IT has been a week of mixed emotions at Firhill and it will be a difficult day for everyone connected with the club when we pay our respects to James Reilly today.

From the highs of Saturday after the performance and result against Motherwell, we were all on a real low on Sunday when we woke up to the news that Chico had passed away.

It puts everything in perspective and is so tragic. Everyone at the club will miss him but we will all have fond memories of him as well.

He was such a character and such an important part of Partick Thistle.

Alongside his partner in crime Ricky, he was a huge figure at the club for so many years.

The stories you could tell about the two of them are incredible. Chico is a massive loss.

He did everything off his own back, he sorted the kits, the boots and done so much work behind the scenes, but he wasn't just a kit man. He was a massive part of our staff and he will be missed hugely.

If things weren't going well, he would keep your spirits up and he wouldn't let boys feel sorry for themselves.

But he wouldn't let them become big time Charlie's and get ahead of themselves, either.

He was small in stature but he had a massive character.

I have written before about the spirit we have got in the squad and Chico was a major part of that. That is why John Lambie brought him and Ricky in to the club.

The boys had a laugh with him and got on great with him but they respected him and valued him and what he done for them. Everyone in the dressing room will certainly miss him.

Myself and Alan had the privilege of working with Chico as players and as the management team but he never changed - he still gave us the same stick!

It is so sad to think he will not be around Firhill but every time you speak about him you can't help but laugh and have a smile on your face. That is what he did to people.

When I came here as a player, the first time I came through the door Chico and Ricky sent me on a wild goose chase.

I came in, put my kit on and the pair of them were at the door and told me that John Lambie wanted to see me.

I went and chapped his door, he told me to F off, and the two of them were standing there laughing.

There have been so many great moments over the years and every manager, player and member of staff that worked with Chico will have their own memories of him.

It has been strange not having him around Firhill and we will miss him when we return to action against Ross County next weekend and in the games between now and the end of the season.

It would be fitting if we could go and have a really good end to the season and I am sure the boys will have that in their mind and use Chico's memory as motivation.

If you look back at the pictures of when we got promoted two years ago, and last season when we stayed up, he was there in the middle of them alongside Ricky.

I am sure the boys will want to do it for Chico and hopefully we can do him proud over the next few weeks.