Double Digits at Dens (1959)

(first published in the match programme for St. Mirren v Motherwell, 21^st February 2026)

February 1959 was a busy month for St. Mirren with no less than six fixtures scheduled for the shortest month of the year, two of them in what would ultimately be a successful Scottish Cup run.

The first three matches were all played at Love Street. After the opening match, a defeat to Rangers on 7^th February, Saints then went on to score ten goals without reply against Peebles Rovers in the Scottish Cup First Round on the 13^th and then another six in a 6-2 League victory over Dunfermline Athletic five days later. No pressure then, when the Buddies travelled up to Dundee's Dens Park on 21^st February.

Dundee's match programme had been relatively unchanged since its inception in season 1946/47. It was an eight-page, A5-sized issue printed blue on off white semi-gloss paper throughout. The cover featured a matchday photo of the famous angled Main Stand, topped by a list of the Dundee officials. The match details and an advert for D. M Meldrum, equipment suppliers to Dundee F.C. completed the page.

Early issues of the programme featured an issue number and the threepenny price tag at the top of the front cover, but these were both omitted after 1955 and the price tag was not re-instated until season 1967/68.

The Editorial, entitled "Back Home Again", extended throughout the whole programme and reflected on a recent disastrous period for the Club. Dundee had lost their last six matches, five of which had been played away from home, and included an embarrassing elimination from the Scottish Cup by Highland League club Fraserburgh. Four of the matches had been lost by a single goal, and so the finger was pointed at the forwards not taking their chances.

On the plus side, the Dens Park side had been able to introduce youth to their side, with Andy Penman (later of Rangers) becoming the youngest ever debutant for the Club in the previous week's match at Tynecastle.

Mention was made of the Buddies as formidable opponents with a mix of youth and experience and it was difficult to understand why they had found points gathering so difficult.

As usual for programmes of this era, the centre pages were dominated by adverts surrounding the team line ups and both sides took the field as listed. The only other reading matter was the Half-Time Score Board on page six, the remainder of the issue being occupied by adverts.

Dundee issues from this period are fairly commonplace, although this particular one may be more difficult to find.

The match proved to be a masterclass by Saints' Gerry Baker. He put St. Mirren ahead after just eight minutes when he latched on to a pass by Tommy Gemmell and took advantage of a sleepy Dundee defence to beat Bill Brown from 12 yards. Eight minutes later, Tommy Bryceland passed through to Baker, who held off Alex Hamilton's challenge before netting in off the foot of the post.

Dundee pulled a goal back in the 18^th minute when Penman's cross was only partly cleared by Jackie Neilson and Jimmy Bonthrone capitalised. However, Baker completed his hattrick after 26 minutes, beating three home defenders before restoring St. Mirren's two-goal lead.

Matters were made worse for the home side in the 38^th minute when Don Kerrigan's dangerous cross was met by Dens' defender Doug Cowie - and the ball landed in his own net!

Four minutes after the restart, Baker again eluded a wandering home defence to net his fourth, and Saints' fifth, goal. However, Dundee weren't finished and, after Penman was fouled in the box by "Cockles" Wilson, Cowie made amends for his first half blunder by reducing the leeway from the spot after 58 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Bryceland netted St. Mirren's sixth goal but, almost immediately Bonthrone pulled another back for Dundee. Bert Henderson made the home tally four with nine minutes remaining, but that was the end of the scoring and Saints prevailed 6-4.

To round off the month, St. Mirren played two home matches against Motherwell in the space of five days. On the 23^rd, they won 4-1 in a rearranged League fixture and on the following Saturday they dumped the Fir Parkers out of the Cup with a 3-2 win.