The Paisley Saints take on the Saints from France (1980)

(first published in the match programme for St. Mirren v SK Brann, 8^th August 2024)

As a reward for overcoming Swedish side IF Elfsborg by an aggregate score of 2-1 in their first-ever European tie for the 1980/81 UEFA Cup, St. Mirren were drawn against French giants St. Etienne in the Second Round.

It was a measure of the task ahead of the Buddies that only four years previously, "Les Vertes" had been runners-up in the European Cup Final to Bayern Munich at Hampden Park, having defeated Rangers on the way. They boasted the services of Dutch international Johnny Rep, who had sealed Scotland's fate in the Argentina World Cup of 1978 along with no fewer than six of the French squad who would reach the World Cup semi-final in 1982.

After a goalless First Leg in Paisley, the sides met at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in St. Etienne on 5^th November 1980.

The match programme, "ASSE Actualites" (A.S. St. Etienne News) was a sixteen-page issue measuring 21cm by 27.5cm and priced at 1Fr (roughly 10 pence). It was printed black on white matt paper with green headings and spot colour throughout. The only full colour appeared in the front cover photo of the St. Mirren team group, and on a television advert on the back page. The text was entirely in French, with no hint of an English welcome to the visitors.

Andre Buffard's Editorial on page three reported a French spy mission which had gone to watch St. Mirren take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie just before the First Leg match and also recalled the visit of the French side to Glasgow in the European Cup four years earlier.

Two pages discussed the Scottish representatives in European competition that season, noting that Aberdeen, Dundee United and St. Mirren were seriously contesting the superiority of the Old Firm. This was borne out with goalscoring tables from the previous season.

A double page spread displayed photo action from the first leg in Paisley and this was followed by a detailed look at the Saints players and Club history.

Focus then turned to an interesting piece on Paisley and its history, complete with photos of various parts of the town including the Town Hall and Museum.

The team lineups and Match Officials completed the programme, roughly six pages of which was occupied by adverts.

This issue can still be found from time to time, although it may command a £10 - £20 price tag.

A near 18,000 crowd attended on a bitterly cold, still evening, with snow lying around parts of the ground. Many of the French players wore gloves, whilst all of the Saints outfield players were in short sleeves. St. Mirren kicked off and both sides sized each other up in the early exchanges, but Saints' goalkeeper Billy Thomson saw more of the ball without being overly troubled.

The French side went on the attack in the 14^th minute through Jacques Zimako, who was brought down just inside the Saints half. The quickly-taken free kick found its way out to Johnny Rep on the left wing. The Dutchman's attempted centre was blocked, but the ball dropped and rolled just outside of the penalty area to be met by the onrushing Jean-Francois Larios and he buried it into Billy Thomson's right-hand corner.

Saints best chance came midway through the first half when Billy Abercromby's surging run and pass presented Frank McDougall with an opportunity inside the home penalty box, but the striker wanted too much time and his attempt was blocked by Patrick Battiston at the expense of a corner. Soon after, the visitors had a good shout for a penalty when Doug Somner was floored by Bernard Gardon in attempting to meet a John McCormack cross, but the Portuguese referee waved play on.

St. Mirren held their own into the second half without creating too many chances, but the tie was settled in the 57^th minute. Rep won a hotly-disputed free kick twenty-five yards out from the centre of the goal. The ball was touched to the right for Larios and his shot took a wicked deflection off the Saints wall to deceive Thomson and end up in the left corner of the net.

Lex Richardson immediately replaced Andy Dunlop in an attempt to recover the tie but, from that point on, play was punctuated by a series of fouls and free kicks. Both Gardon and Somner were cautioned by the referee, adding to Abercromby's first half booking for kicking the ball away.

Thus St. Mirren's first European foray came to an end that evening, to be resumed in the same competition three years later.