Scott Dickson
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- Joined
- May 23, 2011
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I apologise to those who were following my previous FM15 story. My previous attempt at this story suffered from a corrupt file and as a result I have had to start again. Thankfully I was not that far into my story so should be able to get to the point I was at fairly quickly. Anyway, after finding my joy for the game again, I decided to start a story with my favourite club. St Mirren Football Club are one of the oldest clubs in Scotland.
Background
Formed in 1877, the Paisley outfit are known for playing in black and white stripes - and being the only Football Club in history to sack Sir Alex Ferguson as their manager.
Nicknamed the "Buddies" and unofficially the "Saints", the club have been plying their trade in Scotland's top flight since 2006. The club have won the Scottish Cup on three occasions - 1926, 1959 and 1987, but have never won the Scottish Premiership - their highest record position is 3rd place.
St Mirren are a club steeped in rich history. In 1922, the club won the Barcelona Cup and became the first British team to bring a cup back from mainland Europe. On the 13th August 1966, Archie Gemmill became the first tactical substitute in Scottish football, when he replaced Jim Clunie. In 2001. Ronaldinho signed for French Club Paris Saint Germain, and considered spending 6 months on loan at St Mirren while awaiting a permit. However a fake passport scandal in Brazil put an end to that.
Stadium History
Initially a cricket club, St Mirren played their first ever game at Shortroods, defeating Johnstone Britannia 1-0 - where John Goold scored the clubs first ever goal. In 1879 the Paisley club moved to Abingdon Park, however spend just a single season here before moving to Thistle Park in 1879. This ground was the home of the clubs first ever National competitive game, where they put 3 past Johnstone Athletic in a 3-0 victory. Westmarch became the Buddies 4th home. The final 2 games ever played in this ground produced 23 goals. Dundee left on the back of a 10-3 defeat in 1894, and a few weeks later Abercorn suffered a 10-0 loss in the Paisley Charity Cup Final. 1894 saw St Mirren move to the much loved St Mirren Park A.K.A Love Street. This is the stadium which I grew up with, and is deeply en-grained in the heart of every Saints fan. In 2009, the final game was played in this ground, with an emotional 0-0 draw to SPL club Motherwell - 115 years of Love Street history came to an end.
1km away lay the Saints new Stadium - St Mirren Park or Greenhill Road. This site was minutes away from the clubs previous grounds of Thistle Park and Westmarch. Over the course of the second half of the 2009/10 season, the press mistakenly called the ground New St Mirren Park - where fans adopted the name.
Ambition, Passion, Delusion
St Mirren are a club with European aspirations, but since their promotion to Scotland's top flight in 2006, they have failed to finish inside the top 6, never mind obtaining a spot to compete amongst the European Elite.
However, with the recent success in the Scottish League Cup in 2013, there is a new energy surrounding the Paisley outfit. The current crop of youth players provide the fans with high hopes for the future, and the potential for a place in Europe for the first time since 1987.
The club must, however, overcome their difficulties first. With the Board of Directors turning their interests elsewhere, funding for the first team is limited. As the club looks for new investors, the current squad suffers. Poor league form for the 2013/14 campaign led to the dismissal of League Cup manager Danny Lennon. Criminal behaviour of club favourite Paul McGowan, has resulted in the star midfielder's transfer to newly promoted club, Dundee. Injury to local hero Steven Thompson, has left the club without their star striker, and their key hope of survival for the 2014/15 season.
Fans are quickly becoming fed up with the current direction of the club and are seeking change. They demand better league results, they demand better league positions, and they demand European football.
Who will be the man to realise these ambitions?
Background
Formed in 1877, the Paisley outfit are known for playing in black and white stripes - and being the only Football Club in history to sack Sir Alex Ferguson as their manager.
Nicknamed the "Buddies" and unofficially the "Saints", the club have been plying their trade in Scotland's top flight since 2006. The club have won the Scottish Cup on three occasions - 1926, 1959 and 1987, but have never won the Scottish Premiership - their highest record position is 3rd place.
St Mirren are a club steeped in rich history. In 1922, the club won the Barcelona Cup and became the first British team to bring a cup back from mainland Europe. On the 13th August 1966, Archie Gemmill became the first tactical substitute in Scottish football, when he replaced Jim Clunie. In 2001. Ronaldinho signed for French Club Paris Saint Germain, and considered spending 6 months on loan at St Mirren while awaiting a permit. However a fake passport scandal in Brazil put an end to that.
Stadium History
Initially a cricket club, St Mirren played their first ever game at Shortroods, defeating Johnstone Britannia 1-0 - where John Goold scored the clubs first ever goal. In 1879 the Paisley club moved to Abingdon Park, however spend just a single season here before moving to Thistle Park in 1879. This ground was the home of the clubs first ever National competitive game, where they put 3 past Johnstone Athletic in a 3-0 victory. Westmarch became the Buddies 4th home. The final 2 games ever played in this ground produced 23 goals. Dundee left on the back of a 10-3 defeat in 1894, and a few weeks later Abercorn suffered a 10-0 loss in the Paisley Charity Cup Final. 1894 saw St Mirren move to the much loved St Mirren Park A.K.A Love Street. This is the stadium which I grew up with, and is deeply en-grained in the heart of every Saints fan. In 2009, the final game was played in this ground, with an emotional 0-0 draw to SPL club Motherwell - 115 years of Love Street history came to an end.
1km away lay the Saints new Stadium - St Mirren Park or Greenhill Road. This site was minutes away from the clubs previous grounds of Thistle Park and Westmarch. Over the course of the second half of the 2009/10 season, the press mistakenly called the ground New St Mirren Park - where fans adopted the name.
Ambition, Passion, Delusion
St Mirren are a club with European aspirations, but since their promotion to Scotland's top flight in 2006, they have failed to finish inside the top 6, never mind obtaining a spot to compete amongst the European Elite.
However, with the recent success in the Scottish League Cup in 2013, there is a new energy surrounding the Paisley outfit. The current crop of youth players provide the fans with high hopes for the future, and the potential for a place in Europe for the first time since 1987.
The club must, however, overcome their difficulties first. With the Board of Directors turning their interests elsewhere, funding for the first team is limited. As the club looks for new investors, the current squad suffers. Poor league form for the 2013/14 campaign led to the dismissal of League Cup manager Danny Lennon. Criminal behaviour of club favourite Paul McGowan, has resulted in the star midfielder's transfer to newly promoted club, Dundee. Injury to local hero Steven Thompson, has left the club without their star striker, and their key hope of survival for the 2014/15 season.
Fans are quickly becoming fed up with the current direction of the club and are seeking change. They demand better league results, they demand better league positions, and they demand European football.
Who will be the man to realise these ambitions?