CHIC CHARNLEY will take his place among Partick Thistle's all time greats when he is inducted into the club's Hall of Fame tonight.

And the former Jags midfielder reckons he owes it all to Firhill legend John Lambie.

Despite turning out for 15 clubs during his two-decade playing career, it is for his time with Thistle that Charnley is perhaps remembered best.

He enjoyed four spells at Firhill as both a player and a coach, endearing himself to the Jags support from the off as Lambie dragged the club from the doldrums.

Charnley will join Berie Auld, Danny Lennon, Alex O'Hara and Peter McKennan in being inducted to the Jags Hall of Fame, and the 48-year-old admits he has been taken aback by the recognition.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted. To be perfectly honest, I don't think I deserve it.

"It is a huge honour for me, I am very humbled. When I got the phone call, I was ecstatic.

"It is a great honour for me, especially to be there alongside one of my heroes, Bertie Auld.

"He is a good friend of mine now and it is nice that we will be inducted on the same night.

"It was great playing for John Lambie. We played some decent stuff at times and had a bit of success while I was there.

"John was the main man, it was brilliant to work under him.

"I am sure it is down to John that I am getting this recognition, so I would like to dedicate it to him."

After six seasons and over 120 appearances for the Jags, it was with Thistle that Charnley would bow out of professional football, making his final appearance as a player at Easter Road in 2003.

The former midfielder, who is now assistant manager to Jim Duffy at Clyde, enjoyed a colourful career on and off the pitch and when he finally hung up his boots for the last time, his playing career had finally come full circle.

Charnley said: "I was getting on at that time. Ironically, my last game was against Hibs at Easter Road when I came on as a sub.

"I made my debut when I was 19, playing for St Mirren at Easter Road and then made my last appearance there. The fact it was for Thistle made it quite touching.

"I came from Possil and used to go and watch games at Firhill when I was younger.

"There were a lot of great people at the club, Jackie Husband was there when I started out, and guys like Robert Reid are still involved with the club.

"It is the people behind the scenes that make the club special because you can see what Partick Thistle means to them."