St. Mirren Football Club

1877
St. Mirren FC. play their first match, beating Johnstone Britannia  1-0 at Shortroods on the 6th October with the following team:-
Adam, Fisher, Stewart, Goold, Reid, Shearer, Paterson, Galbraith, Muir, Graham, Drennan.
Goal scorer was Goold.
Local rivals were soon found in the shape of Abercorn who were founded in Paisley at the end of 1877.

1879
Move from Shortroods to Thistle Park, Greenhills.

1880
First Scottish Cup match, a 3-0 victory over Johnstone Athletic at Thistle Park on the 4th September

1881
Reach first cup final, losing 3-1 to Thornliebank in the Renfrewshire Cup.

1881-82
St. Mirren win their first silverware when local businessman T.C. Barlow offers a trophy for a match between Saints and Alexandria Athletic. Saints win comfortably 5-1.

1883
Renfrewshire Cup won for the first time beating Thornliebank 3-1.
Move from Thistle Park to Westmarch, beating the might Queens park 2-1 in the first match on 25/08/1883.

1884
Successful defence of Renfrewshire Cup but it took four matches to see off the Thornliebank challenge. The deciding match was played at Rangers Kinning Park and resulted in a 7-1 win after 1-1, 1-1 and 2-2 draws!

1885
The 3rd round of the Scottish Cup brings Saints first ever competitive meeting with Greenock Morton. Saints lose 3-4.

1887
Paisley Charity Cup won for first time when old rivals Thornliebank are defeated 5-1 at Westmarch.

1890
An intriguing match took place in March 1890, when Saints drew 1-1 with Morton at Cappielow. The amazing aspect of the match was that it was played at night with the ground illuminated using patent oil lamps! Who said floodlighting was a 2oth century invention!
St. Mirren become founder members of the Scottish league alongside Abercorn, Cambuslang, Celtic, Cowlairs, Dumbarton, Hearts, Rangers, Renton, Third Lanark and Vale of Leven, finishing eighth in the first year of competition. Their first official match ended in a 5-2 victory over Cowlairs at Westmarch on 30/08/1890.
James Dunlop and Andrew Brown become the first St.Mirren players to be capped by Scotland when they line up against Wales on 22/03/1890.

1892
In a New Years Day friendly against Abercorn, James Dunlop fell on a piece of glass injuring his knee. Infection set in and he died ten days later at the age of 22. A sad loss to St.Mirren and the game.

1893
Saints achieve their highest league position, finishing third behind Celtic and Rangers.

1894
Move to their present home at Love Street. In the first match on the 8th August Celtic win 3-0.

1897
Record defeat suffered at Ibrox, losing 0-9 to Rangers on the 4th December.

1898-99
St. Mirren participate in the  newly formed Western league alongside Abercorn, Ayr, Ayr Parkhouse, Morton, Port Glasgow and Linthouse. Saints win eight and draw four of their twelve games to win the title.

1899-1900
After a poor season, Saints finish level on points with St.Bernards in second bottom place. A play-off was arranged to see who would have to seek re-election to the league. At Den's park, Dundee on the 7th April 1900, two Wylie goals saw Saints earn a 2-1 win and secured their league status.

1900-01
Reach their first Scottish Cup semi final but lose 1-0 to Celtic.

1904-05
John McCartney appointed first manager to replace the previous committee set-up.

1907-08
Reach first Scottish Cup final losing 5-1 to Celtic.

1908-09
This was not a good year for St.Mirren Football Club, for 'off-field' reasons! Love Street was closed for two weeks and Saints were fined after a referee was pelted with ash and stones for disallowing a Saints 'goal' for off-side. In the same match William Key was sent off and subsequently suspended for a month for entering the crowd and striking a supporter who had been abusing him throughout the match!

1911-12
Saints finished in bottom place in  the league. Being that there was no automatic relegation and promotion clubs were able to seek re-election to the league, which Saints did successfully.

1913-14
For the second time in three seasons Saints finished bottom and had to seek re-election. Once again they were successful.

1916-17
St. Mirren field a junior team for the first time and win the Scottish Junior Cup defeating Renfrew Juniors 1-0 in the final replay after a 0-0 draw.

1917-18
In a match at Tynecastle, outside right, Higginbottom, entered the crowd and gave chase to a spectator who had been directing a torrent of abuse at him! There is no record of whether the spectator was caught! Due to the lack off players as a result of the war, no suspension was given to Higginbottom!

1918-19
Win the Victory Cup, played to celebrate the end of WW1, defeating Hearts 3-0 after extra time in the Hampden final. No cup had yet been made for this competition, so Saints were awarded a Victory Cup 'shield'. A cup was eventually made and now resides in the Love Street board room, alongside the shield! 

1919-20
The final of the Paisley Charity Cup sees Abercorn defeated 2-0. this was the last ever meeting between the sides as Abercorn went out of existence later that year.

