Thistle lost the play-off final to St Mirren.
- Partick Thistle host Livingston on Friday live on BBC Scotland.
- Thistle won their opening league match 1-0 away to Greenock Morton.
