St. Johnstone F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname =


fullname = St. Johnstone Football Club
nickname = The Saints
founded = 1884
ground = McDiarmid Park
Perth, Scotland
capacity = 10,673
chairman = flagicon|Scotland Geoff Brown
manager = flagicon|Scotland Derek McInnes
league = Scottish First Division
season = 2007–08
position = Scottish First Division, 3rd
pattern_la1=_blueshoulders|pattern_b2=_bluesleevelinesandsides|pattern_ra2=_blueshoulders
leftarm2=00aef0|body2=00aef0|rightarm2=00aef0|shorts2=00aef0|socks2=00aef0
pattern_la2=_blueshoulders|pattern_b1=_basketballwhitesides|pattern_ra1=_blueshoulders
leftarm1=0000ff|body1=0000ff|rightarm1=0000ff|shorts1=ffffff|socks1=0000ff

St. Johnstone Football Club is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, research has shown that they did not play their first game until February 1885. The club plays its home games at McDiarmid Park , which has been the club's home since 1989, when the club sold its previous ground to supermarket chain ASDA.

St. Johnstone presently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division, in which they finished third in the in the 2007–08 season. The club have historically floated between the top two divisions of Scottish football, obtaining the reputation of being a "yo-yo club". Their traditional rivals are the two Dundee clubs, Dundee and Dundee United, with matches between Saints and either Dundee club being called "Tayside derbies". Saints have a stronger rivalry with Dundee than Dundee United, although neither rivalry is as strong as the Dundee derby itself.

The club has had very limited success in cup competitions. It has reached two Scottish League Cup Finals, losing them to each of the Old Firm clubs. The club has never reached a Scottish Cup Final in its history, although it has been in a significant number of semi-finals in recent years, and were only defeated on penalties at that stage by eventual winners Rangers in 2008. St. Johnstone finally won its first national cup competition by winning the Scottish Challenge Cup, a competition for clubs in the Scottish Football League, in 2007.

History

:"For St. Johnstone's season-by-season stats, see here."

Origins

The club was formed by members of the local cricket team seeking to occupy their time once the cricket season had finished. The cricketers were kicking a football around the South Inch, a large public park beside the River Tay during the autumn of 1884. This is widely acknowledged to be the date of the formation of St. Johnstone Football Club, although it wasn't until early in the following year that a group of footballers. led by John Colborn, held an official meeting that led to the formation of the club as a separate entity rather than a 'spin-off' of the cricket club. [ [http://www.stjohnstonefc.co.uk/history.asp Official club website history section] ]

Football was becoming more popular and although there were several local teams playing the sport, including Fair City Athletic, it was St. Johnstone that became the club most associated with the town that gave the club its name. (In the Middle Ages, Perth was colloquially known as 'St. John's Toun' because the church at the centre of the parish was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Agnus Dei (The Lamb of God), the symbol associated with John the Baptist, is a part of the St. Johnstone club crest.) [ [http://www.st-johns-kirk.co.uk/History%20Building.htm St. John's Kirk website] ]

Club members leased a piece of land adjacent to the South Inch, known as the Recreation Grounds, which became the club's first home. After several decades it became clear they had outgrown those grounds so, in 1924, they moved to the other side of Perth and built Muirton Park, which would serve as their home for the next 65 years. [ [http://www.stjohnstonefc.co.uk/history.asp Official club website history section] ]

The club has had little success in national competitions. It has never won the top league, nor have won either of the two major cup tournaments: the Scottish Cup or the League Cup. There have been two appearances in the final of the League Cup, losing first to Celtic 1–0 in 1969 and 2–1 to Rangers in 1998, with Canadian internationalist Nick Dasovic scoring for Saints. Saints have yet to reach a Scottish Cup final. The club have also appeared twice in the Scottish Challenge Cup final, losing 1–0 to Stranraer in 1996, and winning the trophy in 2007 with a 3–2 victory over Dunfermline. They also won the Scottish Consolation Cup in 1911–12.

