Saints Return to the Premiership with an Opening Day Win (2018)

(first published in the match programme for St. Mirren v Hibs, 4^th August 2024)

St. Mirren clinched the Scottish Championship at the end of season 2017/18, but then saw Manager Jack Ross depart to Sunderland and be replaced by former Hibs Boss Alan Stubbs. Saints then made heavy weather of qualifying from the League Cup group stages and, in between, suffered a 6-0 drubbing from Ross's new side Sunderland in a friendly. Therefore, the first League match, against Dundee on 4^th August 2018, saw the usual opening day optimism being tinged with a little trepidation.

The 2018/19 season programme cover adopted a Paisley Pattern motif and photos of one of the first team squad. The two League Cup matches and the friendly against Sunderland had seen reduced size 24-page programmes, but this rose to 48 pages for the first five Premiership fixtures. Four more pages of content were added in October to bring the total to 52 pages for the remainder of the season. The issue against Dundee featured Danny Mullen on the cover, and he would coincidentally be a central figure in that afternoon's match.

On page three, the newly appointed Boss reflected on the League Cup group matches and was in no doubt about the task that lay ahead, asking the fans to be patient and positive.

"Last Time Out" consisted of a double-page spread featuring photo action and a review of the previous week's 6-0 victory over Dumbarton. This was followed by a comprehensive look at the visitors from Tayside over four pages, with pen pictures, statistics and a potted history.

"A Decade of Football at Greenhill Road" reminisced about the evening in season 2009/10 when St. Mirren bounced back from an embarrassing League Cup Final defeat to demolish Celtic 4-0 at the new stadium just three days later.

Alexander 'Sandy' Wylie was the subject of a regular programme feature called "St. Mirren Greats". Sandy played for the Club from 1890 until illness forced him to retire in 1901. To this day, he remains one of Saints' top ten goalscorers with a total of 82 goals.

The centre page spread featured an action shot of Stephen McGinn, with career details and a player questionnaire and, with the season just kicking off, "Premiership Round up" provided an opportunity to run the rule over St. Mirren's opponents in the forthcoming campaign.

Alan Gallacher's ever-popular "Football Bloody Hell" piece looked back at the changes in management team and playing staff during the close season. He proposed that any predictions about the Club's finishing position be deferred until October, by which time it was thought the squad would have settled in. Who knew that another new manager would be in place by that time!

As ever, the remainder of the programme included Fans Corner, Marketing Matters, Kit Sponsorship, back page team lineups and adverts, all for a £3 price tag.

On a warm summer afternoon, Chairman Gordon Scott unfurled the Championship flag in front of a crowd of 5,470 that included a sizable visiting support. The game inexplicably kicked off before the scheduled 3pm time and started at a frantic pace, with the home side gaining two early corners and a free kick just outside the box, all of which proved fruitless.

It was no surprise when Saints took the lead after just eight minutes. Cammy Smith held off a couple of challenges outside the opposition penalty area before playing the ball out wide. Paul McGinn then flighted over an inviting cross for Danny Mullen to score with a firm header from six yards.

The lead lasted only four minutes, as Ngwatala pounced on a loose clearance some 18 yards out and hit a curling shot away from Craig Samson and into the net off the far post. For the remainder of the first half, both sides had good spells, but couldn't create any real chances.

Dundee came storming out of the traps in the second half and had the hosts struggling all over the park. After 57 minutes St Mirren's central defence misjudged a through ball, everyone leaving it to each other. Craig Samson raced from his goal but Mendy reached the ball first. He rounded Samson only for the goalie to trip him in the act of shooting. Referee Muir awarded the penalty and deemed that Samson's action was only worthy of a booking.

Moussa took the spot kick, but Samson redeemed himself by guessing correctly to push the ball round his left-hand post.

The penalty miss seemed to give St Mirren more hope and, with seven minutes remaining, they scored the winner under bizarre circumstances. Visiting goalie Hamilton's goal kick to Kerr was returned to him, but Ryan Flynn closed the 'keeper down. As Hamilton tried to evade the Saints substitute, he stumbled, leaving Flynn with the easy task of collecting the ball and squaring for Danny Mullen to net into an unguarded goal.