St. Mirren Dent the Dons' Championship Hopes (1946)

(first published in the match programme for St. Mirren v Rangers, 24^th August 2025)

After a transitional season immediately following the Second World War, League and Cup competitions were reinstated for season 1946/47 along with the new League Cup tournament and St. Mirren welcomed Aberdeen to Love Street for their first "official" competitive League meeting in nearly eight years on 24^th August 1946.

Saints had made a poor start to the new season, having lost three out of the first four fixtures, their only success coming in a 4-1 away win at Hamilton. Meanwhile, Aberdeen had started with three wins, including a 6-2 home victory over Celtic. The Dons' draw at Motherwell during midweek had dropped them to third place behind Hibernian and Partick Thistle who still had maximum points.

Aberdeen's visit to Paisley saw the publication of issue number 12 of the St. Mirren programme which had been introduced during the previous season, the numbering sequence having been retained for the new term. It was a simple, eight-page issue, printed black on white matt paper and measured 23cm by 15cm. It was printed by Edward Gribben of Bank Street Paisley and was priced at twopence.

The front cover displayed the Club name and officials above the match details and the team line-ups in the 2-3-5 formation. Willie Telfer appeared at right back for Saints instead of Sammy Smith as printed and, aside from positional changes, Aberdeen's only change was the fielding of Willie Hume in place of centre-half Willie Waddell. Below the teams was an advert for the local Kelburne Cinema, one which took that position in the programme for many issues.

"Items of Interest" occupied the top halves of pages two and seven. A welcome was extended to Aberdeen and it was noted that they were always well supported at matches in Paisley.

It was anticipated that the Dons would want to avoid a repeat of the 4-1 defeat they suffered on a miserable, dull winter's day in Paisley during the previous season. That game was a Southern League fixture in which the first goal was scored by trialist Alexander Walker, who signed for St. Mirren after the game and then returned to his unit in Greece. After being demobbed from the Forces in the summer, he had returned and, although currently injured, he was the only one of that day's goalscorers to remain at the Club.

The previous week's victory against Hamilton was deemed to have been a personal success for Archie Aikman who had scored all four goals, but notable mentions included Malcolm McLaren's shrewd passing, Alex Crowe's work rate and the running and crossing of Johnny Deakin and John Telford which had contributed to the centre-forward's success.

The "items" concluded with thanks to the encouraging support for the side at Hamilton and welcome news of the re-signing of Jimmy Stenhouse, with the hope that his return would bring a better balance to the team. Aside from the centre-page half-time score board, the remainder of the programme consisted of adverts.

This programme is very difficult to obtain nowadays, with prices not only dictated by its age, but also by the increasing demand by programme collectors of both Clubs.

Before a crowd of 13,000, Aikman put Saints ahead after just 30 seconds when he latched on to a Deakin pass, took advantage of a slip by Dons' defender George Taylor, and sent the ball beyond the reach of George Johnstone in the Aberdeen goal. The visitors responded, and Alf Williams' clever footwork helped him to elude Willie Telfer and send in a cross for Archie Baird to head home an equaliser after 23 minutes.

The Pittodrie men enjoyed more possession and continually made ground with neat, short, accurate passing. However, with regular centre-forward George Hamilton missing from the side, they were devoid of ideas in the final third and tried unsuccessfully to walk the ball into the net, rather that shoot.

Saints retook the lead nine minutes from the interval when Frank Dunlop failed to clear a Jimmy Drinkwater free kick and Deakin capitalised. Five minutes later it became 3-1 when Aikman sent Crowe free on the right, the Aberdeen defence hesitated waiting for offside, and the winger netted with ease.

The visitors rearranged their team at the interval but it made no material difference. Within three minutes of the start of the second period, Deakin chased an up-the-middle pass from Aikman, held off a challenge from Tony Harris and slotted home Saints' fourth goal.

In 73 minutes, Aberdeen gained their only consolation of the second half when Crowe downed Alex Kiddie in the box and Baird netted the resultant spot-kick.

The 4-2 victory was St. Mirren's first home win of the season and ended Aberdeen's unbeaten record.