St. Mirren F.C.

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St. Mirren

Full name

St. Mirren Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Buddies, The Saints

Founded

1877

Ground

St. Mirren Park
Love Street
Paisley
Renfrewshire
PA3 2EA

Capacity

10,800

Chairman

Stewart Gilmour

Manager

Gus MacPherson

League

Scottish Premier League

2005-06

Scottish Football League First Division (1st)





Home colours





Away colours

Saint Mirren Football Club (usually referred to simply as St. Mirren, or by the nicknames The Buddies or The Saints) are a Scottish football club based in the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire. The team is named after the Irish monk Saint Mirin who is the patron saint of Paisley and is said to have founded the town's Abbey. They will play in the Scottish Premier League in season 2006-07 having gained promotion from the First Division in 2005-06.

St. Mirren is managed by Gus MacPherson and the main sponsors are currently Braehead, a local shopping centre located in Renfrewshire close to the border of the City of Glasgow.

The club are currently enjoying their return to top-flight football in Scotland, the first time the club has been in the Scotish Premier League since 2001

1 History
2 Fans Forum
3 Stadium
4 Current squad (2006-2007)
- 4.1 Players out on loan
5 Transfers
6 SPL fixtures 2006-2007
7 Club records
8 Honours
9 Managers
10 Famous players
11 Prominent fans
12 External links

[edit] History

St. Mirren currently play in black and white striped shirts but originally wore scarlet and blue stripes in the first few years of existence. They also wore cream shirts for one season in the early 1900s.

St. Mirren started off as a gentlemen's club which included amongst other sports, cricket and rugby in the late 19th century, but by 1877 solely concentrated on playing football. They have won the Scottish Cup in 1926, 1959 and 1987 and also won the Bells Challenge Cup in 2005, defeating Hamilton Academical 2-1 in the final (goals from Simon Lappin & John Sutton).

St. Mirren played their first match on the 6th October 1877, defeating Johnstone Britannia at Shortroods. Two years later, the club moved to another ground; Thistle Park, Greenhills. St. Mirren's first Scottish Cup match came on the 4th September 1880, a 3-0 victory over Johnstone Athletic. The following year, the Buddies reached their first cup final but were beaten 3-1 by Thornliebank in the Renfrewshire Cup, which Saints have won 47 times. St. Mirren reached their first Scottish Cup final in the 1907-1908 season but were defeated 5-1 by Glasgow Celtic. Nevertheless, the Buddies would go on to lift the trophy in 1926, 1959 and 1987. In the 1979/1980 season, St. Mirren achieved finished third behind Aberdeen F.C. and Celtic in the Premier League; their equal-highest ever finish in the top-flight. That season Saints also became the first and last Scottish club to win the Anglo-Scottish Cup, defeating Bristol City F.C. in a two-legged final. The following season, St. Mirren competed in European competition for the first time and won their initial game 2-1 vs. Elfsborg F.C. in Sweden. The club have been relegated from the Premier League twice (1991/1992 & 2000/2001), but only after escaping relegation in 1991 after league re-construction. In 2001, St. Mirren finished bottom of the Premier League despite losing only one of their final seven matches.

The team's local rivals are Greenock Morton - the first meeting between the two, came in the third round of the Scottish Cup in 1885. Morton won the game 4-3.

In 1922, St. Mirren played FC Barcelona in the Barcelona Cup invitational tournament to celebrate the inaugartion of the Les Corts.

[edit] Fans Forum

Computer-literate St Mirren fans enjoy discussing the successes and downfalls of their team and have been doing so for many seasons now. Die-hard fans and newcomers alike, are able to unite in the forum section of the Black & White Army website (an Unofficial St Mirren page). Here "Buddies," of all ages, share their views on team, selection, current affairs, transfer rumours and the information super-highway. Usually a source of much hilarity, this forum is a must for all St Mirren fans to get the lowdown on goings-on at Love Street. However, recently such forums have come under-fire from the St Mirren manager, Gus MacPherson, who believes that chatting about the side via the internet can only be harmful to his task of guiding the team to safety in the Scottish Premier League this season.

