Scottish Football
Kwon Hyeok-kyu
Name: Kwon Hyeok-kyu
Date of Birth: 13th March 2001
Place of Birth: Busan, South Korea
Nationality: South Korean
Position: Midfield
Height: 6ft 4in
Weight: 12.1st
Signed: 12th January 2024 from Celtic (Loan)
Departed: 23rd May 2024 (back to parent club)
Debut: 20th January 2024 v Queen of the South (1-0)
Final Match: 6th April 2024 v Hearts (1-2)
Apps: 9
Goals: 0
Honours: None
South Korean midfielder Kwon arrived at Saints in early January 2024, on loan from Celtic, who had signed the young Asian for around £1million 6 months earlier.
Stephen Robinson introduced him immediately to the first team, and Kwon made a big impact, impressing enough in his first few months for Saints to make noises about extending his loan to the 2024/25 season, however the South Korean was injured in early April and missed the rest of the reason, leaving his immediate future uncertain.
On the 23rd May 2024, it was announced by both Kwon and the club that we would be returning to Celtic.
| SQUAD NO | SEASON | DIV | PRM | GLS | SCP | GLS | TOTAL APP | TOTAL GLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 2023/24 | PRM | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
18th May (Celtic A)
cinch PREMIERSHIP
18th May 2024
Celtic Park, Glasgow
Celtic 3-2 St. Mirren
O’HARA 7 
O’Reilly 21
O’HARA 26 (pen) Kyogo 37 Palma 86
ATT: 60,411 (700 Saints fans)
Referee: M McDermid
VAR:
- The season ends with a narrow defeat at Parkhead as the home side celebrate winning the league, however Saints are denied the ultimate chance to spoil the title party when the referee, linseman and VAR somehow miss a blatant 83rd minute pull on Mikael Mandron’s shirt at a corner, which would have offered Mark O’Hara the chance to score Saints first ever hat-trick at Parkhead and win the match.
- A few minutes after this, Celtic score the winner, an extremely harsh result on Saints who had led twice and looked dangerous throughout, particularity through Toyosi Olusanya who gave the Celtic defence a torrid time during his time on the park.
- After causing confusion at an early long throw by Baccus, Olusanya fought for the loose ball which was eventually hammered home by Mark O’Hara on the volley to give Saints the lead after only 7 minutes.
- However, the lead only lasted 13 minutes when some poor defending allowed Matt O’Reilly to fire in an equaliser under Hemming.
- No more than 5 minutes later, Olusanya broke through only to be shoved to the ground by Steven Welsh whilst in the act of shooting. Incredibly the referee failed to send off the Celtic player and in fact didn’t even book him. O’Hara easily dispatched the penalty to restore Saints lead.
- O’Hara then hits the post with a back post header which should have completed a hat-trick within half an hour, and Celtic capitalise again on slack defending by notching an equaliser soon after.
- The second half is a more cagey affair, but Saints still look the more dangerous side, however couldn’t legislate for refereeing failures, and the decision to add no time on at the end as Saints chased an equaliser, despite 10 substitutions, 2 injuries and 3 VAR checks is perhaps a fitting end to a season where Saints had suffered more than any club for referee mistakes, as per the SFA’s own review system.
- Despite this, the team had their most successful on the park for almost 40 years, and the supporters got to say an emotional farewell to Ryan Strain, Keanu Baccus, Ryan Flynn, Charles Dunne, Jaden Brown and possibly Zach Hemming who were playing their last matches for St. Mirren.
