St Mirren demonstrated that there is life in post-Armageddon Scottish football by lifting the League Cup at Hampden against Hearts in a memorable final.
No silverware has been paraded through Paisley since the Frank McGarvey inspired Scottish Cup win of 1987 just as Scottish football opted into a dark period of spending way beyond it’s means.
It’ll be a long long time before any St Mirren player can match the pay-slips of Steve Archibald or Victor who moved to Love Street from La Liga.
The last 20 years have been tough for St Mirren with the debt build up from that period only really paid off when Love Street was sold in 2008 and a new 6,000 seater stadium built a mile away at Greenhill Road.
Transfer fees are almost a thing of the past but sharp scouting and selling on players like Stephen McGinn has kept the club on an even keel and presented a good footballing platform to players like Steven Thompson, Gary Teale and Jim Goodwin.
While some people, like Stewart Regan and Neil Doncaster’s world collapsed with the liquidation of Rangers, St Mirren have demonstrated what can be achieved by living within your means and refusing to push the club towards financial meltdown.
Every club in the SPL can realistically raise their expectations to reach Hampden once a season or hit the jackpot like Kilmarnock and St Mirren by lifting a trophy.
While the 15,000 Paisley fans at Hampden yesterday are unlikely to create a rush for season tickets the club has demonstrated it’s competitiveness and created a fantastic new memory for a generation of supporters who’d almost come to expect silverware to elude their club.
If more clubs can aspire to emulate St Mirren the Scottish game will have a sustainable model that supporters across the country can buy into and appreciate for it’s honesty.
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Congratulations to St.Mirren and D. Lennon who sets his team up to play a good passing game,great to see them get their rewards
Always good to see teams trying to play football the right way, Hearts too albeit forced upon them by lack of finances are giving youth every opportunity which in the long run is good for Scottish Football.
Last 6 trophies won in Scotland have been lifted by 6 different clubs..so much for lack of competition, just WHO needs a strong Rangers ?
Certainly not the ICT’s – Aberdeen’s – Dundee Utd’s, Motherwells, Hibs or Hearts etc who can all see more prize money, a good chance of a trophy & European football ahead of them.
Who needs a strong sevco! Rangers are deed bud
I’m in the mirren boqrd room right now and the trophy isn’t here in the cabinet. When I said they should install a bra cos its a diddy cup didn’t go down well I a room full of buddies.
Truth is tho there’s a good feeling around with all the staff and coaches and the St Mirren fans I work alongside.
Well done to them and its been refreshing seeing Paisley over the last few weeks with the whole town getting behind the team. Its refreshing seeing everyone rally round.
Still awaiting the cup so I can get pics of it In the cabinet next to the Barcelona cup et al
Well done to St Mirren
They would have been kicking themselves if they had failed to beat Hearts after beating us in the SF
Really good game to watch ESP the last 10 mins