Excitement is building as we gear up for our first European tie since 1987. 

A fifth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership last season saw Stephen Robinson’s side secure European football for the first time in 37 years and we found out that a trip to Iceland or Albania awaits in the UEFA Conference League. 

We are just a month away from our UEFA Conference League Second Round tie with Saints set to face either Valur FC from Iceland or Albania’s KF Vllaznia following last week’s draw. 

While everyone is excited, not knowing exactly where we are heading until a week before the tie has thrown up many challenges. The club has been working hard on two scenarios for the away and home fixtures on July 25th and August 1st respectively and wishes to provide supporters with an update so far. 

Travel 

While we continue to explore the possible opportunity to support fan travel, this is highly unlikely due to the logistical challenges we are facing in organising travel and accommodation for the first-team with such a short turnaround time.

Supporters have asked about the potential of chartering a flight for fans but, unfortunately, this is proving unfeasible due to cost, availability and turnaround.

We will provide you with a further update in due course, as soon as possible.

Tickets - Away

We know there is huge interest from supporters in both these matches and are anticipating limited supply of tickets depending on the opponent we will face. 

We are also aware some supporters may not want to travel to both destinations and that ticket variance is significant. As such a ballot will take place for each match scenario with both treated as separate entities. 

The ballot will run from Thursday 4th July and will close on Wednesday 10th July. Details on how to register for the ballot will follow in the coming days. 

Terms and conditions are as follows: 

• Only season ticket holders are eligible to apply. Season tickets are still available on early bird general sale so get yours now before full prices kick in from Monday 1st July. 
• You must only apply if you plan to travel to the destination you are applying for. 
• Only one ticket per ballot entry. 
• Over 12s only can enter the ballot.
• Adults with an under-12 can apply on their behalf, providing both have season tickets. There will be an allocation for parent and child in the ballot. 
• Tickets are non-transferable. ID will be required to collect them. 

When the ballots go live, please fill in the forms with all the information requested. If you do not complete all fields your entry will be null and void. You must provide the following information when entering the ballot: 

• Name
• Email Address
• Home Address
• Date of Birth
• Your seat number at The SMiSA Stadium
• Accessibility requirements (i.e. wheelchair with carer etc.) 

You will know ahead of the match whether you have been successful in the ballot and more information will be provided about how to purchase and collect your ticket if successful. 

We are unable to confirm the ticket allocation for each destination as yet but we are working with the respective clubs on this and will update further when we can. 

Tickets - Home

Our second leg fixture will take place at The SMiSA Stadium on Thursday 1st August with kick-off time to be confirmed. 

Priority tickets will go on sale to season tickets holders from Thursday 4th July until Wednesday 10th July to claim their seat. Season Ticket holders will only be able to purchase their seat and cannot buy multiple tickets. 

General sale will commence from Thursday 11th July and prices will be confirmed in the coming days. 

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Roland Idowu on loan until the end of the season subject to clearance.

The midfielder joins on a temporary transfer from English League One side Shrewsbury Town.

Born in Dublin, Roland began his career in Ireland with St Joseph’s before moving across to England for spells at Southampton and Cardiff City.

The 22-year-old returned to Ireland where he played with Bohemians and Waterford FC, where he played with Saints defender Richard Taylor. His form at Waterford saw him earn a move to Shrewsbury in January 2024 after scoring 15 goals and registering 20 assists in 74 matches for the Irish side. 

Capped by Republic of Ireland at U16, U17 and U18 level, Roland becomes our latest summer signing after James Scott, Shaun Rooney, Ellery Balcombe and Oisin Smyth.

Roland told stmirren.com: "I'm delighted to be here.

"I've heard a lot about the club and spoke to the manager and Diarmuid O'Carroll. I'm really happy and excited for what the club is pushing for this season. 

"I know Richard Taylor," he continued. "We played together before and he told me it was a good club. I've seen what the club achieved last season and how they are pushing to go further. I just want to come in and help out. 

I'm excited to get out in front of the fans and get playing again. I'm a creative player who gives a lot physically, I like to get about the place with goals and assists. Speaking with the manager, he has given me the confidence that I can come in and do that."

Speaking to stmirren.com, manager Stephen Robinson said: "Roland is someone we feel that is highly talented.

"He can play as an eight, he can play anywhere in the midfield and he can play a little bit further forward in behind the strikers.

He's different from what we have and someone I've kept an eye on from afar so we're delighted to have him on board."

St Mirren host English League Two side Fleetwood Town at The SMiSA Stadium in a pre-season friendly match.

Saints welcome Charlie Adam's side to Paisley on Saturday 13th July and tickets are now on sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office and online. 

Match Details

St Mirren vs Fleetwood Town
Pre-Season Friendly
Venue: The SMiSA Stadium, Paisley
Date: Saturday 13th July 2024
Kick-off: 3pm

Please note that only the Main and West Stands will be opened for St Mirren supporters at this match. Tickets for the home end are available at the St Mirren Ticket Office and HERE. Fleetwood Town supporters can buy their tickets directly from Fleetwood. Season tickets are not valid for this match. 

