Flynn receives all the plaudits after reaching major milestone
In modern day Scottish football, there are very few players who stay at a single club long enough to reach century-appearance milestones.
As soon as a player starts to shine in the Premiership ,they’re inevitably snapped up by a bigger club, either in Scotland or down south in England.
Now 33-year-old St Mirren midfielder Ryan Flynn might be coming to the tail end of his football career.
But making his 100th appearance for the Buddies against Livingston on Saturday afternoon was still an impressive landmark in the affable Edinburgh man’s football career.
All the current noise is about the future of his midfield partner Jamie McGrath, who looks destined to shine at a higher level in the non-too-distant future.
But the Ireland international insists Flynn has played a big part in his development since he made the big switch from Dundalk to Paisley in January last year.
McGrath told Express Sport : “A massive congratulations to Flynny on making his 100th appearance. It’s a fantastic achievement and thoroughly deserved.
“He’s been a top pro ever since I made the move here. He’s always been on my side and has given me any advice I’ve needed to help settle in, both on and off the pitch.”
McGrath isn’t the only midfielder to have sung Flynn’s praises this season.
Young Saints starlet Dylan Reid revealed earlier this campaign how much of an impact Flynn has made on his early development, also revealing he hated facing him in training because he was “so good” it was difficult to get the ball off him.
Flynn moved to St Mirren from Oldham in January 2018, having spent a season and a half with the English League One side.
The former Liverpool and Sheffield United star was brought in by Jack Ross and went on to play a key part in helping the Buddies lift the Championship title in style in 2018.
Jim Goodwin became Saints boss in June 2019, and while he hasn’t always found a starting berth for Flynn, the current Saints boss insists he has been a key member of the squad in recent years and is yet to let him down on or off the pitch.
“I’m delighted for Flynny,” Goodwin said. “He’s been a great servant to the club and he’s been a terrific player for me since I came in a little over two and a half years ago.
“He’s a top pro. He’s a great lad in the dressing room, a real model professional to all the young lads in there.
“He shows the importance of looking after yourself, keeping yourself fit and he never lets me down to be honest.
“I could throw him in at right-back, right wing-back, that sitting midfield position he’s played the last couple of games.
“You know you’re going to get a performance from him every single time so full credit to him.
“He deserved a win against Livingston to be honest and I’m disappointed we couldn’t get it for him.”
Flynn will be looking to make it 101 appearances in the stripes this weekend when St Mirren travel to Tynecastle to take on Hearts.
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