Season 1965-66

Doug Millward’s first match in charge was a 2-0 defeat against Northampton in the final of the Paisley Charity Cup, a result compounded by an injury to Archie Gemmill which was to keep him out of action for three months. In there search for success St.Mirren turned to South America and a Brazilian named Fernando Azevedo was paraded at the interval during the Charity Cup match and put on a great display of keepy-uppy skills. However when he made his debut against Morton at Cappielow in a league cup match, he was very disappointing and was soon on his way home.

The full League Cup campaign was poor and an early exit was again on the cards.

The League campaign began with Bobby Adamson scoring twice in a 3-2 win over Falkirk, But eight defeats followed in nine matches and the tone for the rest of the season was set. A relegation battle ensued.

One point from five games during March and April left Saints needing two points from the final match to avoid the drop. They couldn’t manage to gain them and a 1-1 draw left them hanging on in the hope that Morton would lose to Celtic. Fortunately they did and Saints were saved again.