St Johnstone F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | St Johnstone Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 association football team from Perth, Scotland. They are often called "The Saints." The club's name comes from "St John's Toun," an old name for Perth.
The club started in 1884 and played its first game in February 1885. Their home stadium since 1989 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.
Historically, St Johnstone often moved between the top two divisions of Scottish football. This earned them the nickname of a "yo-yo club" because they went up and down so often. They won the Scottish Football League First Division (which was the second tier) in 2008–09. This brought them back to the top league for the 2009–10 season after seven years away. They played in the top league for sixteen seasons in a row until they were relegated in 2025.
St Johnstone's main rivals are the two clubs from Dundee: Dundee and Dundee United. Games between these teams are known as "Tayside derbies."
For many years, St Johnstone did not win many major cup competitions. They often lost in the semi-finals and lost two Scottish League Cup finals. However, in 2014, they won their first Scottish Cup. They beat Dundee United 2–0 in the final. In the 2020–21 season, St Johnstone achieved a historic "Cup double." They won both the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. They beat Livingston 1–0 in the League Cup final and Hibernian 1–0 in the Scottish Cup final. This made them only the fourth team in Scotland to win both cups in the same season.
The club has also won the Scottish second tier seven times. They won the Scottish Challenge Cup in 2007, 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 included four years in a row from 2013 to 2016. Their highest finish in the top league was third place, which they achieved 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 active after the cricket season ended. In the autumn of 1884, these cricketers were playing football in the South Inch, a large park in Perth. This is seen as the start of St Johnstone Football Club. Early the next year, a group of players, led by John Colborn, officially formed the football club. It became a separate club, not just a part of the cricket club.
Football was becoming very popular in Scotland. While other local clubs existed, St Johnstone became the most famous one in Perth. The club's name comes from the Middle Ages. Back then, Perth was often called 'St John's Toun' because its main church was dedicated to St John the Baptist. The club's badge even includes the "Lamb of God," a symbol linked to John the Baptist.
The club first played at the Recreation Grounds, near the South Inch. After many years, and problems with flooding, they needed a bigger home. So, in 1924, they moved across Perth and built Muirton Park. This stadium was their home for the next 65 years.
Early Years (1886 to 1972)
St Johnstone first played in the Scottish Cup in the 1886–87 tournament. They lost 7–1 to Erin Rovers in a replay. In the 1910–11 season, St Johnstone joined the Scottish Football League. They finished fifth in their first season, winning ten games.
The team was promoted to the top division in 1924–25 after winning the Second Division title. 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, reaching the Scottish Cup semi-finals in 1933–34.
During World War II, the Scottish Football League stopped playing. St Johnstone closed for most of the war and lost their top-flight status. When the league restarted in 1946, St Johnstone was in the Second Division.
Bobby Brown became manager in 1958. In his second season (1959–60), the club was promoted again. Both Brown and his successor, Willie Ormond, later managed the Scotland national football 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, St Johnstone did not win many national cup competitions. Before 2014, their only cup wins were in the Consolation Cup in 1911 and 1914. This was a competition for teams knocked out of the Scottish Cup early. The club reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final twice. They lost in 1996 but won in 2007, beating Dunfermline 3–2.
Saints' first Scottish Cup win came in 2014. They had reached the semi-finals seven times before, but always lost. They have never won the top league title. They also reached the Scottish League Cup final twice, losing to Celtic in 1969 and Rangers in 1998.
In the 2020–21 season, St Johnstone won their first League Cup. They beat Livingston 1–0 in the final. Later that season, they won their second Scottish Cup, beating Hibernian 1–0. Defender Shaun Rooney scored the winning goal in both finals. This amazing achievement meant St Johnstone won a historic "Cup double." They were only the fourth team to do this.
The Willie Ormond Era
The club's highest league finish ever was third place in the old First Division. This happened three times. The first time was in 1970–71, when Saints finished behind Celtic and Aberdeen. The team was managed by Willie Ormond, who later managed the Scotland national football team. Famous players from this time included Henry Hall and Alex MacDonald.
Finishing third led to St Johnstone playing in the UEFA Cup. They beat German team Hamburger SV and Hungarian team Vasas SC. They were eventually 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 in its first season. The club became part-time again.
McDiarmid Park's south stand is named the Ormond Stand in Willie Ormond's honor.
Relegations and Rebuilding
It took until 1983 for Saints to return to the top league, but only for one season. They then suffered two relegations in a row in 1984 and 1985. By 1986, they were at the very bottom of the league and faced serious money problems. Local businessman Geoff Brown stepped in to help.
Over the next ten years, the club changed a lot. They moved from Muirton Park to the new McDiarmid Park. This was the first purpose-built, all-seater stadium in the United Kingdom. It 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. In 1990, during McDiarmid Park's first season, Saints won the First Division championship. This meant they were promoted to the top league again. After 15 years, the club became a full-time professional team once more.
In the 1990–91 season, 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, but the club was relegated from the Premier Division in 1993–94. McClelland left and was replaced by former Dundee United player Paul Sturrock.
Success in the 1990s
Under Paul Sturrock, St Johnstone focused on developing its own young players. This led to players like Callum Davidson and Danny Griffin. Sturrock also introduced morning and afternoon training sessions to improve player fitness. In his first full season, Saints finished 5th in the First Division. They also reached the League Cup quarter-finals. In 1996–97, they won the First Division championship and returned to the top league. They did well in their first season back, finishing 5th. This meant they became founding members of the SPL the next season.
