Saints’ butcher boys still on same side after 60 years
Part-time players no longer exist in Scotland’s top-flight.
St Mirren have recently recruited a number of players from professional clubs at home and abroad.
They didn’t look as far afield 60 years ago. The Paisley side won the Scottish Cup in 1959. But their success didn’t guarantee that players would be tempted by a full-time contract.
The butcher boys of Love Street were a prime example.
Jim Tierney and Sandy Myles had broken into St Mirren’s first-team but were faced with a dilemma.
Would they continue with their jobs with a butcher in Camelon, or accept a wage increase and switch to full-time football?
As Jim Tierney recalls, they elected to keep the butcher’s aprons and it wasn’t just money that influenced the decision.
He said: “Sandy’s father ran the butchers and my uncle worked there.
“I trained at Paisley two nights-a-week and never felt my fitness levels suffered.
“Being full-time meant you had a lot of spare time and I felt it was better to keep occupied.”
Jim’s not completely sure how he came to be on Saints’ radar.
He said: “When I came out of the Army, I played one game for Camelon Juniors and then St Mirren player Bobby Flavell appeared at my house asking me to sign.
“St Mirren player Tommy Leishman was a team-mate in the Army team and, I think, he maybe told them I was worth looking at.”
Jim scored two goals as St Mirren beat Motherwell to win the 2nd XI Cup for the second time in their history.
The first team made it a double that season by beating Aberdeen to win the Scottish Cup.
Jim went on: “I was at Hampden with my wife and it was a great day. We were all made to feel a part of the squad.
“I played at centre-half and right-back. My firstteam debut came when the Cup Final captain, Davie Lapsley, got injured.
“I was supposed to be playing against Hibs at Easter Road for the reserves, but got a telegram telling me to report to Love Street.”
Jim became a regular performer in Saints’ top team over three seasons, before being persuaded to try his luck in England.
He explained: “Former East Fife player Danny Mclennan turned up at the door and told me he’d become manager of Worcester City.
“He spoke very highly of the club and that made up my mind to have a go at something different.
“They played in the Southern League and I was given a job in a food factory that catered for Marks and Spencer.
“Danny didn’t last long at Worcester – he left to take over as manager of the Philippines – and was replaced by Bill Jones.
“I spent two years down there. I still look out for their results.
“Falkirk wanted to sign me when I came home, but they weren’t doing too well.
“My uncle advised I should make a choice between football or a job. I decided to go back to the butchering.
“Later, I spent 12 years working for ICI at Grangemouth.”
Football continued to throw up choices for the Tierney family.
Jim, now 84, said: “My son, Grant, had a long professional career but always stayed part-time.
“Jim Leishman was constantly on at him to go full-time when he was at Dunfermline.
“My other son, Scott, was at Rangers but was torn between football and golf. He chose the golf.”
The game takes people in different directions, but St Mirren’s butcher boys are still very much a team.
Jim said: “Sandy and I have always stayed in touch. We go to watch Camelon Juniors home games and always stand together in the same spot.”