PARTICK Thistle football club is mourning the loss of a club legend after the passing of their dedicated kitman.

Manager Alan Archibald described the loss of James "Chico" Reilly as tragic, saying he was far more than just a kitman for Jags, he was the heart and soul of the dressing room for more than two decades.

Reilly, who first joined Thistle in the late 1990s, was 73 when he passed away at his home in Possil Park on Saturday.

Chico, as he was known to everyone at the club, arrived alongside his partner and best friend Ricky Roughan and the duo quickly established themselves as invaluable components of Partick Thistle.

The pair were far more than just kitmen, however, the then manager John Lambie wanted to transform the mood at the club which was on its knees at the time as a result of mounting financial problems.

Chico's personality and sharp tongue quickly saw him become integral in reinvigorated the Jags and helping the team to gel together.

Manager and former Partick Thistle player Alan Archibald was keen to pay tribute to his friend and colleague.

He said: "It's really tragic. Chico light the place up, he loved being about the club and all the players and staff loved him. He was one of the lads.

"He was very professional, brilliant at his job but he also had a massive influence on people, he was amazing at picking the players up the morning after a lose.

"His humour was fantastic too, he was always playing pranks on people. Any new players arriving would be given the wrong size tracksuits, sent in the wrong direction and things like that. Kitmen from other clubs loved him too, everyone knew Chico and Ricky, they were like brothers.

Partick Thistle chairman David Beattie also spoke of the club's loss. He said: "I'm absolutely devastated. Football clubs need energy and character and Chico and Ricky created that in abundance for Partick Thistle. He was always ridding the boys for something and he was cheeky as anything.

"The two of them were like the Punch and Judy show. We could never replace someone like Chico.

"One of the funniest stories I can remember is when Chico and Ricky pranked one of the Sky Sports presenters. Sky were there to do a piece on the two of them and the scene was supposed to end with the presenter in the kit box and the lid closing on him. They locked him in the box though and left him stuck in there for an hour.

"I have so many funny memories of Chico. For me I'll always think of about him with a smile on my face."

"We will definitely do some sort of tribute. I think we might think outside the box though, something a bit more Chico would be fitting."

Michael Max has been involved with the club in various capacities since 1991 and friends with Reilly for around 20 years.

He spoke fondly of the club legend and recounted some of the infamous stories surrounding the pair. He said: "Chico's presence alone was invaluable, he was such a character. Him and Ricky were just unbelievable, they were so funny, you couldn't take them seriously.

"Of course the football was a serious business and he was very professional but his humour just took the edge of things and put a smile on everyone's face.

"He had such a wicked tongue, he would rip the mitten out of you but it was all in good taste and all you could do was try to give it back to him.

"One of the funniest memories I have of Chico was a pre-season trip to Blackpool where certain items were being stolen from the managers hotel room. Chico and Ricky were behind it all of course and they put on a mock trial in the hotel with a a judge, jury and Chico as the dock officer.

Another infamous Chico story involved a pre-match team talk. Michael continued:"Both current and former players still talk about the pre-match team talk on the last game of the season that Reilly and Ricky gave about ten years ago.

"Chico came in dressed in a trench coat with a bunnet on and a cigar in his mouth. Every player was ripped apart, it was brilliant. Kenny Arthur was nicknamed daffodil because he only came out once a year for a cross.

"Martin Hardie- who was previously a joiner- was told that many clubs were watching him and had been on the phone about him... because they needed some joinery work done