St Johnstone F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | St Johnstone Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Saints | ||
| Founded | 1884 | ||
| Ground | McDiarmid Park | ||
| Capacity | 10,696 | ||
| Owner | Adam Webb | ||
| CEO | Francis Smith | ||
| Manager | Simo Valakari | ||
| League | Scottish Premiership | ||
| 2015–16 | Scottish Premiership, 4th | ||
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St Johnstone Football Club is a professional football team from Perth, Scotland. They play in the Scottish Premiership, which is the top football league in Scotland. The club gets its name from 'St John's Toun', an old name for Perth. That's why they are often called the "Saints"!
The club started in 1884 and played their first game in February 1885. Since 1989, their home stadium has been McDiarmid Park. Before that, they played at the Perth Recreation Grounds and Muirton Park.
St Johnstone first played in the Scottish Cup in 1886–87. They joined the Scottish Football League in 1911–12. For many years, St Johnstone moved between the top two divisions of Scottish football. They were known as a "yo-yo club" because of this.
In 2009, they won the Scottish Football League First Division. This brought top-tier football back to McDiarmid Park after seven years. They have now been in the top league for fifteen seasons. This is their longest time ever in the highest league. St Johnstone's main rivals are the two clubs from Dundee: Dundee and Dundee United. Games between them are called "Tayside derbies".
For over 130 years, St Johnstone didn't win many major cup competitions. They often lost in the semi-finals or in two Scottish League Cup finals. But in 2014, they won their first Scottish Cup! They beat Dundee United 2–0 in the final.
Then, in the 2020–21 season, St Johnstone made history. They won both the League Cup and the Scottish Cup! This is called a "Cup double". They were only the fourth team to ever do this. They beat Livingston 1–0 in the League Cup final. Then they beat Hibernian 1–0 in the Scottish Cup final.
The team has also won the Scottish second-tier league seven times. They won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 2007. They also won the B Division Supplementary Cup in 1949 and the Scottish Consolation Cup in 1911 and 1914. St Johnstone has played in European competitions seven times. This includes four years in a row from 2013 to 2016. Their best league finish in the top division is third place. They achieved this three times: in 1971, 1999, and 2013.
Contents
Club History
How the Club Started
St Johnstone FC was formed by members of a local cricket club. They wanted to stay fit and busy after the cricket season ended. These cricketers were playing football in a park called South Inch in 1884. This is seen as the start of St Johnstone Football Club. A group of footballers, led by John Colborn, officially formed the club in early 1885.
Football was becoming very popular in Scotland. St Johnstone became the main football club in Perth. The name "St Johnstone" comes from 'St John's Toun'. This was an old name for Perth. The church in the town was dedicated to St John the Baptist. The club's badge even includes the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), a symbol linked to John the Baptist.
The club rented land next to South Inch, called the Recreation Grounds. This was St Johnstone's first home ground. After many years, and problems with flooding, they needed a bigger place. So, in 1924, they moved across Perth. They built Muirton Park, which was their home for 65 years.
Early Years (1886 to 1972)
St Johnstone first played in the Scottish Cup in 1886–87. They lost 7–1 to Erin Rovers in a replay. In 1911–12, St Johnstone joined the Scottish Football League. They finished fifth in their first season.
St Johnstone moved up to the top division in 1924–25. They won the Second Division title that year. David Taylor became their manager. They stayed in the top league until 1929–30. Two years later, under new manager Tommy Muirhead, they were promoted again. They played well in the 1930s. They reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals in 1933–34. They also finished fifth in the league twice.
During World War II, the Scottish Football League stopped playing. St Johnstone closed for most of the war. They lost their top-tier status. After the war, the league restarted. St Johnstone was in the Second Division.
Bobby Brown became manager in 1958. In 1959–60, the club was promoted again. Both Brown and his successor, Willie Ormond, later managed the Scotland national team. In 1970–71, under Ormond, Saints finished third in the league. This allowed them to play in the 1971–72 UEFA Cup.
Cup Successes
For most of their history, the club didn't win many national cups. Before 2014, their only cup wins were the Consolation Cup in 1911 and 1914. This was a competition for teams knocked out of the Scottish Cup early. The club played in two Scottish Challenge Cup finals. They lost in 1996 but won in 2007, beating Dunfermline 3–2.
St Johnstone's first Scottish Cup win in 2014 came after reaching the semi-finals seven times. They have never won the top league title. They also reached the Scottish League Cup final twice. They lost to Celtic in 1969 and Rangers in 1998.