Willie Ormond era

In terms of the league, the club's highest-ever finish has been third place in the old First Division, which occurred on two occasions. The first was in 1970–71, when Saints finished behind Celtic and Aberdeen but ahead of Rangers. The team was mostly the 1969 League Cup team, managed by Willie Ormond, who eventually went on to manage Scotland. The club had some notable players during this period, who later went on to success at other clubs – such as Henry Hall, Alex MacDonald, John Lambie, John Connolly, and Jim Pearson.

This third-placed finish led to a European adventure in the UEFA Cup, beating German giants SV Hamburg and Hungarians Vasas Budapest before finally going out in Yugoslavia to NK Zeljeznicar Sarajevo. The club continued to play in the top division of the Scottish Football League until reconstruction in 1975, but were relegated from the new Premier Division in its first season.

McDiarmid Park's south stand is named the Ormond Stand in his honour.

Relegations and rebuilding

It took Saints until 1983 to return – albeit for a single season – before setting a record through suffering two successive relegations in 1984 and 1985. They eventually found themselves bottom of the entire league in 1986 and skirted with financial oblivion, before local businessman Geoff Brown stepped in.

An unprecedented change in the club's focus occurred over the next decade or so, with the move from long-term home Muirton Park to the new purpose-built McDiarmid Park on the outskirts of the city, the first purpose-built all-seater stadium built in the United Kingdom. The new stadium was named to recognise the generous donation of land by local farmer Bruce McDiarmid. This plus the input of significant transfer funds and the appointment of manager Alex Totten spurred Saints through the leagues. They obtained promotion to the First Division in 1988. Saints then memorably won the First Division championship and promotion to the Premier Division in 1990 during the first season of football at McDiarmid Park.

Saints finished 1990–91 in 7th place, but their season was buoyed by an appearance in the Scottish Cup semi-finals, in which they lost to Dundee United.

The following season proved to be Totten's last at the helm, an eighth-placed finish bringing to an end his five-year reign as manager. He was succeeded by John McClelland for the 1992–93 season. The Irishman didn't fare much better, however, leading the club to 6th place. Another semi-finals cup appearance, this time the League Cup, sweetened the campaign slightly.

St. Johnstone's four-year run in the Premier Division came to an end in 1993–94, a 10th-placed finish sending them back to the First Division. McClelland left the club before the season ended, and was replaced by former Dundee United striker Paul Sturrock.

uccess in the 1990s

Under Sturrock's stewardship, more emphasis was placed on the club rearing its own players. This bore fruit in the form of Callum Davidson and Danny Griffin. Sturrock also introduced – at least in principle – the concept of morning and afternoon training sessions in an attempt to raise the fitness level of his players. In Sturrock's first full season in charge, Saints finished 5th in the First Division and reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup. In 1995–96, he led them to fourth place and a Scottish Cup quarter-final. League success returned in 1996–97 with the First Division championship and a return to the top flight. The club more than held their own in the first season back. Their 5th-placed finish meant they became founder members of the SPL the following season.

Although Sturrock soon left for Dundee United, the club found a second 'golden period' in 1998–99 under new manager Sandy Clark, when the club finished third in the SPL behind Rangers and Celtic. Saints also reached the final of the League Cup and the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup in that season, losing to Rangers in both competitions. They lost to Rangers in five of the six meetings between the two clubs that season (including a [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=253144 7–0 home defeat] ), but Saints won 3–1 in the other game. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=253144 St. Johnstone 3–1 Rangers] , Soccerbase.] Their finishing position in the league meant Saints had qualified for the 1999–00 UEFA Cup campaign. They started with a 3–1 aggregate win in the qualifying round over Finnish side VPS Vaasa, but were beaten 6–3 on aggregate by French giants Monaco in the first round proper. The return leg meant that international stars such as Fabien Barthez, John Arne Riise and David Trézéguet played at McDiarmid Park. St. Johnstone remain unbeaten at home in European competitions.

The new millennium

After a period of steady decline, the club were eventually relegated from the Premier League in 2002, and remain today in the First Division. Clark's replacement Billy Stark oversaw this relegation, and left the club in 2004 after two seasons of varying success. With the club in eighth place after a poor 2004–05 season under Stark's replacement John Connolly, Owen Coyle took charge in April 2005, ushering in a promising new period in which St. Johnstone earned second-place finishes in 2005–06 and 2006–07.

