European Football

St. Mirren first competed in European competition in season 1980-81 having qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing third in the previous season's Premier League.

 
First opponents were IF Elfsborg of Sweden. Saints opened up their European account with a 2-1 victory. 
Doug Somner has the honour of claiming Saints first ever European goal. 

Saints have competed on a further three occasions and provided some memorable nights for the supporters. 
Their first three competing seasons, 1980-1, 1983-4 and 1985-6 were in the UEFA Cup, entry gained by finishing high in the Premier Division. 

Season 1987-88 saw Saints enter the Cup Winners Cup competition for the first time courtesy of them winning the Scottish Cup the previous season.

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Following a fifth-place finish in the Premiership in 2023-24, Saints qualified for the Second Round of qualification for the UEFA Conference League, the third-tier European club competition with fixtures taking place in the summer of 2024. Following a goalless draw in the away tie to Valur of Iceland, Saints romped to a 4-1 victory in the home tie and progressed to the next round where we were drawn against SK Brann of Norway. An injury-time equaliser from Toyosi Olusanya in the home tie set up a decisive tie away in Bergen the following week. 

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In the return leg, Saints fell behind after just five minutes following some neat play by the Norwegians which lead to a goal for defender Joachim Soltvedt. Despite some nervy moments, Saints settled in and produced a few good opportunities to get back into the game. A perfectly placed corner fifteen minutes from time from Fraser Taylor found Alex Iacovitti in space and he rifled the header home sending the 750 away supporters into a frenzy. In the aftermath, the Brann players looked rattled and Saints had opportunities to add a second with an edge-of-the-box drive from Oisin Smyth instinctively saved by the Brann keeper, and Toyosi Olusanya slipping in the heavy rain and failing to make contact with an inviting cross into the six-yard box from Mandron. However, five minutes from time, Brann were given a free kick which was whipped in and headered into the net by Felix Myhre, and following a lengthy VAR check for offside, stood. Three minutes later, following a tangle between two Saints players, Brann pressed from a well-worked counter attack which was finished from a tight angle by Aune Heggebø.

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Saints had fought valiantly, but ultimately lost on the night 3-1 and were out of the competition.