Paul Sturrock soon left, but the club had another "golden period" in 1998–99 under new manager Sandy Clark. The club finished third in the SPL, behind Rangers and Celtic. Saints also reached the League Cup final and the Scottish Cup semi-finals 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 were then beaten by French giants AS Monaco. International stars like Fabien Barthez and David Trezeguet played at McDiarmid Park during that game. St Johnstone remained unbeaten at home in European games until 2013.
The New Millennium
After a period of decline, the club was relegated from the Premier League in 2002. Billy Stark was manager during this relegation. He left in 2004. John Connolly then took over, but the club was struggling. Owen Coyle became manager in April 2005. He brought a new, hopeful period, with St Johnstone finishing second in 2005–06 and 2006–07.
Coyle also brought cup success. On November 8, 2006, St Johnstone beat Rangers 2–0 at Ibrox to reach the League Cup semi-finals. This was their first win at Ibrox since 1971. It was also the first time they beat Rangers in a cup competition. On January 31, 2007, Saints were knocked out of the League Cup by Hibs. On April 14, 2007, they lost 2–1 to Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
On November 22, 2007, Owen Coyle left to manage English club Burnley. Three days later, Saints played in the Challenge Cup Final against Dunfermline. They won 3–2, their first cup win since 1911. Derek McInnes became the new manager on November 27, 2007. In 2008, the club reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals again, but lost to Rangers on penalties. This was their seventh semi-final loss.
On May 2, 2009, Saints beat Greenock Morton 3–1 at McDiarmid Park. This win secured the First Division title. It meant 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. It was also announced that Geoff Brown, the longest-serving chairman in Scottish football, was retiring. His son, Steve, took control of 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 victory against Rosenborg BK in Norway. This was the club's first away win in Europe in over 40 years.
The Golden Age: Tommy Wright, Callum Davidson and Cup Glory
On April 13, 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 2–0 on May 17 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, with Shaun Rooney scoring again. This victory meant St Johnstone became the first team outside of the Old Firm (Celtic and Rangers) to win both cups in the same season since Aberdeen in 1990. St Johnstone also qualified for Europe for the sixth time in ten seasons.
On May 14, 2025, the club was relegated from the Scottish Premiership. This was their first relegation from the top league since 2002.
Local Rivals
St Johnstone has a rivalry with both Dundee and Dundee United. These teams are all from the Tayside area. On New Year's Day 1997, St Johnstone had one of their biggest league wins against Dundee, winning 7–2.
Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors
Here is a list of companies that have made St Johnstone's kits and sponsored their shirts:
| 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 | ||
| 2023–2025 | GS Brown Construction | Saints in the Community | |
| 2025–present | MandM | AIIR Environmental |
Source
Players
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Famous Players
In October 2013, St Johnstone started its "Hall of Fame." This is to honor people who have made a big difference to the club. The first five members were John Brogan, Joe Carr, Willie Coburn, Roddy Grant, and Henry Hall.
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 | Aileen Campbell |
| Director | Alisdair Dewar |
| Director | Matt Klase |
| Director | Daniel Lamb |
| Director | Andrew Litster |
| Secretary | Abby Ramsay |
| Life president | Geoff Brown |
Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager | Simo Valakari |
| Assistant manager | Jordi Aluja |
| Goalkeeping coach | Gordon Marshall |
| Head of football operations, scouting and recruitment | Gus MacPherson |
| Performance manager | Paavo Valakari |
| Head of youth development | Paul McDonald |
| U19 head coach | Danny Griffin |
| Club doctor | Ewen Fraser |
| Physiotherapist | Caitlin Wright |
| Sports scientist | Murray Kinnaird |
| Performance analyst | Declan Tobin |
Managerial History
St Johnstone has had 28 full-time managers. The longest-serving manager was David Rutherford, who managed for 11 years. On average, the club has appointed a new manager every 3.8 years. Both Willie Ormond and Bobby Brown left St Johnstone to manage the Scotland national football 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 at the time.
Honours and Trophies
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
Doubles
- Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup: 2020–21
Club Statistics and Records
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)
- Highest transfer fee paid for a player: £400,000 for Billy Dodds from Dundee (1994)
- Highest transfer fee received for a player: £1,750,000 for Callum Davidson to Blackburn Rovers (1998)
Individual Player Records
- Most international games played while at the club: Nick Dasovic – 26 caps for Canada
- Most appearances for the club: Liam Craig – 442 games
- Most goals scored for the club: 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
Past average attendance at home games:
- 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
European Record
St Johnstone has played in the UEFA Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) eight times. Their best performance was reaching the third round in 1971–72, which was their first time in the tournament.
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–72 | UEFA Cup | First round |  Hamburg |
3–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 |
| Second round |  Vasas SC |
2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | ||
| Third round |  FK Željezničar Sarajevo |
1–0 | 1–5 | 2–5 | ||
| 1999–00 | UEFA Cup | Qualifying round | VPS |
2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| First round |  Monaco |
3–3 | 0–3 | 3–6 | ||
| 2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | Second qualifying round |  Eskişehirspor |
1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| 2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | Second qualifying round |  Rosenborg |
1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Third qualifying round |  FC Minsk |
0–1 (aet) | 1–0 | 1–1 (2–3 p.) | ||
| 2014–15 | UEFA Europa League | Second qualifying round |  FC Luzern |
1–1 (aet) | 1–1 | 2–2 (5–4 p.) |
| Third qualifying round |  Spartak Trnava |
1–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | ||
| 2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  Alashkert |
2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2(a) |
| 2017–18 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  FK Trakai |
1–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa League | Third qualifying round | Galatasaray |
2−4 | 1–1 | 3–5 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | Play-off round |  LASK |
0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
Images for kids
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Matchday at McDiarmid Park
See also
In Spanish: St. Johnstone Football Club para niños
