Kris Doolan celebrated his 250th appearance for Partick Thistle in the fashion that Jags fans have become accustomed to – by bagging a goal.

Doolan scored the equaliser last week against Inverness to mark the milestone, but he insists he is far from finished yet as he bids to climb above the 17 men ahead of him in the all-time Thistle scoring charts.

He said: “I’m coming for them! I’m coming to get them, that’s my aim, to keep climbing that table and get as high up as I can.

“It feels brilliant, it’s not something that happens often nowadays. People normally only stay at one club for a couple of years then they move on, so I’m delighted to reach such a milestone.

“It’s a club that I love, they gave me my chance in senior football and I appreciate that so I try to repay that by scoring a lot of goals.

“It’s a team that’s close to my heart and that’s why I’ve been happy to stick around.

“There’s always been chances to go here, there and everywhere, that’s football and that’s why you see people leaving after two seasons and jumping onto the next team.

“I’ve had those opportunities too and have decided to stay, so that shows my commitment to the club.

“If you’re happy you’re going to play better, that’s a big part of football. If I wasn’t happy then it would probably show in the way that I was playing.

“When players are relaxed and happy then that’s when you see them at their best.

“It kind of took off when I came here. I had it in my head that I was determined to make it here, and to make the best of the opportunity.

“That’s exactly what I do every single day.”

If fate had taken a twist, Doolan may well have been turning out for Thistle’s opponents today instead as he worked for them whilst in the junior ranks.

Brought up in Ayrshire, he now lives in Kilmarnock, but that won’t deter him if he has the chance to get on the scoresheet this afternoon.

“I was a football coach for Kilmarnock in the schools and doing wee football academies for them.

“I live in Kilmarnock, so I bump into a lot of Killie fans all the time but they’re always nice.

“I was there when I was a young boy and I was released, so that’s how I ended up going back through junior football.

“I had the chance here and there to go back but for one reason or another it never happened, and I ended up coming to Thistle.

“I’m delighted though, I could have went there and not played and I’ve clocked up 250 appearances here, so it worked out in the end.

“When I was released I could have fell by the wayside, but I turned it on its head and used it to drive me because I knew I could make it.

“I had a couple of offers to go back in. Just as I was signing here actually I got the offer to go in and train with them under Jim Jefferies.

“Ian McCall was the manager here at the time and I’d already been in training with Thistle, so I knew it was the club for me.

“The Kilmarnock fans are ok with me because I know a lot of them. I grew up just 20 minutes down the road, so they’ll be fine.

“I don’t need iron bars on the windows or anything like that!”

In these days of hyperbole, the term legend is often attributed to those undeserving of the title.

With his years of sterling service to Partick Thistle though, it was put to Doolan that he may in fact be a worthy of the accolade at Firhill.

“I would hope to be there one day, whether I am just now or not, I don’t know,” he said.

“I’m not sure about that legend tag and what you have to do to try and get it, but it’s certainly something I’m aiming for.

“I’d imagine that you’d have to leave your mark on a club to the extent that you’ll be remembered for a long, long time, so if people think that I’ve done that then great.

“I’ll just keep working hard.”