| NO. | PLAYER | RATING |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zach Hemming | 6 |
| 22 | Marcus Fraser | 7 |
| 3 | Scott Tanser | 7 |
| 5 | Richard Taylor  66 | 7 |
| 13 | Alex Gogic | 7 |
| 21 | Elvis Bwomono 66 | 7 |
| 6 | Mark O’Hara | 9 |
| 17 | Keanu Baccus | 8 |
| 15 | Caolan Boyd-Munce 80 | 8 |
| 10 | Conor McMenamin 80 | 7 |
| 20 | Toyosi Olusanya 75 | 9 |
| SUBS | ||
| 14 | James Scott | |
| 9 | Mikael Mandron  75 | 7 |
| 2 | James Bolton | |
| 18 | Charles Dunne 66 | 6 |
| 21 | Jaden Brown | |
| 27 | Peter Urminsky | |
| 24 | Lewis Jamieson 80 | 6 |
| 33 | Ryan Flynn 80 | 6 |
| 23 | Ryan Strain 66 | 6 |
15th May 2024
cinch PREMIERSHIP
15th May 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley
St. Mirren 2-2 Hearts
SCOTT 7
Tawaga 20 BOLTON 65
Shankland 73
ATT: 7,222 (1,100 Away fans)
Referee: J Beaton
VAR:
- After confirming a European place the night before when Dundee lost at Ibrox, Saints played out an entertaining match at home to 3rd place Hearts.
- Saints dominated most of the match and took the lead after only seven minutes when James Scott volleyed home his first goal for the club following heavy pressure from the first whistle.
- Hearts equalised with their first attack of the match on the 20th minute, taking advantage of a slip by Bolton to break down Saints right, eventually allowing Tawaga to shoot through Hemmings legs.
- Despite being on top afterwards, it took 45 minutes for Saints to regain the lead when James Bolton headed in his first goal for the club from a brilliant Boyd-Munce cross.
- Eight minutes later however, a speculative lob from Shankland caught Hemming out at his far post and the ball dropped in for an unexpected equaliser.
- Despite applying more pressure with the remainder of the match, Saints couldn’t snatch a deserved winner, however the draw means the team eclipse the points total of last season and confirms the best total since 1984/85 once points per game is adjusted to 3 points for a win.
| NO. | PLAYER | RATING |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zach Hemming | 6 |
| 2 | James Bolton 84 | 7 |
| 3 | Scott Tanser 70 | 7 |
| 5 | Richard Taylor 70 | 6 |
| 21 | Jaden Brown 59 | 6 |
| 6 | Mark O’Hara | 8 |
| 17 | Keanu Baccus | 8 |
| 13 | Alex Gogic | 7 |
| 10 | Conor McMenamin | 8 |
| 9 | Mikael Mandron | 8 |
| 14 | James Scott 59 | 7 |
| SUBS | ||
| 15 | Caolan Boyd-Munce 59 | 8 |
| 20 | Toyosi Olusanya 59 | 7 |
| 22 | Marcus Fraser 70 | 6 |
| 18 | Charles Dunne 84 | 6 |
| 42 | Elvis Bwomono 70 | 6 |
| 27 | Peter Urminsky | |
| 24 | Lewis Jamieson | |
| 33 | Evan Mooney | |
| 23 | Ryan Strain |
11/05/2024 – KILMARNOCK (H)
cinch PREMIERSHIP
11th May 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley
St. Mirren 0-1 Kilmarnock
Vassell 37
ATT: 7,654
Referee: E Anderson
VAR: G Aitken
- The home side miss out on a chance to qualify automatically for European football after losing 1-0 to Kilmarnock, however with Dundee going down 3-0 at Tynecastle and only 2 matches remaining, Saints actually strengthen their hold on 5th place as the goal difference is now 2 better off than at the start of the day.
- In what was a scrappy and error strewn match, Kilmarnock seize on poor play between Fraser and Tanser to break quickly on Saints and score the only goal, with Vassell smashing home Watkins cutback after 37 minutes.
- Saints give plenty of effort get back into the match, with Olusnaya the main threat and he cracks a shot from the edge of the box off the bar, but in general Saints attacking play is predictable and laborious and Killie see off the threat fairly comfortable.
