A night to remember for Buddies

Jun 2 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

MORE than 600 St Mirren fans turned out to mark the end of the 2008/09 SPL season at the club’s Annual Premier Awards Dinner.

Master of Ceremonies was BBC Radio Scotland sports pundit Chick Young, while Brechin City manager Jim Duffy and Sheriff Lindsay Wood were the guest speakers who kept the packed audience in stitches.

Before the event really kicked off, the crowd gave a rousing reception to the current St Mirren squad who secured their top flight safety with another dramatic end to the campaign and the players were applauded to their table.

And the famous St Mirren team who won the Scottish Cup in 1959 were also given an equally rapturous welcome when they too were applauded into the Blythswood Suite at the Normandy Hotel.

The surviving members of that team from 50 years ago were the following players – Gerry Baker, Jackie Neilson, Jackie McGugan, Tommy Leishman, Jim Rodger, Tommy Bryceland, Alistair Miller and Davie Walker.

Later on in the night there were several prizes up for grabs in the raffle, before the Player of the Year awards were presented.

There was a glorious double for St Mirren right-back Jack Ross, who has enjoyed an excellent debut season at the Saints.

Ross, 32, signed on from Falkirk last year and went on to become Gus MacPherson’s most consistent player, making the right-back position his own.

Ross won the Official Website Player of the Year Trophy as well as the Club Player of the Year accolade.

On hand to present Jack with his website award was David Gordon, the PGA professional at Paisley Golf Club, while St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson delivered the club Player of the Year trophy to the Saints defender.

There was success too for midfield ace Stephen McGinn, who won the Young Player of the Year award.

McGinn, 20, will be best remembered for his winning goal against Rangers in October which secured a precious 1-0 win to hand the Buddies their first league win over the Old Firm giants at Love Street for 22 long years.

But McGinn also put in an excellent shift for McPherson’s side on the left side of midfield and in total he went on to make 32 appearances this season.

Midfield playmaker Andy Dorman, left, scooped the Braehead Player of the Year award after a successful season too.

Unfortunately he was not there in person to collect the accolade because he is currently in the US to finalise his wedding preparations.

As a result team-mate Hugh Murray collected the trophy on his behalf from Gary Turnbull, operations manager at Braehead.

St Mirren’s new playing kit for season 2009/10 was also on display and fans got their first glimpse of it.

Afterwards, the grand auction took place with several items of football memorabilia up for grabs, which helped raise funds for the club.

And before the vote of thanks Sheriff Lindsay Wood took centre stage at the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew to keep the large crowd in fits of laughter.