An independent fan view of everything St Mirren Football Club. From, blogs, articles, stats and research dating back to 1877 right up to and including the current season; including a full history of the St Mirren shirt and kit, our greatest team, top goalscorers, penalty takers, transfer fees, and managers. we have it all covered. Additionally, we look at the other football clubs of Paisley, such as Abercorn and Dykebar FC as well as the historical ranking of every club in Scottish football.
Saints leave Sweden with a credible 3-3 draw, but have massive questions regarding the Czech referee who disallows 2 perfectly good Saints goals and gives the Swedes a highly debatable and controversial penalty.
The away side are dominant throughout the first half, but go in at halftime baffled to be 2-1 down after goals from Speirs and McGarvey are inexplicably disallowed before Lundin opens the scoring for the Swedes with their first attack on the half hour.
Brian Gallacher finally equalises for the strongly fancied visitors 5 minutes before the break, but the Swedes regain the lead from the penalty spot after the linesman had flagged an attacker offside but the referee ignored it, and then gave a penalty after the play continued and Clarke was penalised.
Despite continuing to dominate in the second half, Saints find themselves 3-1 down after 65 minutes, when the incredible defending of the previous round was nowhere to be seen as Tommy Wilson gifts Andersson a third.
However, Brian Gallacher came to Saints rescue with 2 goals in the last 10 minutes, completing the first ever hat-trick from a St. Mirren player in Europe in the process, and put Saints in an extremely strong position in the overall tie.
Saints now needed any win or a draw under 3-3 to progress to the third round of the UEFA Cup (Last 16) for the first time.
TEAM LINEUPS
HAMMARBY
NO
ST. MIRREN
SKALLEBENG Roger
1
MONEY Campbell
GRANQVIST Kjell
2
WILSON Tommy
VAATTOVAARA Sulo
3
HAMILTON Derek
DENNERBY Thomas 56
4
ROONEY Jim
JOHANSSON Klas
5
COOPER Neil
TURESSON Tomas
6
CLARKE Steve
RAMBERG Sten-Ove
7
FITZPATRICK Tony
ANDERSSON Michael
8
McDOWALL Kenny 74
WAHLBERG Mats 15
9
McGARVEY Frank
LUNDIN Thomas
10
GALLAGHER Brian
ERIKKSON Ulf
11
SPEIRS Gardner
HOLMBERG Per 15
12
MACKIE Peter 74
UHLBOCK Peter 56
13
ABERCROMBY Billy
ERIKKSON Lasse
14
CAMERON Ian
VONDERBURG Jean-Paul
15
JARVIE Drew
–
16
STEWART Jim (GOALKPR)
THE MATCH
THE TRIP
Stadium: Söderstadion, Stockholm, Sweden 1985 Capacity: 20,000 Record Attendance: 22,000 (1982) 1983 Metropolitan City Population: 1,012,000 Distance From Paisley (air): 864 miles – 2.5 hour flight Distance From Paisley (road): 1,554 miles – 28 hours drive Times Played at Stadium: 1 (1 draw)
THE STADIUM
HIGHLIGHTS
Match Poster – Click on Image to purchase
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UEFA CUP 1st Round, 2nd Leg 2nd October 1985 St. Mirren Park, Paisley
St. Mirren 3-0 Slavia Prague (AET)
GALLACHER 41 MCGARVEY 100 MCGARVEY 108
ATT: 11,768
Referee: Rolf Haugen (Norway)
Saints produce (to date) their greatest European performance and victory as the Czech giants are eventually blown away by the guile and class of Frank McGarvey, who nets a brilliant Extra Time double to stun the Prague side.
Brian Gallacher opens the scoring late in the first half, with a fortuitous effort that seems to develop from a clearance that rebounds off him and into the net. This is Saints first ever European goal scored in Paisley at the fourth attempt, and additionally the first in any Euro tie for 6 matches.
The driving rain on a gloomy Paisley night does little to quieten the European record crowd inside Love Street however, but a tense second half elapses before McGarvey lights up extra time, firstly 10 minutes into the added period with a speculative shot that deflects home to give Saints the outright lead for the first time in 190 minutes over the 2 legs.
Knowing a goal from the Prague side would knock Saints out on the away goal rule, the second period of Extra Time threatened to be much more nervy, however the home side play it out comfortably after McGarvey adds to his own tally almost immediately after the restart with a goal of outrageous quality, as he flicks a Kenny McDowall cross home with his heel to complete a remarkable result.
Due to a UK wide TV blackout, no TV cameras are permitted at the ground to record this match, however some months later, grainy amateur footage was discovered capturing the occasion.
