Saints fans can enjoy the BIG time!

Mar 12 2010 by Jeff Holmes, Paisley Daily Express

IF Buddies clap eyes on a giant St Mirren strip in Braehead Shopping Centre, they can relax – they’re NOT seeing things!

To celebrate Saints making it all the way to the Co-operative Insurance Cup final, the sponsors have had a special 12 foot by eight foot strip made.

And it’ll be on show just inside the Braehead West Mall entrance between New Look and Boots between 10am and 4pm tomorrow

And accompanying the massive black and white striped shirt will be the actual Co-operative Insurance League Cup, which young Saints fans can be photographed with.

Supporters can also sign the giant strip and take part in a special skill-sapping keepy-uppy competition.

The Co-operative Insurance Cup Keepy Uppy Challenge is a fun activity aimed at seeing how many times people can keep the ball up in the air within sixty seconds.

There will be prizes up for grabs for the winners.

The idea is the brainchild of The Co-operative Insurance and naturally they teamed up with every Buddie’s favourite paper to make sure that word gets about.

And the giant strip will be presented to St Mirren before the big match in a bid to give the team some good luck for on the day.

Saints qualified for the final – where they will meet Rangers on Sunday, March 21 – by beating Hearts 1-0 in the semi-finals.

Billy Mehmet scored the only goal of the game.

The Buddies have never lifted the League Cup before and last won a major final 23 years ago, when they edged Dundee United 1-0 at Hampden in the Scottish Cup.

Braehead general manager, Peter Beagley, said: “We’re delighted to be playing our part in the St Mirren celebrations along with the fans.

“The giant strip is sure to be a big attraction and a talking point for our shoppers.

“Of course, Braehead has been a big supporter of St Mirren as we have been the club’s main sponsor for the past four years.”