In the 2020–21 season, St Johnstone won their first League Cup. They also won their second Scottish Cup. This was a historic "Cup double". They became only the fourth team to achieve this. They beat Livingston 1–0 in the League Cup final. Then they beat Hibernian 1–0 in the Scottish Cup final. Defender Shaun Rooney scored the winning goal in both matches.
The Willie Ormond Era
The club's highest league finish ever is third place in the old First Division. This happened three times. The first was in 1970–71. Saints finished behind Celtic and Aberdeen, but ahead of Rangers. The team was managed by Willie Ormond, who later managed Scotland. Famous players from this time included Henry Hall and Alex MacDonald.
This third-place finish led to playing in the UEFA Cup. They beat German team Hamburger SV and Hungarian team Vasas SC. They were finally knocked out by FK Željezničar Sarajevo from Yugoslavia. The club stayed in the top division until 1975. They were then relegated from the new Premier Division. The club became part-time again for the first time since 1961.
The south stand at McDiarmid Park is named the Ormond Stand in Willie Ormond's honor.
Relegations and Rebuilding
It took Saints until 1983 to return to the top league. But it was only for one season, and they were still a part-time team. They then suffered two relegations in a row in 1984 and 1985. In 1986, they were at the very bottom of the league. The club faced serious money problems. Then, local businessman Geoff Brown stepped in to help.
Over the next ten years, the club changed a lot. They moved from their old home, Muirton Park. They built a new, modern stadium called McDiarmid Park. It was the first all-seater stadium built in the United Kingdom. The stadium was named after Bruce McDiarmid, a local farmer who donated the land. With new money and manager Alex Totten, Saints climbed back up the leagues.
They were promoted to the First Division in 1988. Then, in 1990, they won the First Division championship. This meant they were promoted to the Premier Division in McDiarmid Park's first season. After 15 years as a semi-professional team, the club became full-time again.
In 1990–91, Saints finished 7th. They also reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals, losing to Dundee United. The next season, Alex Totten left. John McClelland took over. He led the club to 6th place. They also reached the League Cup semi-finals.
St Johnstone's four years in the Premier Division ended in 1993–94. They finished 10th and went back to the First Division. McClelland left, and former Dundee United player Paul Sturrock became manager.
Success in the 1990s
Under Paul Sturrock, the club focused more on training its own young players. This helped players like Callum Davidson and Danny Griffin become good players. Sturrock also introduced morning and afternoon training sessions. This was to make his players fitter. In Sturrock's first full season, Saints finished 5th in the First Division. They also reached the League Cup quarter-finals.
In 1995–96, they finished fourth and reached the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. League success returned in 1996–97. They won the First Division championship and returned to the top league. The club did well in their first season back. Their 5th-place finish meant they were founding members of the SPL the next season.
Paul Sturrock soon left for Dundee United. But the club had another great period in 1998–99. Under new manager Sandy Clark, the club finished third in the SPL. They were only behind Rangers and Celtic. Saints also reached the final of the League Cup and the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup that season. They lost to Rangers in both competitions.
Their high league finish meant Saints qualified for the 1999–00 UEFA Cup. They beat Finnish team VPS Vaasa. But then they were beaten by French team AS Monaco. Famous players like Fabien Barthez and David Trezeguet played at McDiarmid Park in that game. St Johnstone remained unbeaten at home in European games until 2013.
The New Millennium and Recent Success
After a period of decline, the club was relegated from the Premier League in 2002. Billy Stark was manager then. He left in 2004. John Connolly took over, but the team struggled. In April 2005, Owen Coyle became manager. This started a new, hopeful time for the club. St Johnstone finished second in the league in 2005–06 and 2006–07.
They also had cup success under Coyle. In November 2006, St Johnstone beat Rangers 2–0 at Ibrox. This sent them to the League Cup semi-finals. It was their first win at Ibrox since 1971. It was also the first time Rangers were knocked out of a major cup at home by a lower-division team. In January 2007, Saints lost to Hibs in the League Cup semi-finals. In April 2007, they lost to Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
In 2007, St Johnstone almost won the First Division championship. They were just one point behind Gretna on the last day of the season. Gretna scored a late goal to win their game, keeping their lead.
Owen Coyle left the club in November 2007 to manage Burnley in England. Three days later, Saints won their first cup since 1911. They beat Dunfermline 3–2 in the Challenge Cup Final. Derek McInnes became the new manager. In 2008, the club reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals again. They lost to Rangers on penalties. This was their seventh semi-final loss.
