Through the Years

22/10/1980 – ST. ETIENNE (H)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

UEFA CUP 1st Round, 2nd Leg
22nd October 1980
St. Mirren Park, Paisley

St. Mirren 0-0 St. Etienne

ATT: 11,471

Referee: H Forensen (Denmark)

  • Saints produce a fine battling performance to secure a draw against the French giants during monsoon like conditions in Paisley.
  • Despite missing Michel Platini through injury, the French side is packed with quality. Of the 12 players used during the match, 6 are current French internationalists and one a Dutch great, Johnny Rep. Of the five players that aren’t capped at that time, 3 would play for France within 2 seasons. On the flip side, only Billy Thomson and Peter Weir had been capped by Scotland a few months earlier.
  • The best chances of the match fall to exactly the person Saints would want, Doug Somner, but his second half headeris expertly turned over by Jean Castenda from a Weir corner, and as Saints increased the pressure, the big forward wriggled clear but his placed shot is tipped wide by the French international keeper.
  • John McCormack has one last chance for Saints from a corner, but heads straight at the St. Etienne number one who was then booked for time-wasting, underlining Saints good performance.

TEAM LINEUPS

ST. MIRRENNoST. ETIENNE
THOMSON Billy1CASTENADA Jean
YOUNG John2GARDON Bernard
BECKETT Alex3LOPEZ Christian
RICHARDSON Lex4JANVION Gerard
McCORMACK John5PAGANELLI Laurent 73
COPLAND Jackie6BATTISTON Patrick
McDOUGALL Frank7OLEKSIAK Thierry
STARK Billy8LARIOS Jean-Francois
SOMNER Doug9ZANON Jean-Louis
WEIR Peter10ROUSSEY Laurent
ABERCROMBY Billy11REP Johnny
CURRAN Jeff12ZIMAKO Jacques 73
DUNLOP Andy13CURKOVIC Yvan (GK)
FULTON Mark14ELIE Jean-Marie
LOGAN Alan15LESTAGE Patrice
MONEY Campbell (GK)16COLLEU Yves

THE MATCH

HIGHLIGHTS

01/10/1980 – ELFSBORG (H)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

UEFA CUP 1st Round, 2nd Leg
1st October 1980
St. Mirren Park, Paisley

St. Mirren 0-0 Elfsborg

ATT: 8,326

Referee: G Haraldsson (Iceland)

  • Saints negotiate the tie overall, but disappoint an expectant home support by only drawing with the part-time Swedish outfit.
  • The disappointment is further compounded by Saints failure to score against a 10 man Swedish side with no recognised goalkeeper for a portion of the match, after a series of injuries left the visitors with no choice but to use left back Lennart Johansson in goal for the last 20 minutes.
  • Perhaps the talking down of the opposition by Jim Clunie had a negative impact on the attendance, with the turnout of 8,326 some 2,000 less than the average of the previous season.
  • However, the success of qualification for round 2 gives Saints a glamour tie, although extremely tough one, when they were paired with the then most successful team in France, St.-Etienne, captained by world class superstar, Michel Platini.

TEAM LINEUPS

ST. MIRRENNOIF ELFSBORG
THOMSON Billy1SVENSSON Roger
YOUNG John2GUSTAVSSON Leif
BECKETT Alex3JOHANSSON Lennart
RICHARDSON Lex 324AHLSTROM Goran 69
McCORMACK John5MALBERG Leif
COPLAND Jackie6QVIST Christer
McDOUGALL Frank7NILSSON Lennart
STARK Billy8LARSSON Stefan
SOMNER Doug9HANSSON Morgan 46
WEIR Peter10JOHANSSON Thomas
ABERCROMBY Billy 11ANDERSEN Christer
DUNLOP Andy12SVENSSON Thomas 69
LOGAN Alan 3213KLARSTROM Frank 46
FULTON Mark14HELLQVIST Christer
CURRAN Jeff15–
MONEY Campbell (GKPR)16–

THE MATCH

17/09/1980 – Elfsborg (A)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

UEFA CUP 1st Round, 1st Leg
17th September 1980
Ryavallen, Borås, Sweden

Elfsborg 1-2 St. Mirren

Nilsson15
SOMNER 43
ABERCROMBY 72

ATT: 3,776 (300 Saints fans)