- This defeat extends Saints absurd record against Derek McInnes as a manager, with just 1 league win in 32 matches over 3 clubs, and no wins in 7 against Kilmarnock since he became boss at the Ayrshire club.
| No, | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zach Hemming | 7 |
| 23 | Ryan Strain 67 | 6 |
| 2 | James Bolton 83 | 7 |
| 13 | Alex Gogic | 6 |
| 22 | Marcus Fraser | 6 |
| 3 | Scott Tanser 67 | 6 |
| 6 | Mark O’Hara | 7 |
| 15 | Caolan Boyd-Munce 67 | 6 |
| 10 | Conor McMenamin | 7 |
| 20 | Toyosi Olusanya | 7 |
| SUBS | ||
| 9 | Mikael Mandron | 6 |
| 17 | Keanu Baccus 67 | 7 |
| 14 | James Scott 67 | 6 |
| 24 | Lewis Jamieson 67 | 6 |
| 5 | Richard Taylor 83 | 6 |
28/04/2024 – RANGERS (H)
cinch PREMIERSHIP
28th April 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley
St. Mirren 1-2 Rangers
Bolton (Own Goal) 32
MANDRON 37
Dessers 74
ATT: 6,800
Referee: Nick Walsk
VAR: D Robertson
- A familiar story unfolds in Paisley as Saints lose to Rangers again, despite having the better of the play and crreating the best chances throughout a tense 90 minutes.
- It is a tale of 2 goalkeepers, as Zach Hemming makes 2 uncharacteristic mistakes to gift Rangers both their goals, while Jack Butland makes multiple saves for Rangers, including an extraordinary save from a James Bolton volley that would have given Saints a deserved 2-1 half time lead.
- Mikael Mandron grabs the Saints equaliser after 37 minutes, after Bolton had given Rangers the lead when he tried to desperately to rectify Hemmings misjudgment of a cross, but could only knocked the ball into his own net. That lead lasted only 5 minutes however, when the impressive Mandron headed in a looping O’Hara cross.
- A few minutes later, Bolton looked to have given Saints the lead when he volleyed a loose ball goal-ward after a scrambled corner, however Butland somehow readjusted his body to flick the ball over the bar.
- The second half was a scrappy affair, and Rangers grabbed a late winner when some slack defending allowed Tavernier to cross and after Hemmings had misjudged the ball, Dessers had the simple task of netting at the back post from a yard.
04/05/2024 – Dundee (A)
cinch PREMIERSHIP
4th May 2024
Dens Park, Dundee
Dundee 1-3 St. Mirren
GOGIC 37
TANSER 59
OLUSANYA 72
Mellon 76
ATT: 6,877 (2,056 Saints fans)
Referee: M McDermid
VAR: A Muir
- European football is now just 2 points away for Saints after a comprehensive win over their only challengers for 5th place, Dundee.
- Toyosi Olusanya almost nips in to score after only 10 seconds, and this sets the tone for the afternoon as the away side dominate for long periods and win with ease.
- Saints finally open the scoring after 37 minutes when the imperious Alex Gogic reacts quickest to a loose ball and gives the keeper no chance.
- Scott Tanser doubles the lead 22 minutes later with a unerring finish on the volley after he had chipped the ball over a Dundee defender, as the home side repeatdly failed to deal with Saints superior attacking play.
- This was evident again after 72 minutes when Baccus drives into the box and finds Mandron, who dances through challenges before laying off to Olusanya who fires under the keeper to give Saints an unassailable 3 goal lead, which could have been double this number had Saints been more ruthless.
- Mickey Mellon notched a late goal for the Dee, but by then most of their supporters had left and Saints comfortably negotiated the rest of the match.