1920-21
This may, arguably, be described as the worst season in the clubs history. They once again finished bottom of the single league set up in Scotland, winning just seven out of forty two matches!
On the plus side was the performance of the 2nd XI who won the Alliance (reserve) League and the signing of two players who would become legends at Love Street, Jock Bradford and Dunky Walker!

1921-22
Redevelopment of 'Greater Love Street' is completed with a new pavilion being built to provide facilities for the players.
Saints were invited to Spain to open Barcelona's new stadium at Les Cortes and beat Notts County 2-1 to win the Landome Cup. Dunky Walker scored both goals.
Dunky Walker creates a club scoring record scoring 45 league and 11 Scottish Cup goals.

1923-24
Saints play Beith in the first round of the Scottish Cup. They win 3-2! Best goal of the match was scored by the Beith centre forward, and Saints were so impressed by him that they signed him a few days later. He went on to become a legend! His name- Davie McCrae! Davie scored his first goal for the club in his third appearance, a 1-0 victory over Celtic at Parkhead on 12/04/1924. He would go on to score 221 league goals for St.Mirren and 351 in total to make him the clubs all-time top scorer.

1925-26
Gain revenge on Celtic by beating them 2-0 at Hampden to lift the Scottish Cup for the first time. McCrae and Howieson scoring the goals.

1926-27
Win the Second XI Cup.
Play a match at Ibrox on the 12th February 1927, a 4-0 defeat! This was the first match involving Saints to be broadcast live on the radio!

1930-31
Davie McCrae finishes the season as top scorer for the seventh consecutive season. A club record.

1932-33
St. Mirren were invited to participate in the South Western Counties Cup with Kilmarnock, Ayr  Utd. and Morton. After beating Kilmarnock 2-0 in the  semi final they demolished Ayr Utd. 7-1 in the final.

1933-34
Reach their third Scottish Cup final, losing 0-5 to Rangers.

1934-35
Relegated to Division Two for the first time in their history.

1935-36
Win promotion at the first time of asking finishing second in Division two scoring 114 goals in the league-a club record.

1942-43
Win the Summer Cup (The wartime equivalent of  the Scottish Cup), defeating Rangers 1-0 at Hampden. Alex Linwood scoring the winner.
Saints suffer their heaviest ever defeat at the hands of deadly rivals Morton! A humiliating 8-0 reverse at Cappielow in a Southern League match. This result is not often quoted as it was during 'war-time' regulations ! Much to the relief of Saints fans!

1945-46
Prolific striker Alex Linwood equals Davie McCrae's record of topping the scoring charts for seven consecutive seasons.

1949-50
Record home attendance on the 20th August 1949 sees 47,438 at a League Cup match against Celtic at Love Street. 
Davie Lapsley tops the scoring charts-from right back!  Eight of his nine strikes were penalties.

1952-53
Saints travel to the Republic of Ireland to play Drumcondra. The first ever floodlit match in Ireland.

1955-56
Reach first League Cup final, losing 1-2 to Aberdeen. Bobby Holmes scores for Saints.

1958-59
Revenge is gained when Aberdeen are defeated 3-1 in the Scottish Cup final.
First floodlit match at Love Street on Friday 13th February to see Peebles Rovers defeated 10-0 in the Scottish Cup. 
Win 2nd XI Cup.

1959-60
Record Highest victory, beating Glasgow University 15-0 at Love Street in the Scottish Cup  with Gerry Baker scoring TEN. The only player to score ten in one match in the 20th century in Scotland.

1961-62
Reach fifth Scottish Cup final. Rangers win 2-0.

1966-67
St. Mirren become the first club in Scotland to use an official substitute when Archie Gemmill replaced Jim Clunie in a League Cup match at Shawfield on the 13th August against Clyde.
Relegated to the second division.

1967-68
Under the guidance of Alex Wright, Saints win the second division title with a club record 62 points. Win 27 games also a record. Create a club record sixteen consecutive league victories. Undefeated in last 23 league matches.

1968-69
Continue undefeated in the first 11 league games making a club record 34 league matches undefeated.

1970-71
Relegated to division two.

1972-73
Travel to Ibrox to play rangers in a League Cup match on 23/08/1973. They fall behind to an early goal, but a stunning individual display from Ally McLeod earned them a terrific 4-1 victory! McLeod became the first  (and only) man to score four goals against Rangers in one match at Ibrox.

1973-74
Record lowest ever league position-finishing 11th in the second division - a lowly 29th in Scotland.

1974-75
Alex Ferguson is appointed manager.
Finish sixth in division two which gained promotion to division one following league re-construction.

1976-77
Win the First Division title, equalling the club record 62 points.

1979-80
Equal highest ever finish - third, behind Aberdeen and Celtic in the Premier League. Doug Somner is the Premier Leagues top scorer with 25 goals.
Saints become the first (and only) Scottish club to win the Anglo-Scottish Cup, defeating Bristol City 5-1 in the two legged final.

1980-81
Compete in European competition for the first time, winning their first match 2-1 against Elfsborg in Sweden.

1986-87
Win their third Scottish Cup beating Dundee Utd 1-0 at Hampden, after extra time. This is the last time the trophy has been won with an all-Scottish squad.
Travel to Singapore and win the Epson invitational tournament.

