YOU'LL never win anything with kids apparently.

Well, Partick Thistle just have.

After a nine-year wait, the Jags are going up once again after Alan Archibald and his players clinched the Irn-Bru First Division title, goals from Andy Dowie and Chris Erskine enough to claim a deserved win over Falkirk and finally get the party started.

When the Thistle squad emerged from the changing rooms to celebrate with their ecstatic supporters they wore T-shirts emblazoned with 'Kids v Experience'.

The message was simple but effective.

They had been written off in many quarters following the departure of boss Jackie McNamara, with questions being raised about how the young, untested squad at Archibald's disposal would cope with a hectic fixture schedule and the pressure of a strong Morton challenge.

The doubters have been proved wrong, their questions answered and Thistle's dreams realised.

"All of that just inspired us," defender Conrad Balatoni said. "We wanted to go and prove all these people wrong.

"We know what some have said about how we wouldn't do it and that Morton have got the experience to win it.

"Their manager said that we would slip up and we went and proved everyone wrong with the unbeaten run since Alan has come in.

"Jackie had a big part to play in the first half of the season. Overall, it has been fantastic."

Hopes were high at Firhill last summer that this could be their year to finally seal a return to the SPL, and that optimism has now paid off in some style.

A solid start under McNamara has been followed by a remarkable run of form since Archibald stepped into the dugout in February.

They have coped superbly with everything that has been thrown at them, with management and players now able to revel in their achievements.

Balatoni said: "Going into the season, we didn't really know what was going to happen but we got off to an unbelievable start and we carried on from there.

"It is a credit to everyone involved with the club. It is a fantastic achievement, especially when you look at the age of the squad.

"The boys haven't got a lot of experience in title challenges but they are all a credit to themselves and the club. We will enjoy this.

"It will be different class wherever we go next season. It will be new scenery for a lot of us and I am sure everyone will enjoy it.

"Hopefully we can stand on our own and carry on where we have left off this year."

Like many of his Firhill team-mates, Balatoni had to take a step back to make a leap forward in his career, the defender dropping down into the First Division from Hearts, initially under former boss Ian McCall.

His contribution this season has been crucial for the Jags and the defender is delighted to be able to repay the fans who have taken him to their hearts.

HE SAID: "When I first came here, I was a 19-year-old rookie and I made my mistakes.

"The Thistle fans have been excellent with me and hopefully they know that I have learned from them.

"It is great to have that support, I love it when they sing my name. It gives me a real lift and puts a smile on my face.

"They have been fantastic throughout the season so this is for them as well. They have been through the lows like the defeat at Dumbarton and draw at Airdrie but we have had the highs of the Morton game.

"It is a credit to them, they are as much a part of this as we are."

With the hard work done, the Thistle squad will rightly enjoy some downtime to reflect and celebrate on their achievements before facing Dunfermline and Dumbarton to round off the season.

While Erskine and captain Paul Paton are set to depart for Dundee United in a matter of weeks, keeper Scott Fox has already signed up for the Jags' SPL journey and Balatoni hopes more Firhill stars follow suit this summer.

He said: "There are good players here that are out of contract and they might have other offers.

"Thistle are in the highest tier of Scottish football so I don't know why they wouldn't want to stay.

"Hopefully most of them will sign up and we can continue the good work into next season. We know it will be hard but we're really looking forward to it."