Referee: Mauri Laakso (Finland)

  • Saints record a vital win in their first ever European match, played in the town of Borås, eastern Sweden. As of 2024, it remains the only away match won in Europe by the club.
  • The first ever European opponents are IL Elfsborg, a part time team using a communal stadium within the town, that they would eventually vacate in 2004 for a modern ground specifically designed for football.
  • Although not a professional club in 1980, this was normal in Scandinavia until the 1990’s, and the Swedes could boast 4 international players in their squad.
  • Despite falling behind to an early Nilsson goal, Doug Somner has the honour of scoring the first official European goal for the club just before half-time after good play from McCormack and McDougall. This is the prolific Somner’s 12th goal of the season, despite it being only mid September.
  • As the match draws towards a conclusion, Billy Abercromby nets the winner with 18 minutes remaining as the Elfsborg defence fails to clear a Stark cross, justifying Saints attacking approach throughout the match.
  • The 300 travelling Saints fans take delight in the win, predicted beforehand by a bullish Jim Clunie who believed the Paisley side to be a class above the Swedes.

TEAM LINEUPS

IF ELFSBORGNOST. MIRREN
SVENSSON Roger1THOMSON Billy
MALBERG Leif 2YOUNG John
JOHANSSON Lennart3BECKETT Alex
SVENSSON Ingemar4RICHARDSON Lex
QVIST Christer 5McCORMACK John
ANDERSEN Christer 6COPLAND Jackie
AHLSTROM Goran  7 ABERCROMBY Billy
JOHANSSON Thomas8STARK Billy
KLARSTROM Frank 67 9McDOUGALL Frank 
GUSTAVSSON Hans-Olof 70 10 SOMNER Doug
NILSSON Lennart 11WEIR Peter
HELLQVIST Christer 67 12DUNLOP Andy
SVENSSON Thomas 70 13LOGAN Alan
–14FULTON Mark
 –15CURRAN Jeff
 –16(GKPR) MONEY Campbell

THE MATCH

THE TRIP

Stadium: Ryavallen, Borås, Sweden
1980 Capacity: 16,000
Record Attendance: 22,654 (1961)
1980 Town Population: 100,000
Distance From Paisley (air): 669 miles – 3 hour flight
Distance From Paisley (road): 1,355 miles – 25 hours drive
Times Played at Stadium: 1 (1 win)

THE STADIUM

Match Poster – Click on Image to purchase

All donations and purchases are used towards the research or cost of running the website.

13/04/2024 (Celtic A)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
13th April 2024
Celtic Park, Glasgow

Celtic 3-0 St. Mirren

Hatate 52
Kyogo 60
Idah 86

ATT: 58,888
Referee: S McLean
VAR: A Dallas

  • Saints fall to defeat at Parkhead following another second half collapse, despite a very promising opening 45 minutes where they were the better side.
  • Stephen Robinson changed formation for the first time this season, reverting from a 3-4-2-1 to a 3-5-1-1, with Olusanya the lone front man supported by Kiltie. A central midfield trio of O’Hara, Boyd-Munce and Baccus added solidity and allowed Saints a sense of control in the first 45 minutes.
  • Injuries to Bwomono, Tanser and Kiltie with the score 0-0 however, forced Saints into multiple changes and this affected the rhythm of the side, leading to Celtic taking a grip early in the second half.
  • Goals from Japanese duo, Hatate and Kyogo before the hour mark effectively killed the match, and Idah added the third after a Gogic mistake on a day the wind once more affected play more than any other player.
  • Saints go into the top 6 split in 5th position with a 2 point lead over Dundee, knowing that 5th place guarantees a European qualification spot for the first time since 1987.

