Season 1960-61

The 1960’s kicked off at Tynecastle in the League Cup with former Aberdeen centre half Jim Clunie making his debut for Saints. Hearts were the previous season’s champions, but St.Mirren performed well to secure a 1-1 draw. A fortnight later goals from Tommy Gemmell and a Jim Rodger double earned a 3-1 win in the return at Love Street. Unfortunately those were the only two decent performances of the competition and they went out at the first round.

The league campaign started in equally poor fashion with just four wins from the first eighteen matches. This run was not helped by the sale of top scorer Gerry Baker to Manchester City during September. He was never replaced successfully and Saints failed to find an attacking option.

A minor revival after the New Year saw seven wins from ten games which avoided them being drawn into a relegation battle, but they couldn’t manage higher than 14th place at seasons end.

For the third year running it was the Scottish Cup that left the best memories for the fans with another high scoring match. After defeating Dundee United they faced Third Lanark at Love Street. The match ended 3-3 and a replay at Cathkin was played on the 28th February 1961. Saints lined up with:- Brown, Campbell, Wilson, Stewart, Clunie, Riddell, Rodger, Bryceland, Kerrigan, McTavish and Miller. After three close encounters earlier in the season no-one would have predicted what was to follow. Goals from Rodger (4), Bryceland (2), Kerrigan and Miller saw Saints coast into the next round 8-0! A 1-0 defeat of Hearts brought Dunfermline in the semi final and the run ended with a 1-0 replay defeat.