Ticket Prices

Adult - £12
Concessions* - £6
Under 12 - £3

*Over 65, 12-17, Full-Time Students with valid matriculation card.

Ticket Office Phone No: (0141) 840-6130
St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com

St Mirren Football Club is thrilled to announce that Stephen McGinn has returned to the club as he joins the St Mirren Youth Academy on a full-time basis. 

A St Mirren Hall-of-Fame inductee, Stephen will be taking up the role of U18s coach after his retirement from playing. 

The former Saints captain announced his retirement last week following a career that saw him make over 200 appearances for the Buddies across two spells, winning the Scottish Championship in 2018 and securing our return to the top-flight. As well as his time in Paisley, Stephen turned out at the likes of Watford, Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield United, Wycombe Wanderers, Dundee, Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Falkirk. 

The 35-year-old has been working with the U16s at the Academy on a part-time basis since November 2023 and will begin his new full-time role on Monday 24th June. 

Speaking to stmirren.com, Stephen said: "I feel like it was the right time to stop playing and I'm thankful that the club offered me the job when it did.

"You don't want to wish away holidays, but I'm really looking forward to getting started next week.

"I joined the Academy in November but was still very respectful of my main job at the time being the Falkirk captain. When I got offered the job to come back in full-time and have it be my main job, I'm really excited about it.

"It's always been a path that I wanted to go into after I finished playing. I've been at St Mirren for a long time as a player and there's a brilliant academy here that will help me get better as a coach. As well as coaching players, the manger coaches coaches. There's an environment that can make me better but my primary job is to try and get players into this first team. 

Seeing three academy graduates at the club involved with Scotland [at the Euros] gives a motivation to us as coaches and to the players that there's no ceiling here.

"I know what it takes to come out the academy and be a first team player. I've seen it first hand with teammates, myself and my brother. I'm here to earn my stripes and show the players and coaches that I deserve to be here."

Head of Academy, Allan McManus added: "We're absolutely delighted to get Stephen on board.

"Stephen has been with us for around seven months working with the under-16s whilst he was at Falkirk. He'll be working with the under-18s and have support from myself and Craig McLeish [Head of Youth Programme].

We have been working behind the scenes to try and get Stephen in on a permanent basis and we're delighted that has come to fruition. 

"We know how Stephen is regarded at the football club. He's been excellent with us over the last few months at the academy and he knows exactly what the club is all about which is important. He's also walked the walked in relation to being a player so that experience is huge and can only add a great deal of value to our young players.

"It's a win-win for Stephen as well getting the chance to work with some of the best coaches around in the manager, Diarmuid O'Carroll and Brian Kerr. There's no better learning environment than that and we also want to help him as much as we can."

Manager Stephen Robinson says St Mirren's UEFA Conference League draw is an exciting one for players, staff and supporters. 

Saints found out they will face either Icelandic side Valur or Albanian outfit FK Vllaznia in the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round following today's draw in Switzerland. 

It’ll be the Buddies' first European tie since 1987 and our first ever competitive encounter against team from either Iceland or Albania.

While the manager is looking forward to the tie, he confessed that whoever Saints face will present a difficult challenge for his side.

Speaking after the draw, the gaffer told stmirren.com: "I think it's a really good draw - but a tough one too. 

"We've avoided two of the big sides that were unseeded in Häcken and Brann. The ties we face give us an opportunity, one I believe the fans will be really excited about in terms of travel.

We obviously have to wait and see who we get but we're delighted to be involved at this level of competition."

Saints could have faced NIFL Premiership side Cliftonville or League of Ireland Premier Division's Derry City following the initial groupings made this morning.

But the manager admits that drawing a side from either Iceland or Albania gives it more of a continental feel.

"It feels more like a European game of course. We still have to navigate our way past them but it will be an exciting trip for the fans. 

It will be a different test for us as players and coaches. I've already spoken to a few of them and they're already really looking forward to it. 

"We will have the advantage of seeing both sides in action against each other. We'll be watching the first tie and will have representatives there, if not myself, to make sure that we get the view of it and we will prepare like we do for every other game. But ultimately we'll prepare like we do for every other game. The world is a smaller place in terms of the footage available for other teams. 

"We've had our time off. We've enjoyed it. We're very proud of what we achieved last season and now the challenge is can we take it a step further and progress in Europe.

We know it's a tough tie. We'll need to do a lot of research. But we're all very excited about the challenges the new season will throw up."

St Mirren will face the winners of the Valur/KF Vllaznia in the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round.

The draw in Nyon, Switzerland this afternoon paired the Buddies against either the Icelandic or Albanian sides who will face off in the First Qualifying Round. 

Saints have been drawn away in the first leg with the return leg taking place at The SMiSA Stadium. 

The Opposition 

Saints will be off to either Iceland or Albania for the first time ever in European competition.

Based in the capital of Reykjavík, Valur already have their season underway with the Icelandic side currently sitting third in Besta deild karla after 11 league matches - four points off leaders Víkingur Reykjavík. Valur are one of Iceland's most successful clubs having won the league title on 23 occasions and finished runners up last season to Víkingur. They play at Hlíðarendi Stadium in Reyjavík. Valur's last appearance in Europe saw them defeated 6-0 on aggregate by Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Conference League in 2021. 

