PSJ looking to Bury final woes with win
St Johnstone’s supporters’ club PSJ are heading south this weekend as they start their British Cup campaign.
PSJ will face Bury B on Saturday in the IFA British Challenge Cup second round and player-manager Graeme Doig is looking to go one better than last year, when they were runners-up.
He said: “We are really looking forward to our trip down south and hope for another positive result, which will make the long journey home more enjoyable for us all.
“We have a squad of 15 plus a few family and friends setting off at 5.30am to get down for an 11am kick-off in Bury.
“We are expecting a tough match against a very good team that finished fourth in the British League last year.
“This will be our first meeting against them but we have enjoyed success against English teams in recent seasons.
“Last year we won away to West Bromwich Albion before defeating Manchester City at McDiarmid, Livingston away, Rochdale in the semi-final then unfortunately lost in the final to Stirling Albion.
“We have experienced three cup final defeats in the last five years and are determined to change that so a good cup run is one our goals this season.
“We know Bury will offer stiff competition and a tough match is expected on Saturday.
“We did, however, win the Scottish league last season for the first time in our 19 year history, so that winning mentality has been one of our strengths, together with hard work – supporting each other and enjoying playing football.
“This has seen us return to the top of the league table after our last game and we hope for more shared success this season.
“We have much the same squad as last season, with a couple of players dropping out for family and work commitments, but we’ve added a couple of younger players to help the older guys keep up with play.
“The great thing about our team is we are all St Johnstone fans who play together in the morning before watching Saints in the afternoon and often socialise together in the evening.
“There was even a big contingent of us across in Lithuania for the Europa League game in July and we all enjoyed more than a few beers together.
“The season is going very well, with only one defeat in the opening 12 games. The league is extremely close, with Graeme Doig is back row, far left any one of six or seven teams in contention for the title.
“We are also through to the semi-final of the Scottish Cup and look forward to the draw in the coming weeks.
“We got new strips this season with the help of our new sponsor Tayvista. This is the first time we have had PSJbadged strips.
“Thank you again to all my players who give up their time travelling the length and breadth of the country each week and we certainly hope to reap the rewards that our commitment and determination to PSJ and St Johnstone deserves.”
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