Meanwhile, the home nations will be represented by Maypoles topped with a thistle, a leek, a rose and flax.
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And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
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The fashionable young Gunner became a hired gun, moving to Motherwell from Fratton Park, heading to Canberra City in Australia, to Fulham, Phoenix Inferno in the USA, Hearts and a final pit-stop at Partick Thistle in a career that ran from 1967 to 1984.
Samuel continued to pose a threat to the Thistle goal in the opening phase of the second half and would have converted a flicked-on corner but for Scott Fox's brave goalkeeping, the stopper claiming the ball at the second attempt.
And it left caretaker manager Lennon and his Celtic side nursing the bruises of a defeat that will be compared to the one suffered against County's neighbours, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, a result that led to the sacking of John Barnes in 2000.
When Boyd last started a match, against Partick Thistle in the Co-op Insurance Cup on 24 September, he scored a stunning volley, but found himself relegated to the bench in the following game away to Hibernian.
He was most recently a striker for junior club Bathgate Thistle, and played for them against Motherwell in a friendly match last week.
The Scottish club's board is set to meet on Tuesday to draw up a shortlist and Partick Thistle's McCall and former Dundee manager Rae will be considered.
Caley Thistle enjoyed a run of 21 matches unbeaten as they won promotion from the Scottish First Division but found in their re-introduction to the Scottish Premier League, against Celtic, that things were going to be tougher.
In a rare attempt on goal for the remainder of the half, Caley Thistle's Esson produced a marvellous save, tipping a Marco Paixao curling effort from the edge of the box round the post.
Thistle, in a statement on their website, confirmed their manager would enter discussions with Dundee.
The former Caley Thistle forward blasted a 30-yard shot into the top corner, leaving Ryan Esson helpless.
"From a professional point of view, this is probably a good deal for Partick Thistle given that it became clear to us that he wasn't going to sign an extension to his current contract here at Firhill, " he said.
The lawn was a weave of waist-high weeds and fallen limbs punctuated by the otherworldly pink domes of thistle blooms, and rising beyond was a mildewed temple.
Gretna striker Fraser McLaren and Aberdeen's Chris Maguire were on target in the first game of a double-bill at Partick Thistle's home.
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Highland Council officers said early kick-offs at County's local rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle were less of a concern because that club has an out-of-town stadium.
Dundee sacked manager Jocky Scott in March as their lead started to slip, but replacement Gordon Chisholm, who arrived from Division One rivals Queen of the South, was unable to arrest the decline as a late charge by Inverness Caledonian Thistle secured the title.
Arthur, though, came to Thistle's rescue with a fine save from Phil McGuire's penalty kick.
Cowie, 28, joined the Hornets from Inverness Caledonian Thistle in January 2009 for a nominal fee, signing a two-and-half-year contract.
Individual flowers were hand-cut from lace and hand-engineered on to ivory silk-tulle to create a design that incorporates the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock.
Brian Graham found a yard of space inside the Caley Thistle box and fired the ball across, but Inverness's transfer deadline day signing Hogg blocked well.
London-oriented Thistle was hit hard last year: a Malaysian tycoon seized the chance to bid for it, and won.
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McCall, whose playing career included spells at Thistle, Dundee and Rangers, signed a new three-year deal with Partick in June 2009.
However, he followed that disappointing start with wins over Partick Thistle, Hamilton, Hibernian, Falkirk and a draw with St Johnstone.
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His father was a midfielder with Saints, Brechin, Dundee United, Partick Thistle, Forfar Athletic and Arbroath.
It meant that Rangers reduced the gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League to a point ahead of leaders and champions Celtic facing Inverness Caley Thistle on Sunday.
Campbell had taken Thistle out of the Second Division the previous season, a feat he also achieved for Brechin.
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Caley Thistle made all of the early running, with Foran heading a Russell Duncan corner inches over the crossbar.
Thistle earlier this month said they were delaying their decision on a new manager until their financial future was more clear.
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Caley Thistle kept pushing for the equaliser and Nelson almost handed them a lifeline with five minutes remaining when he dropped a Robson cross only for McManus to scramble the ball clear.
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