On 2 May 2009, Saints beat Greenock Morton 3–1. This won them the First Division title. They returned to the Premier League after seven years. They finished eighth in their first season back.
In November 2011, Steve Lomas was appointed manager. Also, Geoff Brown, the longest-serving chairman in Scottish football, retired. His son, Steve, took over the club. In June 2013, Steve Lomas left. Tommy Wright became the new manager. In his first game, Wright led St Johnstone to a 1–0 win against Rosenborg BK in Norway. This was the club's first away win in Europe in over 40 years.
The Golden Age: Cup Glory
On 13 April 2014, St Johnstone reached their first-ever Scottish Cup Final. They beat Aberdeen 2–1 in the semi-final. They then won the final against rivals Dundee United on 17 May. The score was 2–0 at Celtic Park.
The club won its second major cup seven years later. They beat Livingston 1–0 in the February 2021 Scottish League Cup final. Shaun Rooney scored the only goal. Later that season, St Johnstone won its second Scottish Cup. They beat Hibernian 1–0. Shaun Rooney scored the only goal again. This win meant St Johnstone was the first team outside of the Old Firm (Celtic and Rangers) to win a cup double since Aberdeen in 1990. They also qualified for European competitions for the sixth time in ten seasons.
European Competitions
St Johnstone has played in the UEFA Europa League (which used to be called the UEFA Cup) eight times. The furthest they have gone is the third round. This happened in 1971–72, which was their first time in the tournament.
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–72 | UEFA Cup | 1R |  Hamburg |
3–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 |
| 2R |  Vasas SC |
2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | ||
| 3R |  FK Željezničar Sarajevo |
1–0 | 1–5 | 2–5 | ||
| 1999–00 | UEFA Cup | QR |  VPS |
2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| 1R |  Monaco |
3–3 | 0–3 | 3–6 | ||
| 2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | 2Q |  Eskişehirspor |
1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| 2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | 2Q |  Rosenborg |
1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| 3Q |  FC Minsk |
0–1 (aet) | 1–0 | 1–1 (2–3 p.) | ||
| 2014–15 | UEFA Europa League | 2Q |  FC Luzern |
1–1 (aet) | 1–1 | 2–2 (5–4 p.) |
| 3Q |  Spartak Trnava |
1–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | ||
| 2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Alashkert |
2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2(a) |
| 2017–18 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  FK Trakai |
1–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa League | 3Q | Galatasaray |
2−4 | 1–1 | 3–5 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | PO |  LASK |
0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Local Rivalries
St Johnstone has a local rivalry with both Dundee and Dundee United. These teams are all from the Tayside area. One memorable game was on New Year's Day in 1997. St Johnstone beat Dundee 7–2, which was their biggest league win in recent times against them.
Players
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Famous Players
In 2013, the club started its "Hall of Fame". This is to honor people who have made a big difference to the club. The first five people included John Brogan and Roddy Grant.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, David Wotherspoon became the first St Johnstone player to play in a World Cup match. He played for Canada against Morocco.
Club Staff
Directors
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Owner/Chairman | Adam Webb |
| Vice-chairman/CEO | Francis Smith |
| General manager | Roddy Grant |
| Director | David Beaton |
| Director | Alisdair Dewar |
| Director | Matt Klase |
| Director | Daniel Lamb |
| Secretary | Abby Ramsay |
| Life president | Geoff Brown |
Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager | Simo Valakari |
| Assistant manager | Andy Kirk |
| First team coach | Alec Cleland |
| Goalkeeping coach | Gordon Marshall |
| Head of football operations, scouting and recruitment | Gus MacPherson |
| Head of youth development | Alastair Stevenson |
| Club doctor | Ewen Fraser |
| Physiotherapist | George Stewart |
| Sports scientist | Tam Ritchie |
| Performance analyst | Declan Tobin |
| Groundsman | Chris Smith |
| Kitman | John McDougall |
Club Achievements
League Titles
- Scottish second-tier league titles
- Winners (7): 1923–24, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1982–83, 1989–90, 1996–97, 2008–09
Cup Wins
- Scottish Cup
- Winners: 2013–14, 2020–21
- Scottish League Cup
- Winners: 2020–21
- Scottish Challenge Cup
- Winners: 2007–08
- B Division Supplementary Cup
- Winners: 1948–49
- Scottish Consolation Cup
- Winners: 1910–11, 1913–14
Double Wins
- Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup: 2020–21
Manager History
St Johnstone has had 27 full-time managers. The longest-serving manager was David Rutherford, who managed for 11 years. His time was interrupted by World War II. On average, the club has hired a new manager every 3.8 years. Both Willie Ormond and Bobby Brown left "Saints" to manage the Scotland national team.