06/04/2024 (Hearts H)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
6th April 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley

St. Mirren 1-2 Hearts

Grant 33 (p)
Mandron OG 62
OLUSANYA 68

ATT: 7,740
Referee: A Muir
VAR: A Dallas

  • Despite a top 6 place finally being secured, Saints fall to a disappointing defeat at a sold out SMISA stadium.
  • However, it is Referee Alan Muir that is the focus of all attention after the match following his decision not to award Saints a late penalty after Tait had clearly brought down Conor McMenamin inside the box.
  • After not giving the penalty during open play, Muir was then instructed by the VAR team to review his decision, but still decided there was no foul despite an obvious infringement on the back of the Saints wingers knee as he wriggled clear.
  • 10 days later, the SPFL review committee judged the actions of the referee to be incorrect and a penalty should have been awarded. This is the 4th incorrect decision to be identified that has adversely affected Saints, more than any other club.
  • Muir had decided to award Hearts an earlier penalty after VAR intervention, when Marcus Fraser was “guilty” of handball when Vargas struck a shot against him arm from close range. Grant scored the resultant spot kick.
  • With the wind seriously affecting play, Hearts scored a second time after 62 minutes from a rare attack when a corner was cleared but struck Mandron before crossing the line.
  • Toyosi Olusnaya halved the deficit with a brilliant 60 yard solo goal shortly after, but Saints couldn’t find the equaliser their play probably deserved.

30/03/2024 (Motherwell A)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
30th March 2024
Fir Park, Motherwell

Motherwell 1-1 St. Mirren

FRASER 18
Bair 74

ATT: 5,492
Referee: M McDermid
VAR: G Irvine

  • For the second match in a row, Saints have a top 6 place confirmed with half an hour to play, but fail to see the match out in a winning position.
  • After the capitulation at Rugby Park, Stephen Robinson made 3 changes to the starting XI, with Ryan Flynn, Conor McMenamin and Charles Dunne missing out in favour of James Bolton, Toyosi Olusanya and Ryan Strain, who had missed 20 matches following groin surgery.
  • Strain almost made a dream return when his 25 yard free kick rattled the crossbar early in the match, and Saints misfortune continued when Mandron crashed the rebound back off virtually the same part of the goal frame.
  • VAR controversy again overshadowed the match shortly after, when Mandron’s attempted header across the box struck Theo Bair on the hand, but despite the Motherwell player having both arms outstretched, VAR concluded no offence was made.
  • Marcus Fraser eventually put Saints in the lead however, with his first goal since 2021, when he nodded home a Kiltie corner after 18 minutes.
  • Saints missed multiple chances to increase their lead, but were hit with a sucker-punch with 16 minutes to go when Theo Bair bundled home at the back post. Mandorn and then Kiltie spurned glorious opportunities to win the match for the away side, but the game finished 1-1.
  • Saints remain in 5th, 2 points behind Kilmarnock.

16/03/2024 (Kilmarnock A)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
16th March 2024
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock 5-2 St. Mirren

DUNNE 20
MANDRON 39
Vassell 61
Armstrong 65 (pen)
Watkins 68
Vassell 73
Watson 79

ATT: 8,460 (2,481 Saints fans)
Referee: R Hardie
VAR:

  • In what was a crucial pre-split match between 4th and 5th position in the league, Saints travelled to Kilmarnock determined to build on their 1 point lead over the Ayrshire side, backed by 2,500 fans who had made the trip.
  • Stephen Robinson makes several changes from the previous match, with in-form midfielder Kwon curiously missing out and replaced with skipper Mark O’Hara for his first start since December.
  • Injuries had denied both James Bolton and Elvis Bwomono a place in the squad, with Ryan Flynn and Charles Dunne surprisingly chosen over Brown and Taylor for rare starting places. Conor McMenamin was the final change, replacing Lewis Jamieson.
  • Despite these changes, Saints were utterly dominant in the first half, scoring twice and looking extremely comfortable as the home side struggled to cope the visitors, in particular from cross balls and set pieces, with the latter providing both goals, one for Dunne who netted his first goal for the club and a 10th of the season for Mikael Mandron.
  • Saints looked to have weathered any Kilmarnock onslaught in the opening period of the 2nd half, in fact Mandron missed the best chance of this period when he scuffed wide from 8 yards with the goal at this mercy, and this was to prove crucial as a short period of complacency followed which was ruthlessly punished by Kilmarnock.
  • Darius Vassell pulled one back for the home side after 61 minutes following some poor and indecisive defending, and within 18 minutes, Kilmarnock scored a further 4 times to win a match Saints seemed to have comfortably already won after an hour.
  • As well as being arguably the poorest 18 minutes ever played in the history of the club, this capitulation denied Saints a guaranteed top 6 place with 3 matches to spare, and dropped the side to 5th.

