Don't take club for granted

Jan 9 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

THE capacity crowd that packed into Love Street on Saturday for the final ever league match at the stadium has led to hopes that attendances for St Mirren’s games at the new ground will be boosted.

There were tears and cheers as the Saints faithful brought the curtain down on 115 years of history at Love Street.

A crowd of 10,189 witnessed the match against Motherwell and the emotional scenes afterwards.

And that has prompted many diehard Saints fans to pose the question: ‘Where did all those part-time supporters appear from?’

Eddie Linklater, of Paisley, said: “Isn’t it funny how these St Mirren fans came out of the woodwork when we had our last ever game at Love Street?

“What I want to know is this – where were the mysterious thousands when the club really needed them?

“I remember Saints playing in the First Division and fighting against relegation.

“We were getting crowds of less than 3,000. Scandalous!

“If those fans had bothered their backsides to turn up at home games a few years ago, just think where the club would be now.

“I understand the sentimental pull of going back to Love Street one last time but I just hope these fans don’t take the club for granted again because we need to make sure the new ground is virtually full of home fans every week.

“That way, we can really progress and become that top six club that everyone knows we should be.

“My message to these supporters is simple – come along to support your local club and then you’ll really see us take off.”

Regular contributor ‘Northseasaint’ added: “More than 10,000 people turned up for the last game at Love Street.

“If they’d been coming every second week, we wouldn’t have had to move. We could have improved the old ground.”

Stephen Hannigan, of Renfrewshire, hopes the new stadium in Greenhill Road will be able to attract more Saints fans to games.

He said: “The new stadium is lovely and long overdue if the truth be told.

“I’m praying that we can end the pettiness of some fans who think moving to Ferguslie Park is a step down in the world.

“At the end of the day, the club had to move to clear the debt.

“Just because the new stadium is situated in an area of Paisley that is perceived as being deprived, it should not stop the punters from backing the club. Oh and let’s stop calling the new stadium ‘The Feegie Dome’ – it’s doing my head in.”

Allan Johnston, of Elderslie, wrote in to praise the Paisley Daily Express for our 16-page souvenir special in Saturday’s edition which marked the end of the Love Street stadium in style.

The 57-year-old fan said: “Credit where credit is due guys, the coverage was excellent and I think the newspaper really excelled itself.

“It was great to hear from the players of the past. A smashing read.”

With the Love Street farewell now done and dusted, thoughts are turning to tomorrow’s Scottish Cup trip to Brechin.

Both Billy Mehmet and Craig Dargo are suspended for the fourth round clash. But ‘Sensualsaint’ feels Saints are on a roll and will comfortably win the game.

He said: “I think we are starting to look the part in the SPL and Brechin had better watch out as I feel we’ll steamroller them.

“My prediction is a 3-0 win for the Buddies.”

Meanwhile, one Saints fan fears the curse of the Manager of the Month Award will strike again – and is urging Buddies boss Gus MacPherson to hand his back!

MacPherson also won the award back in October and Saints went on to have a miserable month in November.

The supporter posted his message on the Buddie Banter website under the user name ‘l33tch3f’ and it read: “Could Gus please refuse to take the December Manager of the Month Award from the SPL, considering what happened last time?”

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Even if you don’t have access to the internet, you can post your comments to Buddie Banter, 14 New Street, Paisley, PA1 1YA, e-mail the sports desk direct at pbehan@s-un.co.uk or drinaldi@s-un.co.uk or send a fax to 0141 887 6254.

Don’t forget to leave your name and the area where you stay and we’ll do the rest but, please, keep your comments clean!