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.
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