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Ludo joined Saints in 1998 from French club La Berrichome
de Chatearoux. He came to the club highly recommended
having represented France at U-15, 16, 17 and 18 levels. He was also involved in the French squad who won the
European youth Championships in 1997. Having played in every round up to the
final, he was injured and missed the final (a 1-0 win over Spain) but still
gained a winners medal for the competition. It was on the 19th December 1998 that Tom Hendrie handed
him his first start for Saints first team. The match ended in a 3-0 defeat for
saints, but Ludo had proved himself capable enough to get a run in the team. His
next two matches produced shut-outs and this earned him the number one position
for the rest of the season. He made 19 starts during that first season
registering 6 shutouts. He was fast earning the reputation as a great shot stopper
and was firmly established as Saints number one keeper for the start of what
must be one of the greatest seasons in the clubs history, 1999-2000. Ludo performed heroics throughout the season as Saints
swept the first division aside and in the match against Raith Rovers on the 29th
April 2000 he made a couple of big saves in the first half to maintain the score
at 0-0, allowing Saints to register three without reply in the second half to
clinch the championship. An internet poll of Scottish goalkeepers that season
saw Ludovic Roy crowned as number one! 2000/01 saw Saints in the Premier League and Ludo was one
of the few high points in a disappointing season which saw them relegated. In 2001/02 Saints were expected to be challenging at the
top of the league, however, they struggled badly and were soon in a relegation
battle. Ludo was again a hero for Saints with many fine saves. As
the season deteriorated, the Saints board had to try and offload some of the
wage bill and Ludo, being one of the few marketable players found himself loaned
out to SPL St.Johnstone during January 2002. Unfortunately after playing in
three matches for the Perth Saints he broke a hand in training and was out for
the rest of the season. His performances for the Paisley Saints during the first
half of the season had been so impressive that, even missing the last four
months, he still won the Paisley Daily Express star Saint award for the year! 2002/03 saw him back at Love Street and again in fine form as Saints flirted with relegation for a second season. Many times Ludo produced the saves that saved Saints from defeats. This was to be his last season in Paisley and he was to bow out of his Love Street career in the best way a keeper can. On the 5th April 2003, Saints played against fellow relegation candidates Arbroath. With the score 1-0 in Saints favour and barely two minutes left, Arbroath were awarded a penalty! Former Saint Andy Dow stepped up and struck the kick well, but Ludo dived to his left post and parried the ball, before getting up again to turn the rebound past the post! The final whistle sounded seconds later. Saints win had virtually secured their first division status. This was the first penalty save of Ludo’s career. He picked a great time to pull it off! This was his last game for saints and at the end of the season he left for Ayr United. | ||||||||||||||||