The Pie & Bovril forums are a sister site to B&W Army as is an Unofficial Greenock Morton website.

[edit] Stadium

On 16 August 2005 the Scottish Executive granted permission for the club to sell their old ground for supermarket development and allow the club to build a new stadium in Greenhill Road, Ferguslie Park, Paisley. The sale of their old ground will finance the new stadium as well as clear the current debts of the club.

Directions to the Stadium

From the North, South, West & East via the M8.

Follow signs for Paisley & Glasgow Airport. Exit the M8 at Junction 29 (St James' Interchange) which is just after Glasgow Airport turn off if travelling east to west. Be careful not to exit on to the A737 which is signposted for Irvine. It is best to stay in the middle lane when passing the Airport as this leads naturally to the St. James' Interchange exit.

At the interchange take the first left onto a dual carriegway with some football parks on the left hand side. Follow this road and after a sharp right hand bend you should now be in Greenock Road. The stadium is only a few hundred yards from here.

Car Parking

Car parking for away fans is by parking on Greenock road and the adjacent streets (Murray St., Clark St.). Please be careful not to block the residents driveways, and/or entrances to local businesses. Do not park too close to junctions or where police parking restrictions are in place, as you will be forced to leave the match or have your vehicle removed.

Public Transport

The staduim is a short walk away from Paisley Town Centre and its many public transport facilities.

The nearest train station is Paisley Gilmour Street, which is around 5 minutes walk from the staduim and has a frequent electric train service. Trains calling at Gilmour Street serve the Ayrshire lines from Ayr, Ardrossan and Largs to Glasgow Central as well the Inverclyde lines from Wemyss Bay and Gourock to Glasgow Central. Journey times from Glasgow is approximately 10 minutes. To reach the staduim, turn right at the bottom of the stairs from the platforms, following signs for the airport bus link. After exiting the stadium turn left walk along to the pedestrian crossing. Upon reaching the pedestrian crossing, walk across St James Street and head down Love Street. The Staduim and entrances to the North and East stands are 200m on the left hand side.

Paisley Town Centre also has many bus services from areas around Paisley, Glasgow as well as the west of Scotland and most stop in Gauze Street and Central Road, close to Gilmour Street Station.

Glasgow Airport is also 300m north along Love Street, approximately a 10 minute walk.

Gate Prices Season 2006 - 2007

'A' Games are versus Rangers or Celtic. 'B' Games are versus any one of the other nine SPL opponents.

Main Stand

'A' Games

Adult - £22
Full-Time Student - £15
Under 16 - £15
Senior Citizen - £15
Disabled Card Holder - £15
Unemployed - £15

'B' Games

Adult - £20
Full-Time Student - £13
Under 16 - £13
Senior Citizen - £13
Disabled Card Holder - £13
Unemployed - £13,

North & North West Stand & Enclosure

'A' Games

Adult - £20
Full-Time Student - £13
Under 16 - £10
Senior Citizen - £13
Disabled Card Holder - £13
Unemployed - £13

'B' Games

Adult - £18
Full-Time Student - £12
Under 16 - £10
Senior Citizen - £12
Disabled Card Holder - £12
Unemployed - £12

Reid Kerr College Family (East) Stand

'A' Games

Adult - £20
Full-Time Student - £13
Under 16 - £10
Senior Citizen - £13
Disabled Card Holder - £13
Unemployed - £13
Parent & Child (Under 16) - £27
Additional Child (Under 16) - £6

'B' Games

Adult - £18
Full-Time Student - £12
Under 16 - £10
Senior Citizen - £12
Disabled Card Holder - £12
Unemployed - £12
Parent & Child (Under 16) - £25
Additional Child (Under 16) - £6

Laidlaw Scott (West) Stand (Away Support)

'A' Games

Adult - £22
Under 16 - £15
Senior Citizen - £15
Parent & Child (Under 16) - N/A
Additional Child (Under 16) - N/A