| No, | Player | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zach Hemming | 8 |
| 23 | Ryan Strain 87 | 8 |
| 2 | James Bolton | 8 |
| 13 | Alex Gogic | 9 |
| 22 | Marcus Fraser | 8 |
| 3 | Scott Tanser | 8 |
| 6 | Mark O’Hara | 8 |
| 15 | Caolan Boyd-Munce | 8 |
| 10 | Conor McMenamin 61 | 7 |
| 20 | Toyosi Olusanya | 8 |
| 9 | Mikael Mandron 77 | 8 |
| 17 | Keanu Baccus 61 | 7 |
| 14 | James Scott 77 | 7 |
| 18 | Charles Dunne 87 | 7 |
EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS CUP
P4 W1 D2 L1 F1 A2
| DATE | OPPOSITION | ATT | V | COMPETITION | SCORE | O | SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/09/1987 | TROMSØ | 7,797 | H | UEFA CWC, 1st Round, 1st Leg | 1-0 | W | McDowall |
| 30/09/1987 | Tromsø | 5,114 | A | UEFA CWC, 1st Round, 2nd Leg | 0-0 | D | |
| 21/10/1987 | Mechelen | 6,746 | A | UEFA CWC, 2nd Round, 1st Leg | 0-0 | D | |
| 04/11/1987 | MECHELEN | 14,368 | H | UEFA CWC, 2nd Round, 2nd Leg | 0-2 | L |
| PLAYER | APP | GLS |
|---|---|---|
| Billy ABERCROMBY | 2 | 0 |
| Ian CAMERON | 4 | 0 |
| Paul CHALMERS | 4 | 0 |
| Neil COOPER | 4 | 0 |
| Robert DAWSON | 3 | 0 |
| Ian FERGUSON | 3 | 0 |
| Tony FITZPATRICK | 3 | 0 |
| Peter GODFREY | 4 | 0 |
| Brian HAMILTON | 2 | 0 |
| Paul LAMBERT | 4 | 0 |
| Kenny McDOWALL | 3 | 1 |
| Frank McGARVEY | 1 | 0 |
| Norrie McWHIRTER | 1 | 0 |
| Campbell MONEY | 4 | 0 |
| George SHAW | 1 | 0 |
| Keith WALKER | 3 | 0 |
| Tommy WILSON | 3 | 0 |
| David WINNIE | 3 | 0 |
| APPEARANCES | ECWC |
|---|---|
| Ian CAMERON | 4 |
| Paul CHALMERS | 4 |
| Neil COOPER | 4 |
| Peter GODFREY | 4 |
| Paul LAMBERT | 4 |
| Campbell MONEY | 4 |
| Robert DAWSON | 3 |
| Ian FERGUSON | 3 |
| Tony FITZPATRICK | 3 |
| Kenny McDOWALL | 3 |
| Keith WALKER | 3 |
| Tommy WILSON | 3 |
| David WINNIE | 3 |
| Billy ABERCROMBY | 2 |
| Brian HAMILTON | 2 |
| Frank McGARVEY | 1 |
| Norrie McWHIRTER | 1 |
| George SHAW | 1 |
| GOALSCORERS | APP | GLS |
|---|---|---|
| Kenny McDOWALL | 3 | 1 |
SEASONS
UEFA CUP
P10 W2 D3 L5 F9 A12
| DATE | OPPOSITION | ATT | V | COMPETITION | SCORE | O | SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/09/1980 | Elfsborg | 3,776 | A | UEFA CUP 1st Round, 1st Leg | 2-1 | W | Somner, Abercromby |
| 01/10/1980 | ELFSBORG | 8,326 | H | UEFA CUP 1st Round, 2nd Leg | 0-0 | D | |
| 22/10/1980 | ST. ETIENNE | 11,471 | H | UEFA CUP 2nd Round, 1st Leg | 0-0 | D | |
| 05/11/1980 | St. Etienne | 17,870 | A | UEFA CUP 2nd Round, 2nd Leg | 0-2 | L | |
| 14/09/1983 | FEYENOORD | 10,211 | H | UEFA CUP 1st Round, 1st Leg | 0-1 | L | |
| 29/09/1983 | Feyenoord | 18,286 | A | UEFA CUP 1st Round, 2nd Leg | 0-2 | L | |