KF Vllaznia finished 2023/24 just four points off Albanian Kategoria Superiore winners KF Egnatia. Vllaznia play at The Loro Boriçi Stadium in Shkodër. With a capacity of 16,000, it is a modern all-seater stadium that was rebuilt in 2016. The Albanian side were defeated 3-2 on aggregate by NIFL Premiership side Linfield in the First Qualifying Round of the UEFA Conference League last season. 

When is the Second Qualifying Round? 

The matches are due to be played on Thursday 25th July and Thursday 1st August.

Full details will be confirmed as soon as possible. 

Tickets

We appreciate there will be a lot of interest in this tie. We will be working on two different operational/logistical plans and would ask that supporters please be patient while we work out all the details. These will be communicated as soon as we can. 

Details on tickets will also be confirmed as soon as we can. We would ask that supporters do not contact the Ticket Office regarding tickets until the club is in a position to announce. 

St Mirren Football Club is incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of our 1987 Scottish Cup winning captain Billy Abercromby who has passed at the age of 65. 

A St Mirren Hall of Fame inductee, Billy began his career at Saints in 1975 - signing professional terms following a spell at St Mirren Boys’ Club.

Billy spent 13 seasons in Paisley, becoming a fans’ favourite with his tough tackling, no nonsense style, leading to chants of 'Aber's gonnae get ye' from the terraces.

In his time at Saints, Billy made 367 appearances for the Buddies – nine of which came in European fixtures, a club record. 

Billy was a part of our First Division title winning side in 1976/77, our Anglo Scottish Cup winning side of 1980 and famously captained Saints to our third Scottish Cup triumph in 1987 after a 1-0 win over Dundee United at Hampden. His final match for the club came in 1987 in the second leg of our European Cup Winners Cup tie against Norwegian side Tromso.

Billy would depart Saints in 1988 when he moved to Partick Thistle and had further spells in his career with the likes of Dunfermline Athletic, Cowdenbeath and East Stirlingshire.

The thoughts of everyone at St Mirren are with Billy’s loved ones at the difficult time.

We will find out our European opponents this week when the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round draw takes place in Nyon, Switzerland on Wednesday afternoon.

The UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round will see Saints embark on their first European excursion since 1987. 

Stephen Robinson's side are seeded for the draw and Saints supporters can follow the draw on Wednesday live from 1pm on UEFA.com and UEFA TV.

We have been grouped in Group One of the draw meaning we will face one of:

• SK Brann (NOR)
• BK Häcken (SWE)
• FCB Magpies (GIB)/Derry City (IRL)
• Valur (ISL)/KF Vllaznia (ALB)
• Cliftonville (NIR)

The UEFA Conference League second qualifying ties take place on Thursday 25th July and Thursday 1st August.

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Oisin Smyth on a two-year deal from Oxford United subject to clearance.  

The Northern Ireland midfielder joins Saints on a permanent transfer until summer 2026 from English League One play-off winners.

The 24-year-old began his career at Dungannon Swifts, making his senior debut in 2018 before being named club captain for the 2021/22 season. Oisin would then cross the Irish Sea after over 100 appearances for Swifts to join up with Oxford United in January 2022.

Oisin made 25 appearances and scored one goal for the U’s – a strike against Charlton that earned him the Joey Beauchamp Men's Goal of the Season Award for 2023/24. 

A Northern Ireland U21 international, Oisin becomes our latest summer signing with James Scott's loan being made permanent and Shaun Rooney & Ellery Balcombe also joining up for the new season.

Speaking to stmirren.com, Oisin said: "I've been very impressed with the facilities. I just can't wait to get going now and get playing.

"Following the club last season and seeing how well they did was a massive factor. There were a few factors that caught my attention so I'm glad to get the deal over the line.

My initial chats with the manager were very positive. The main thing we spoke on was development and how he is able to make players better. Game time was massive factor for me. I wanted to come here and play and enjoy football again so that's the main aim. 

"I've had a few different roles where I've played deeper and I've played further forward as well. I'm happy to pop up wherever I'm needed.

"I know Caolan [Boyd-Munce] well. I would stay in touch with him regularly. He spoke very well about the players, the staff and the club in general. I'm at that stage where I just can't wait to get going."

Manager Stephen Robinson added: "I believe Oisin is another really good footballer.

"He’s someone I know from back home. He got a good move to Oxford but didn’t play as much as he wanted and comes in at that age bracket we like. It’s another younger player and hopefully we’ll create another asset for the football club that we believe can get better and better with game time and coaching.

He’s got lot of development and lots of game time to come.

"He can play in numerous different positions, he can play as a six or an eight. After losing Keanu [Baccus] and [Hyeokkyu] Kwon, I believe it’s a really good signing and bolsters our midfield again.

"That’s three players in and our squad is looking strong. It’s now about waiting to see what other players and positions come up. At the minute we are really happy with the business that we’ve done."

The club had explored the potential of opening the 1877 Supporters Club for Scotland's group stage matches, however, it has been concluded that, operationally, opening the bar would not be feasible at this time.