The only negative from a magnificent night was an injury to fans favourite Ian Scanlon, and this would in fact end the wingers career.
Saints would draw part-time Swedish outfit Hammarby in the next round.
TEAM LINEUPS
ST. MIRREN
NO
SLAVIA PRAGUE
MONEY Campbell
1
HRUSKA Zdenek
WILSON Tommy
2
SOKOL Roman
HAMILTON Derek
3
KUBIK Lubos
ROONEY Jim
4
TAKAC Mirian 70
GODFREY Peter
5
JESLINEK Jiri
CLARKE Steve 74
6
JAROLIM Karel
FITZPATRICK Tony
7
NEMEC Jaroslav
COOPER Neil
8
DOLEZAL Jiri
McGARVEY Frank
9
FRYDA Milan
GALLAGHER Brian
10
JANU Miroslav
SPEIRS Gardner
11
VIGER Bohas 56
SCANLON Ian 74 82
12
REHAK Pavel 56
McDOWALL Kenny 82
13
KOURIL Miroslav 70
MACKIE Peter
14
ZAMAZAL Jiri
ABERCROMBY Billy
15
BERANEK Miroslav
STEWART Jim
16
VESELY Milan
THE MATCH
“You never know”, might be the motto of provincial Scottish Football. The pub wisdom of the supporters of the less successful teams has always been; “The opposition only have 11 men on the park, the same as we have”.
Unexpected things can happen, and they often do. When St. Mirren started to score against Slavia Prague, they were breaching more than a defence, they were puncturing an assumption; one of the most famous European capitals wasn’t necessarily superior to a grey west of Scotland town.
As the realisation grew of what was happening, Paisley became for a night, one of the footballing capitals of Europe. St. Mirren were not only scoring a victory, they were fulfilling for their fans the dream of every smaller clubs supporters; if it can come true for them, why not for us?
That dream of an identity expressed on the football park, is the first key to the importance club football has had in Scotland.
William McIlvaney, 1986.
HIGHLIGHTS
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UEFA CUP 1st Round, 1st Leg 28th September 1983 Stadion Feyenoord De Kuip, Rotterdam
Feyenoord 2-0 St. Mirren
Van Til 58 Zhelyaskov 76 Van De Korput 78 MCDOUGALL 78
ATT: 18,286
Referee: Augusto Marques Pires (Portugal)
Despite putting up another sterling fight, injury plagued Saints could not progress to the 2nd round and fell to a second half double from the ecstatic Dutch giants.
Approaching the hour mark, Wim Van Til finally breaks Saints resistance by hitting a stunning volley past Thomson from outside the 18 yard box vortex on Saints left side, with the ball swerving and dipping into the opposite corner.
Substitute Andrey Zhelyaskov settles the match with 14 minutes remaining, the Bulgarian international forcing in a scrappy goal from inside the penalty box.
Frank McDougall is sent off almost immediately when play restarts, after he clashes with Dutch defender Michel Van Der Korput off the ball, who is also sent packing. The straight red card is added to his yellow card, and McDougall receives a 4 match European ban.
Frank McAvennie is booked in the last minute after he rounded the Dutch keeper but was brought down before he had the chance to knock the ball into the empty net. Incredibly, the Portugese referee waved played on and booked a furious McAvennie for dissent.
Feyenoord are knocked out by Spurs in the next round, who would go onto win the trophy.
Saints manager Ricky McFarlane resigns the following day.
TEAM LINEUPS
FEYENOORD
NO
ST. MIRREN
HIELE Juup
1
THOMSON Billy
DUUT Henk 54
2
WALKER David
VAN DER KORPUT Michel
3
CLARKE Steve
NIELSEN Ivan
4
McCORMACK John
WIJNSTEKERS Ben
5
McAVEETY Phil
HOEKSTRA Andre
6
FULTON Mark
VERMEULEN Pierre
7
SCANLON Ian
GUILLIT Ruud
8
McAVENNIE Frank
VAN TIL Wim
9
McDOUGALL Frank
CRUYFF Johan
10
ABERCROMBY Billy
HOUTMAN Peter
11
SPEIRS Gardner 59
ZHELYASKOV Andrey 54
12
McEACHRAN John 59
BEEN Mario
13
CAMERON Ian
BRARD Stanley
14
DOCHERTY Robert
STAFLEU Andre
15
ALEXANDER Rowan
BRUNINGS Peter
16
MONEY Campbell
THE MATCH
THE TRIP
Stadium: Stadion Feyenoord De Kuip, Rotterdam 1983 Capacity: 57,000 Record Attendance: 65,427 (1968) 1983 Metropolitan City Population: 922,000 Distance From Paisley (air): 452 miles – 1.2 hour flight Distance From Paisley (road): 699 miles – 13 hours drive Times Played at Stadium: 1 (1 loss)
THE STADIUM
HIGHLIGHTS
Match Poster – Click on Image to purchase
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UEFA CUP 1st Round, 1st Leg 14th September 1983 St. Mirren Park, Paisley
St. Mirren 0-1 Feyenoord
Guillit 29
ATT: 10,211
Referee: Svein-Inge Thime (Norway)
After a 3 year exodus from Europe, Saints are handed an extremely tough return to the UEFA Cup after being drawn against Dutch giants Feyenoord, who were on course to win the double in the Netherlands with only 2 defeats all season.