'B' Games

Adult - £20
Under 16 - £13
Senior Citizen - £13
Parent & Child (Under 16) - £30
Additional Child (Under 16) - £10

Disabled Access

RKC Family Stand - Free (£12 charge for helper)
LS West Stand - Free (£12 charge for helper)

[edit] Current squad (2006-2007)

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Tony Bullock
2	DF	David van Zanten
3	DF	Kirk Broadfoot
4	DF	Andy Millen
5	DF	Kevin McGowne (Captain)
6	DF	John Potter
7	MF	Hugh Murray
8	MF	Simon Lappin
9	FW	John Sutton
10	MF	Stewart Kean
11	FW	Alex Burke
12	MF	Richard Brittain
13	GK	Craig Hinchcliffe
14	MF	Garry Brady

No.	Position	Player
15	MF	Mark Corcoran
16	DF	Ian Maxwell
17	DF	Alan Reid
19	FW	Billy Mehmet
20	MF	Craig Molloy
21	MF	Ryan McCay
22	FW	David McKenna
23	MF	Iain Anderson
24	GK	Chris Smith
26	FW	Stephen Anderson
27	FW	Scott Gemmill
28	MF	David Barron
29	DF	Stuart Balmer

[edit] Players out on loan

18		FW	Brian McGinty (on loan to Dundee)
25		FW	John Baird (on loan to Stenhousemuir)

[edit] Transfers

In: Season 2006/07

Stuart Balmer - Hamilton Academical F.C. - Free.
Garry Brady - Dundee F.C. - Free.
Richard Brittain - Livingston F.C. - Free.
Alex Burke - Ross County F.C. - Free.

Manager Gus MacPherson has been reasonably busy in this summer's transfer market but hasn't got past "B" in the list of names it seems. So far the Buddies have signed 36-year-old defender Stuart Balmer on a player/coach deal from Hamilton Academical F.C., midfielders Garry Brady and Richard Brittain from Dundee F.C. and Livingston F.C. respectively, and also 28-year-old striker Alex Burke from First Division side Ross County F.C..

There has been endless speculation over which players will be added to the St. Mirren squad including John Rankin (now Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.), Jim Lauchlan (Ross County F.C.), Jim McIntyre (Dundee United F.C.), Derek McInnes (now Millwall), Alan Archibald (Dundee United), Charlie Adam (Glasgow Rangers), Tom Brighton (now Millwall), Charlie Mulgrew (Glasgow Celtic), Gary Holt (Nottingham Forest F.C.), Barry Smith (now Valur F.C.), Andy Lawrie (now St Johnstone F.C.), David McNamee (now Coventry City F.C.), Paul Di Giacomo (Kilmarnock F.C.), Simon Lynch (Dundee F.C.), Gavin Strachan (Hartlepool United F.C.) , Marvin Andrews (now Raith Rovers F.C.), Soto Kyrgiakos (now Eintracht Frankfurt).

There appeared to be a possibility of ex-Manchester United trainee John Rankin joining St. Mirren earlier in the season but despite the fact his move to Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. was in doubt he eventually went there, new signings Garry Brady and Richard Brittain will fill the role vacated by Mark Reilly, who retired after Saints won the Championship in May. Charlie Adam - who had been on loan at Love Street for the 2005/2006 campaign - has been impressing new Glasgow Rangers manager Paul Le Guen and so it is unlikely that he will be returning to Paisley to wear the black and white of St. Mirren.

