LARGS Thistle have paid tribute to veteran striker Darryl Duffy after the former Rangers striker left the Barrfields club.

Duffy was a marquee signing for Thistle last summer and had a big part to play as Stuart Davidson's men finished 2023-24 in impressive fashion to end up fifth in the final Premier Division standings.

The 40-year-old played for the Ibrox club against Panathinaikos in the Champions League in December 2003 before going on to turn out for Falkirk, Hibernian, Hull City, Swansea City and Bristol Rovers and others.

Duffy weighed in with some crucial goals for Largs last season, including a double against Gartcairn in a 4-2 victory, and also notched a goal in Thistle's 4-0 win over Cumnock.

He opened the scoring in a fiery contest at Arthurlie in January before being red carded.

He also opened his own coaching school for youngsters, looking to put his years of footballing experience to good use.

A club spokesperson said: "Darryl Duffy ends his Largs career after 2023/24. What a season from a pro.

"He played in a total of 31 Largs matches, scoring nine Largs goals. That's after 500 matches across 20 years in football. Thank you, Duffers."

Duffy's career highlights included helping Falkirk to the First Division championship and promotion to the top flight in 2004-05, a season in which he won the Young Player of the Year prize.

Bristol Rovers signed Duffy from Swansea in July 2008 for a transfer fee in the region of £100,000. He scored twice in a 6–1 over Hereford United and in a 2–2 draw at Elland Road against Leeds. 

After spells at Hibs and a return to Bristol Rovers, Duffy headed out to India and featured for Salgaocar, for whom he bagged 14 goals in 24 games and shared in the I-League's Golden Boot accolade.

He then signed for Indian Super League franchise FC Goa on loan till the end of the season but left due to hair line fracture on his shin bone.

He later played for Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Football League where he scored six goals in eight matches before returning to Scotland in 2017, when he signed for St Mirren.

He was loaned out to Airdrieonians during the 2017-18 campaign and moved permanently to the North Lanarkshire side the following season, before turning out for Stirling Albion and then for Stranraer, where he combined playing duties with a role as the club's assistant manager under Jamie Hamill before making the switch to Largs Thistle a year ago.

* The second of two open trials for the Largs Thistle under-20s takes place at Barrfields Park at 5.30pm on Thursday July 18. The trial session is open to those who were born in 2005, 2006 and 2007 in all playing positions.

* For information on joining the Largs Thistle lotto, which has monthly cash prizes, go to largsthistle.info/lottery/

* Largs Thistle are hosting a golf day fundraiser in memory of Derek Scott next week.

The event runs on Friday, July 26 - the day before Thistle's first match of the new West of Scotland Football League season, at home to Johnstone Burgh - from 11am until 2pm at Routenburn Golf Club,

Supporters interested in taking part are being asked to get a team of four together, and to contact Alex on 07960 210458 to enter your team.