Similar to Saints last opponents in Europe back in 1980, St Etienne, the Dutch side is packed with international players and genuine superstars. The starting XI at Love Street contains 9 current internationalists and one future internationalist, including one of the greatest players to ever play the game, Johan Cruyff, and one of the best players of the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Ruud Guillit, who would set up the only goal of the match when his cross was deflected past Thomson.
Saints on the other hand had Scotland international keeper Billy Thomson and future international players Stevie Clarke and Frank McAvennie in the starting XI, but the squad was very young in general compared to 1980, and manager Ricky McFarlane surprised everyone by including Phil McAveety and Rowan Alexander from the start.
Despite what looked on paper a massive gulf between the sides, Saints created and missed a number of good opportunities as they went toe to toe with the Dutch side, and had it not been for a number of good saves from Juup Hiele, would have taken a positive result into the second leg.
The match is won on the half hour mark when Guillit beats McAveety and his cross is turned past Billy Thomson by an outstretched Mark Fulton.
UEFA CUP 2nd Round, 2nd Leg 5th November 1980 Stade Geoffrey-Guichard, St. Etienne, France
St. Etienne 2-0 St. Mirren
Larios13 Larios 60
ATT: 17,870
Referee: M da Silva (Portugal)
Saints find the task of overcoming the French side too great, however, put on an impressive performance in the chilly eastern city, where it intermittently snows throughout the evening.
The French side make an early breakthrough when Larios fires past Thomson from the edge of the box after 13 minutes, following a break down Saints right hand side.
Frank McDougall then has Saints best chance after 20 minutes when he is put clear by Billy Abercromby, but the Scottish record signing delays the shot and French international full back Patrick Battiston eventually blocks his effort.
Doug Somner is then convinced Saints should have a penalty later in the first half when he is shoved to the floor when McCormack crosses towards him on the half hour, however the Portuguese referee waves play on.
The French seal the match on the hour mark, when Platini plays a short free kick to Larios who hits a long range shot that is deflected massively beyond Thomson.
The French side would eventually be knocked out in the Quarter Finals by Borussia Monchengladbach, who would go onto win the tournament.
TEAM LINEUPS
ST. ETIENNE
NO
ST. MIRREN
CASTENADA Jean
1
THOMSON Billy
LOPEZ Christian
2
YOUNG John
GARDON Bernard
3
BECKETT Alex
BATTISTON Patrick
4
COPLAND Jackie
JANVION Gerard
5
DUNLOP Andy 61
ELIE Jean-Marie
6
WEIR Peter
LARIOS Jean-Francois
7
STARK Billy
PLATINI Michel
8
McDOUGALL Frank
ROUSSEY Laurent
9
SOMNER Doug
ZIMAKO Jacques
10
McCORMACK John
REP Johnny
11
ABERCROMBY Billy
ZIMAKO Jacques
12
RICHARDSON Lex 61
CURKOVIC Yvan (GK)
13
LOGAN Alan
ELIE Jean-Marie
14
CURRAN Jeff
LESTAGE Patrice
15
WALKER David
PAGANELLI Laurent
16
MONEY Campbell (GK)
THE MATCH
THE TRIP
Stadium: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, St. Etienne, France 1980 Capacity: 47,000 Record Attendance: 47,000 (1985) 1980 Metropolitan City Population: 412,000 Distance From Paisley (air): 814miles – 2.2 hour flight Distance From Paisley (road): 1,017 miles – 18 hours drive Times Played at Stadium: 1 (1 loss)
THE STADIUM
HIGHLIGHTS
Match Poster – Click on Image to purchase
All donations and purchases are used towards the research or cost of running the website.
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.
Lundin 32
56
15
Van De Korput 78
