Season 1890-91

The 1890’s saw Saints reach a higher profile within the national game, when, along with Paisley rivals Abercorn, they became founder members of the Scottish Football League.

On 23rd August 1890, the following 11 men lined up at Tontine Park, Renton to get Saints first league campaign underway.

Deans, Hunter, A. McBain, Prentice, Jones, E. McBain, Morrison,
McAulay, Douglas, Dunlop, McFarlane.

Dunlop and Douglas scored for Saints in a 2-2 draw.

However, Renton were later expelled from the league and their record was expunged, so Saints official first match was a 5-2 victory over Cowlairs at Westmarch the following Saturday.

The same 11 men are credited as the first official Saints league team.

Outside right James Morrison has the distinction of scoring Saints first ever league goal and he was to add a second later in the match. Centre forward John Douglas also grabbed a double and Prentice added the fifth.

This first season was a steep learning curve for Saints with a few heavy defeats at the hands of Rangers (2-8 +3-7) Dumbarton (1-5 + 2-4) and Vale of Leven (2-5).

Highest victory was the opening 5-2 win over Cowlairs. Best victory was a 1-0 win over Celtic at Westmarch. On a local level Saints and Abercorn shared the honours with one win apiece. There were several other high points in the season such as James Dunlop continuing to flourish,

Andrew Brown once again being capped by Scotland against Wales in March 1891 and fullback Richard Hunter beginning to catch the eyes of international selection committees.

At the end of this season Saints were in eighth place one behind rivals Abercorn.