Peter Grant (1919–20)- James Buchan (1920–22)
- David Taylor (1924–31)
- Tommy Muirhead (1931–36)
- David Rutherford (1936–47)
- Jimmy Crapnell (1947–53)
- Johnny Pattillo (1953–58)
- Bobby Brown (1958–67)
- Willie Ormond (1967–73)
- Jackie Stewart (1973–76)
- Jim Storrie (1976–78)
- Alex Stuart (1978–80)
- Alex Rennie (1980–85)
- Ian Gibson (1985–87)
- Alex Totten (1987–92)
John McClelland (1992–93)- Paul Sturrock (1 August 1993 – 5 September 1998)
- Sandy Clark (7 September 1998 – 25 September 2001)
- Billy Stark (2001–04)
- John Connolly (2004–05)
- Owen Coyle (15 April 2005 – 21 November 2007)
- Derek McInnes (27 November 2007 – 18 October 2011)
- Steve Lomas (3 November 2011 – 6 June 2013)
- Tommy Wright (10 June 2013 – 2 May 2020)
- Callum Davidson (1 June 2020 – 16 April 2023)
- Steven MacLean (27 May 2023 – 29 October 2023)
- Craig Levein (5 November 2023 – 17 September 2024)
- Simo Valakari (1 October 2024 – present)
Before Peter Grant became manager in 1919, a committee chose the team. This was a common practice back then.
Team Kits and Sponsors
Here is a list of St Johnstone's kit suppliers and shirt sponsors over the years:
| Period | Kit supplier | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976–1977 | Umbro | No sponsor | No sponsor |
| 1977–1978 | Admiral | ||
| 1978–1979 | Adidas | ||
| 1980–1986 | Umbro | ||
| 1986–1989 | Matchwinner | The Famous Grouse | |
| 1989–1991 | Bukta | Bonar Textiles | |
| 1991–1994 | The Famous Grouse | ||
| 1994–1997 | The Saints | ||
| 1997–1998 | Xara | ||
| 1998–2002 | Scottish Hydro Electric | ||
| 2002–2004 | Scottish Citylink | ||
| 2004–2006 | Megabus.com | ||
| 2006–2007 | George Wimpey | ||
| 2007–2009 | Surridge | ||
| 2009–2010 | Taylor Wimpey | ||
| 2010–2011 | Joma | ||
| 2011–2015 | GS Brown Construction | ||
| 2015–2016 | Invest in Perth | ||
| 2016–2018 | Alan Storrar Cars | ||
| 2018–2019 | BLK | Binn Group | |
| 2019–2023 | Macron | ||
| 2023–present | GS Brown Construction | Saints In The Community |
Club Records and Statistics
Team Records
- Highest home attendance:
- Biggest win: 13–0 vs Tulloch (Perthshire Cup, 1887)
- Biggest loss: 11–1 vs Montrose (Northern League, 1893)
- Longest time without losing: 21 league matches (2008–09)
- Most money paid for a player: £400,000 for Billy Dodds (from Dundee, 1994)
- Most money received for a player: £1,750,000 for Callum Davidson (to Blackburn Rovers, 1998)
Player Records
- Player with most international games: Nick Dasovic – 26 games for Canada while playing for St Johnstone.
- Most appearances for the club: Liam Craig – 442 games.
- Most goals scored: John Brogan – 140 goals.
- Most goals in one season: Jimmy Benson – 44 goals (1931–32).
- Most goals in one game: Willie McIntosh – 6 goals (vs Albion Rovers, League Cup, 1946).
Average Attendances
Here are the average number of fans who came to St Johnstone's home games in recent seasons:
- 2019–20: 4,091
- 2018–19: 3,938
- 2017–18: 3,809
- 2016–17: 4,392
- 2015–16: 3,880
- 2014–15: 4,522
- 2013–14: 3,806
- 2012–13: 3,712
- 2011–12: 4,170
- 2010–11: 3,841
- 2009–10: 4,717
- 2008–09: 3,522
- 2007–08: 2,959
- 2006–07: 2,812
- 2005–06: 2,667
- 2004–05: 2,414
See also
In Spanish: St. Johnstone Football Club para niños