[edit] SPL fixtures 2006-2007

29-Jul-2006: Inverness Caledonian Thistle - Away - won 2-1 (Kean, Sutton)
05-Aug-2006: Motherwell - Home - won 2-0 (Sutton, Quinn OG)
12-Aug-2006: Celtic - Away - lost 0-2
19-Aug-2006: Aberdeen - Home - drew 1-1 (Broadfoot)
26-Aug-2006: Dundee United F.C. - Home - lost 1-3 (Brady)
09-Sep-2006: Hearts Away - won 0-1 (Kean)
16-Sep-2006: Kilmarnock Home - lost 0-1
23-Sep-2006: Dunfermline - Away - lost 2-1 (Sutton)
30-Sep-2006: Hibernian - Home - won 1-0 (Van Zanten)
14-Oct-2006: Falkirk - Away - drew 1-1 (Mehmet)
22-Oct-2006: Rangers - Home - lost 2-3 (Sutton 2)
28-Oct-2006: Inverness CT - Home - drew 1-1 (Sutton)
04-Nov-2006: Motherwell - Away - drew 0-0
12-Nov-2006: Celtic - Home - lost 1-3 (Sutton)
18-Nov-2006: Aberdeen - Away - lost 2-0
25-Nov-2006: Dundee United - Away
02-Dec-2006: Hearts - Home
09-Dec-2006: Kilmarnock - Away
16-Dec-2006: Dunfermline - Home
23-Dec-2006: Hibernian - Away
26-Dec-2006: Falkirk - Home
30-Dec-2006: Rangers - Away
01-Jan-2007: Inverness CT - Away
13-Jan-2007: Motherwell - Home
20-Jan-2007: Celtic - Away
27-Jan-2007: Aberdeen - Home
10-Feb-2007: Dundee United - Home
17-Feb-2007: Hearts - Away
03-Mar-2007: Kilmarnock - Home
10-Mar-2007: Dunfermline - Away
17-Mar-2007: Hibernian - Home
31-Mar-2007: Falkirk - Away
08-Apr-2007: Rangers - Home

[edit] Club records

Highest Attendance: 47,438: .v. Celtic on 20 August 1949
Biggest victory: 15-0: .v. Glasgow University on 30 January 1960
Most capped player: Ian Munro and Billy Thomson: 7 Scotland.
Most capped international player: Mixu Paatelainen 70 appearances for the Finnish national team.
Youngest Player: Scott Gemmill 16 years & 60 days - vs. Raith Rovers (Starks Park) 8th August 2003.
Most League appearances: Tony Fitzpatrick, 351 (1973-1979, 1981-1989)
Most European appearances: Campbell Money, 8 (1985-1988)
Most League goals: David McCrae, 221 (1923-1924)
Most League goals in a season: Dunky Walker: 45 1921/22
Record Transfer Fee Paid: £400,000 to Bayer Uerdingen for Thomas Stickroth (March 1990)
Record Transfer Fee Received: £850,000 from Glasgow Rangers for Ian Ferguson (February 1988)
Most League wins in a season: 27, Division Two (1967-1968)
Most League defeats in a season: 31, Division One (1920-1921)
Most League draws in a season: 15, Premier League (1987-1988)
Most consecutive league victories: 16, Division Two (18/11/1967 - 30/3/1968)
Longest unbeaten league run: 34, 18/11/1967 (Division Two) - 16/11/1968 (Division One)
Most Goals Scored in a season: 114, Division Two (1935-1936)
Most Goals Conceded in a season: 92, Division One (1920-1921)

[edit] Honours

Scottish First Division: 1976/77, 1999/2000, 2005/06
Scottish Cup: 1926, 1959, 1987
Scottish League Challenge Cup: 2005
Renfrewshire Cup: 1882/1883, 1883/1884, 1887/1888, 1890/1891, 1893/1894, 1896/1897, 1897/1898, 1903/1904, 1909/1910, 1910/1911, 1923/1924, 1924/1925, 1925/1926, 1927/1928, 1928/1929, 1929/1930, 1931/1932, 1932/1933, 1933/1934, 1935/1936, 1937/1938, 1940/1941, 1943/1944, 1945/1946, 1946/1947, 1947/1948, 1949/1950, 1958/1959, 1959/1960, 1960/1961, 1962/1963, 1966/1967, 1973/1974, 1976/1977, 1978/1979, 1979/1980, 1982/1983, 1983/1984, 1984/1985, 1985/1986, 1987/1988, 1989/1990, 1997/1998, 1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2001/2002, 2006/2007
Victory Cup: 1919
Anglo-Scottish Cup Winners: 1979/80
Barcelona Cup 1922
Summer Cup: 1943
Epson Invitational Tournament: 1986/87