There was also cup success under Coyle. On November 8, 2006, St. Johnstone beat Rangers 2–0 at Ibrox to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup. Steven Milne scored both of the goals. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/6123792.stm Rangers 0–2 St. Johnstone - BBC Sport] ] This was the club's first victory at Ibrox since April 1971. It was also the first time the club beat Rangers in a cup competition, and the first time that Rangers had been eliminated from a major cup competition at home by lower-division opposition. On January 31, 2007, Saints were knocked out of the League Cup at the semi-finals stage by Hibs. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/6309901.stm St. Johnstone 1–3 Hibernian - BBC Sport] ]

On April 14, 2007, St. Johnstone were beaten 2–1 by Celtic at Hampden in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. By then Coyle's name was being linked with managerial vacancies in the SPL.

On April 21, 2007, second-placed Saints won 3–0 at home to Queen of the South, while table-toppers Gretna played out a goalless draw against the visiting Clyde, which put the Perth club just one point (and seven goals) behind Gretna. As a result, the First Division championship was to be decided on the final day of the season. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_div_1/6574353.stm Gretna 0–0 Clyde - BBC Sport] ]

Seven days later, St. Johnstone were pipped to the First Division championship by Gretna, who had led the division for the majority of the season. Saints won 4–3 at Hamilton Academical, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/6599205.stm Hamilton Accies 3–4 St. Johnstone - BBC Sport] ] but James Grady scored an injury-time winner for Gretna at Ross County. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/6599245.stm Ross County 2–3 Gretna - BBC Sport] ] The results maintained Gretna's one-point lead and they achieved promotion to the Premier League under former Saints player Davie Irons.

Owen Coyle left the club on November 22 2007, to become manager of English club Burnley. Saints' next game, the Challenge Cup Final against Dunfermline three days later, saw them win their first cup since the Scottish Consolation Cup of 1911, with a 3–2 scoreline. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7110899.stm Dunfermline 2–3 St. Johnstone - BBC Sport] ]

St. Johnstone midfielder Derek McInnes was appointed as Coyle's replacement as manager on 27 November 2007, [ [http://www.stjohnstonefc.co.uk/newsitem.asp?NewsID=2305 Derek McInnes appointed new St Johnstone manager] ] after Coyle's assistant, Sandy Stewart, who had been in charge in a caretaker-manager capacity for the Challenge Cup Final, decided to follow Coyle south to Burnley. McInnes began as a player-manager. Results to the end of 2007 continued the indifferent form shown under Coyle, leaving St. Johnstone in third place, some way behind the leaders. In 2008 the club did, however, reach the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup for the second consecutive season, losing out to Rangers on penalties after extra time. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/7353598.stm St. Johnstone 1–1 Rangers (Rangers won 5–4 on penalties)] - BBC Sport] It was the club's seventh appearance in the semi-finals, and their seventh defeat.

Local rivals

St. Johnstone share a Tayside rivalry with both Dundee and Dundee United. It was against the former on New Year's Day 1997 that they recorded their biggest league win in recent memory, [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=242903 7–2] .

Players

Current squad

:"As of 26 August 2008."

Out on loan

Transfers

:"For recent transfers, see List of Scottish football transfers 2008-09."

Notable players

Non-playing staff

Honours

League

*First DivisionKnown as the Second Division prior to 1975] champions (6): 1923–24, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1982–83, 1989–90, 1996–97

Cup

*Challenge Cup winners (1): 2007–08

Managers past and present

St. Johnstone has had 22 managers in its history. The longest-serving manager was David Rutherford (11 years). The club has, on average, appointed a new manager every four years. Willie Ormond and Bobby Brown both left Saints to manage the Scotland national team.

