Flashback A summer spectacular

As you all prepare for the schools to finish, or to pack your suitcase for your holidays, football clubs the length and breadth of the country are already preparing themselves for pre-season.

As always, St Mirren will dig out three or four sides to compete again, nothing too spectacular.

Of course, we might be lucky and get a wee trip to England or Ireland to look forward to but, barring that, it will be the same old schedule of following the side to the likes of Cowdenbeath and Albion Rovers.

I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that by the way, but back in the day it wasn’t just little kickabouts here or there... it wasn’t even 11 v 11.

During the 1970s, ‘80s and into the early ‘90s, five-a-side tournaments, and the legendary Tennents Having a ball

St Mirren FC is a club with a proud tradition – and a history to match.

They have been at the centre of the Scottish game since their formation in 1877.

This week we recall the days of summer tournaments and one in particular for cup-winning Saints.

six-a-side competition sprung up featuring a host of professional sides competing indoors in a bid to get their hands on a trophy.

A number of newspapers got in on the act by sponsoring the competitions which would become a firm fans favourite both north and south of the border, with supporters flocking to the likes of the Kelvin Hall for their summer fix of footballing action.

And it wasn’t just youth teams these competitions attracted.

No, this was a coveted piece of silverware that all sides wanted to get their hands on prior to the real football starting a few weeks down the line.

This week’s Flashback shows the St Mirren side of 1982 – the victorious St Mirren side of 1982 – having won the Daily Record’s own five-a-side competition.

And, as you can see from the line-up, the Saints were clearly gunning for glory by playing the experienced Jimmy Bone, of course as captain, alongside future club legends Campbell Money and Lex Richardson.

Billy Stark and Gardner Spiers complete the line-up as Bone raises the trophy aloft, having been presented it by Celtic captain Danny McGrain.

It may have been some pre-season success but the season itself was nothing too spectacular as Rikki McFarlane’s side finished the season in fifth spot in the top flight.

Back then St Mirren had greater expectations of course, but a jaunt to the Scottish Cup semi-final and a fifth place finish was nothing to be ashamed of.