1987-88
Record transfer fee received-£850,000 from Rangers for Ian Ferguson.

1989-90
Record transfer fee paid out-£400,000 to Bayer Uerdigan (Germany) for Tomas Stickroth.

1990-91
Finish bottom of the Premier League. Saved from relegation by league re-construction.

1991-92
Relegated to Division One. First game results in a 0-7 defeat at Raith Rovers.

1993-94
Reach final of B+Q Cup, losing 0-3 to Falkirk.

1995-96
Reserve League West champions.

1997-98
Travel to Forthbank on the 2nd May to play Stirling Albion knowing defeat would mean relegation to second division and probable bankruptcy. Hugh Murray scores in a 1-0 victory.
Saints survive a takeover bid by rogue businessman Reg Brierley. Stewart Gilmour gains control and Tom Hendrie arrives as manager.

1999-2000
Win the First Division title after being second favourites for relegation.
Defeat Raith Rovers 6-0 on 14th August in Kirkcaldy to avenge the humiliation of 1992.
Record league Victory- 8-0 against Clydebank at Love Street.

2000-01
Relegated back to first division despite losing just one of the final seven matches.

2001-02
Saints failed to live up to the expectations of the press and their fans when, after being favourites for the title, they became involved in a relegation battle, only securing their survival in the final three matches.

2002-03
After another traumatic season in the clubs history, Saints again only secured first division survival in the final matches of the season. Manager Tom Hendrie had departed under a cloud midway through September to be replaced by John Coughlin, but this didn't produce any upturn in fortune.
Only highlight of the season was a League Challenge Cup semi final, unfortunately being lost 3-5 to Queen of the South!

2003-04

2004-05

After the previous three seasons, only the most optimistic of Saints fan would have predicted anything other than mid table safety as the best the team would achieve in 2004-05.

With some new players in place for the start of the season, Saints became a very hard team to beat. Defensively they were solid with old heads Kevin McGowne, And Millen and Mark Reilly guiding the young players through games with ease.

Throughout the season it was evident that Gus MacPherson had sorted the defence and midfield but he struggled to find the right blend up front. Over the two previous seasons Saints had shipped a total of 141 goals in 85 competitive matches, an average of 1.6 goals against a match. During 2004-2005 they lost just 32 in 42 matches for an average of 0.76 goals per match!

Many matches which ended in draws or narrow defeats could possibly have been converted into wins had Saints had a prolific goal scorer. MacPherson took steps to change this with the signing in December 2004 of hit man Stewart Kean from Ayr United. Kean repaid him with eight goals before the end of the season.

With a much improved all round performance, Saints finished the season in second place behind runaway winners Falkirk. In the Scottish Cup, Saints reached the quarter-final, for the first time since 1987, with wins over Hamilton Academical and Ayr United. They eventually lost 2-0 to Hibernian at Easter Road but they were far from disgraced and came out of the tie with much praise in the press for a courageous, battling performance and some attractive football. The footballing world was beginning to notice the changes in the club!

A late rally in the league saw them gain second spot at season end. Far better than anyone would have predicted and signs of hope for the future!

2005-06

At the beginning of the 2005-2006 season, manager Gus MacPherson made the bold decision to have a bit of a clear out of the first team squad. This saw the departure of many popular players including Ricky Gillies, John O’Neill, Laurie Ellis and Allan Russell to name but a few and many fans thought that he was leaving the squad very short on natural talent.
His close season signings of John Potter, Ian Maxwell and Mark Corcoran eased the fears slightly, but there still appeared to be a lack of depth and many fans were apprehensive at the beginning of the season. The Saints gaffer however had things under control and within the first few weeks of the season starting, he had added Billy Mehmet, John Sutton and Charlie Adam to give the squad a healthier look.
The team had no real superstars but had a blend of youth and experience that worked well and there was a new consistency in the pattern of the team.

A creditable display against SPL Motherwell in a close fought CIS Cup defeat and a superb victory over the same team in the Tennent's Scottish Cup showed that Saints had improved and were heading upwards.

The Bell's League Challenge Cup provided the first success of the season when wins over Forfar Athletic (1-0), Queen of the South (2-1), Stenhousemuir (3-2) and a penalty win over Morton at Love Street in the semi-final saw Saints through to their first national final since 1993. November 6th 2005 saw Gus MacPherson join an elite band of just eight men who have guided Saints to a national trophy as they defeated Hamilton Academical 2-1 in the final.
Continued consistency in the League saw Saints win the division with a ten point lead at the top of the table.

Gus MacPherson had led the team to two major trophies in one season for the first time in the history of the club, and became only the second manager in history to win two national trophies. The other manager was Saints longest serving manager, John Cochrane who led the team to the Victory Cup in 1919 and the Scottish Cup in 1926 during a 12 year Saints career.

Hugh Murray also became the first Saints player to claim three winners medals in national competition.

 After a season to remember for Saints fans they now look forward to pitting themselves against the best that the SPL has to offer.