CHIC CHARNLEY has urged Partick fans to turn out in force for legendary boss John Lambie in his last appearance in the Firhill dug-out tonight.

Lambie, the man who led the Jags from the brink of bankruptcy into the SPL, has been given a benefit match in recognition of his sterling service.

He'll take charge of a Partick Thistle Legends team that features the likes of Charnley, Jim Duffy, Danny Lennon, Ray Montgomerie and Jimmy Bone.

They will take on a Rangers Legends side that is set to comprise Ally McCoist, John Brown, Andy Goram, Richard Gough, Trevor Steven and Gordon Durie.

And Charnley, the player Scotland's most famous pigeon fanicer signed four times in his colourful career, hopes it is a night to remember.

He said: "It should be a great occasion. It didn't take much for us to convince any of the Partick old boys or Rangers boys to turn out.

"In fact, everybody in football across the country has been very forthcoming in helping make sure that this event is a big success for John.

"Sir Alex Ferguson has donated a signed Wayne Rooney top for the raffle, John Clark at Celtic got us Neil Lennon's strip and Barry Ferguson gave us his Rangers shirt.

"I think the response we've had just shows you the high esteem that John is still held within the Scottish game and beyond.

"Partick were ready to go to the wall at one stage. Then they brought him back as manager. He then took them from the Second Division into the Premier League.

"I know for a fact he had offers for more money to go and manage other clubs when he was at Thistle and turned them down. He is a Thistle man at heart.

"I hope all the Partick fans come along and show their appreciation for John in what will be his final appearance in the Firhill dug-out."

Charnley, as much as anyone, understands why Lambie enjoyed such success at the famous Glasgow club where many other good coaches have tried and failed.

He said: "Whenever I meet John, he always makes me laugh. He is just my type of guy. But even players who aren't the same type of character as him, who he wouldn't necessarily socialise with away from football, all wanted to play for him.

"I don't know if people always fully appreciated what a great talent he had. His man management, of course, was always second to none.

"However, his tactics and his reading of opposition teams and players was always spot on. He also knew how to get a team to gel."

Plus, of course, Lambie was always full of fun. Charnley said: "I've loads of stories about John, but one of my favourites happened after I had thrown a golf ball at him in training one day.

"Kids used to stand on the canal bank next to the public park where we used to train and hit golf balls at us. I picked one up one day and threw it at John.

"John didn't know what had happened so I told him a kid had hit him from the canal bank. The next day, though, I owned up and told him it was me. He was fine.

"The next day as I walked into the dressing room before training he was standing on a chair behind the door waiting for me. He dropped a medicine ball on my head. It still didn't knock any sense into me."

The match will last for half-an-hour and will be staged after members of the current Thistle squad have locked horns with a Gers reserve and youth team.

The match kicks off at 7.45 at Firhill today and entry is £10 for adults and £5 for children.