*flagicon|Scotland Derek McInnes (2007–)
*flagicon|Republic of Ireland Owen Coyle (2005-2007)
*flagicon|Scotland John Connolly (2004–2005)
*flagicon|Scotland Billy Stark (2001–2004)
*flagicon|Scotland Sandy Clark (1998–2001)
*flagicon|Scotland Paul Sturrock (1993–1998)
*flagicon|Northern Ireland John McClelland (1992–1993)
*flagicon|Scotland Alex Totten (1987–1992)
*flagicon|Scotland Ian Gibson (1985–1987)
*flagicon|Scotland Alex Rennie (1980–1985)
*flagicon|Scotland Alex Stuart (1978–1980)
*flagicon|Scotland Jim Storrie (1976–1978)
*flagicon|Scotland Jackie Stewart (1973–1976)
*flagicon|Scotland Willie Ormond (1967–1973)
*flagicon|Scotland Bobby Brown (1958–1967)
*flagicon|Scotland Johnny Pattillo (1953–1958)
*flagicon|Scotland Jimmy Crapnell (1947–1953)
*flagicon|Scotland David Rutherford (1936–1947)
*flagicon|Scotland Tommy Muirhead (1931–1936)
*flagicon|Scotland David Taylor (1924–1931)
*flagicon|Scotland Jimmy Buchan (1920–1922)
*flagicon|Scotland Peter Grant (1919–1920)

Prior to this, the team was picked by committee – a practice in wide use at the time.

hirt sponsors

Below is a list of all of St. Johnstone's shirt sponsors:

*1986–1989: The Famous Grouse
*1989–1991: Bonar
*1991–1998: The Famous Grouse
*1998–2002: Scottish Hydro Electric
*2002–2004: Scottish Citylink
*2004–2006: Megabus.com
*2006–present: George Wimpey

[http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Scottish_Football_League/St_Johnstone/St_Johnstone.htm Source]

tatistics

Records

*Record home attendance: 29,972 vs Dundee (Scottish Cup; February 10, 1951) (at Muirton Park); 10,545 vs Dundee (May 23, 1999) (at McDiarmid Park)
*Record cup win: 13–0 vs Tulloch (September 17, 1887)
*Record cup loss: 12–0 vs Cowdenbeath (January 21, 1928)
*Most capped player: Nick Dasovic: 36 (Canada)
*Record league appearances: Drew Rutherford – 345
*Most league goals: John Brogan – 140
*Most goals in one season: Jimmy Benson – 38 (1931–32)

Average attendances

The average league-game attendance at McDiarmid Park for the season 2007–08 was 2,913, which is 27.29% of the 10,673 capacity and up 3.59% on the 2006–07 season. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?teamid=2472 Soccerbase] ]

Past averages:
* 2006–07: 2,812 (26.34% of capacity; +5.43% compared to 2005–2006 season)
* 2005–06: 2,667 (24.98% of capacity; +10.48% compared to 2004–05 season)
* 2004–05: 2,414 (22.61% of capacity)

Source: [http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2472 Soccerbase.com]

References

Further reading/bibliography

*cite book
last = Blair A, Doyle B
first =
authorlink =
title = Bristling with Possibilities: The History of St Johnstone F.C.
publisher =
series =
year = 1997
doi =
isbn =
* cite book
last = Bannerman
first = Gordon
authorlink =
title = Saints Alive! St Johnstone Football Club Five Years on a High
publisher = Sportsprint Publishing, Edinburgh
series =
year = 1991
doi =
isbn = 0 85976 346 3
*
* cite book
last = Slater
first = Jim
authorlink =
title = Who's Who of St Johnstone 1946 to 1992
publisher =
series =
year =
doi =
isbn =
*cite book
last = McLaren
first = G
authorlink =
title = Of Saints & Foxes
publisher = G McLaren
series =
year = 2001
doi =
isbn = 0905452992 The story of Sandy McLaren (St. Johnstone, Leicester City and Scotland national football team goalkeeper), written by his son.

External links

* [http://www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk Official site]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/st_johnstone/default.stm BBC Sport's St. Johnstone page] : with [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/st_johnstone/fixtures/default.stm fixtures] , [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/st_johnstone/results/default.stm results] , [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/st_johnstone/tables/default.stm league table] and [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/st_johnstone/club_stats/default.stm statistics]
* [http://icperthshire.icnetwork.co.uk/stjohnstone/ The "Perthshire Advertiser"'s St. Johnstone page]