| 17/09/1985 | Slavia Prague | 7,000 | A | UEFA CUP 1st Round, 1st Leg | 0-1 | L | |
| 02/10/1985 | SLAVIA PRAGUE | 11,768 | H | UEFA CUP 1st Round, 2nd Leg | 3-0 aet | W | McGarvey (2), Gallacher |
| 23/10/1985 | Hammarby | 4,349 | A | UEFA CUP 2nd Round, 1st Leg | 3-3 | D | Gallacher (3) |
| 06/11/1985 | HAMMARBY | 11,278 | H | UEFA CUP 2nd Round, 2nd Leg | 1-2 | L | McGarvey |
| PLAYER | APP | GLS |
|---|---|---|
| Billy ABERCROMBY | 7 | 1 |
| Rowan ALEXANDER | 1 | 0 |
| Alex BECKETT | 4 | 0 |
| Steve CLARKE | 6 | 0 |
| Neil COOPER | 3 | 0 |
| Jackie COPLAND | 4 | 0 |
| Andy DUNLOP | 1 | 0 |
| Tony FITZPATRICK | 5 | 0 |
| Mark FULTON | 2 | 0 |
| Brian GALLACHER | 4 | 4 |
| Peter GODFREY | 3 | 0 |
| Derek HAMILTON | 4 | 0 |
| Alan LOGAN | 1 | 0 |
| Peter MACKIE | 3 | 0 |
| Phil McAVEETY | 2 | 0 |
| Frank McAVENNIE | 2 | 0 |
| John McCORMACK | 6 | 0 |
| Frank McDOUGALL | 6 | 0 |
| Kenny McDOWALL | 4 | 0 |
| John McEACHRAN | 1 | 0 |
| Frank McGARVEY | 4 | 3 |
| Campbell MONEY | 4 | 0 |
| Lex RICHARDSON | 5 | 0 |
| Jim ROONEY | 4 | 0 |
| Ian SCANLON | 3 | 0 |
| Doug SOMNER | 4 | 1 |
| Gardner SPEIRS | 5 | 0 |
| Billy STARK | 4 | 0 |
| Billy THOMSON | 6 | 0 |
| David WALKER | 2 | 0 |
| Peter WEIR | 4 | 0 |
| Tommy WILSON | 4 | 0 |
| John YOUNG | 4 | 0 |
| APPEARANCES | UEFA CUP |
|---|---|
| Billy ABERCROMBY | 7 |
| Steve CLARKE | 6 |
| John McCORMACK | 6 |
| Frank McDOUGALL | 6 |
| Billy THOMSON | 6 |
| Tony FITZPATRICK | 5 |
| Lex RICHARDSON | 5 |
| Gardner SPEIRS | 5 |
| Alex BECKETT | 4 |
| Jackie COPLAND | 4 |
| Brian GALLACHER | 4 |
| Derek HAMILTON | 4 |
| Kenny McDOWALL | 4 |
| Frank McGARVEY | 4 |
| Campbell MONEY | 4 |
| Jim ROONEY | 4 |
| Doug SOMNER | 4 |
| Billy STARK | 4 |
| Peter WEIR | 4 |
| Tommy WILSON | 4 |
| John YOUNG | 4 |
| Neil COOPER | 3 |
| Peter GODFREY | 3 |
| Peter MACKIE | 3 |
| Ian SCANLON | 3 |
| Mark FULTON | 2 |
| Phil McAVEETY | 2 |
| Frank McAVENNIE | 2 |
| David WALKER | 2 |
| Rowan ALEXANDER | 1 |
| Andy DUNLOP | 1 |
| Alan LOGAN | 1 |
| John McEACHRAN | 1 |
| GOALSCORERS | APPS | GLS |
|---|---|---|
| Brian GALLACHER | 4 | 4 |
| Frank McGARVEY | 4 | 3 |
| Billy ABERCROMBY | 7 | 1 |
| Doug SOMNER | 4 | 1 |
SEASONS
1985/86 UEFA CUP
UEFA CUP 1985/86 1st Round
17th September 1985
UEFA CUP 1st Round, 1st Leg
Slavia Prague 1-0 St. Mirren
2nd October 1985
UEFA CUP 1st Round, 2nd Leg
St. Mirren 3-0 Slavia Prague
Saints win 3-1 on aggregate
UEFA CUP 1985/86 2nd Round
23rd October 1985
UEFA CUP 2nd Round, 1st Leg
Hammarby 3-3 St. Mirren
6th November 1985
UEFA CUP 2nd Round, 2nd Leg
St. Mirren 1-2 Hammarby