02/03/2024 (Aberdeen H)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
2nd March 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley

St. Mirren 2-1 Aberdeen

Barron 1
O’HARA (PEN) 90+6
OLUSANYA 90+7

ATT: 7,019
Referee: N Walsh
VAR:

  • An incredible end to the match witnesses Saints score twice in stoppage time to seal a vital 3 points that pushes the team back to 4th position.
  • Toyosi Olusnaya is once more the Saints hero and celebrates his new 1-year contract extension by winning a penalty which Mark O’Hara converts and then seals an unlikely win seconds later with a volley high into the net following a devastating counter attack.
  • This follows a period of 95 minutes, plus 2 minutes first half stoppage time, where Aberdeen had led following a remarkable opening minute 30-yard strike from Connor Barron.
  • Despite hitting the post and the crossbar as well as having 65% possession, Saints looked unlikely before this to counter this Dons goal as interim manager Neil Warnock looked for his first win at Pittodrie to ease their relegation woes.
  • The match is watched by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who enjoyed the newly opened James Dunlop suite in the main stand which is located where the 1877 trophy space was.

27/02/2024 (Ross County A)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
27th February 2024
Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall

Ross County 1-1 St. Mirren

White 11
OLUSANYA 86

ATT: 3.142
Referee: G Irvine
VAR: G Aitken

  • A frustrating night for Saints in Dingwall, as a late Toyosi Olusnaya goal salvages a point from a match Ross County posed little threat to throughout 90 minutes plus added time.
  • Alex Gogic has a rare off night, gifting Jordan White the opening goal on 11 minutes following a short pass back, in what would prove to be the home sides only meaningful shot on target.
  • Despite a lacklustre display from Saints, they dominate the match and are denied a stonewall penalty in the first half when the referee and VAR somehow miss a blatant handball by Ryan Leak. Saints would subsequently submit a notice of complaint to the SPFL and SFA over this.
  • The match is shown live by Sky Sports, not a big issue in modern football, however this is the first Saints away match in the league shown by the broadcaster since July 2011 at East End Park.
  • Toyosi Olusanya grabs a point for Saints when he outstrips the County defence to slot past Wickens with four minutes remaining. James Scott has an identical chance 60 seconds later but screws his shot wide.

17/02/2024 (Livingston A)

/ cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
3rd February 2024
The Tony Macaroni Stadium, Livingston

Livingston 1-0 St. Mirren

Yengi 45+3

ATT: 2,120
Referee: E Norris
VAR:

• Saints issues with scoring appears to reach a crisis point when they are beaten by bottom club Livingston, despite having 21 attempts at goal, including a missed penalty.
• The away side start very strongly, with Boyd-Munce finding space in the final third for attackers with ease, however Saints waste multiple chances and opportunities, with Scott missing the best in the opening minutes when his free header flashes wide.
• In first half injury time, Livingston hit Saints with the ultimate suckerpunch when Yengi fires high past Hemming who had failed to hold the initial effort from a corner, in what was the home sides first attack.
• The wayward finishing continues in the opening minute of the second half when substitute Lewis Jamieson finds himself one on one with Shamal George, however the keeper claws away the effort to round him, and Kiltie’s follow up is headed off the line by Obileye.
• Saints are awarded a penalty in the final quarter of the match after Olusanya is tripped inside the area, however Mandron’s penalty is terribly weak allowing George to easily save. Mandron’s luck doesn’t improve however, when he misses from less than a yard a few minutes later after a brilliant Jamieson cross.
• Charles Dunne misses the final chance deep inside injury time when he fires wide after a scramble, and frustrations boil over at full time when Stephen Robinson and a fan are involved in an argument leading to Alex Gogic escorting a clearly angry manager back to the dressing room. Saints remain 5th and this was Livingston’s first win in 18 league matches.