Saints striker Jon Obika took part in a Q&A with supporters on social media this afternoon. 

Find his answers to some of the questions put to him below. 

Q (@dj_nicol): Jon or Jonathan? Also - favourite goal for Saints?

A: Jon and my first goal against St Johnstone

Q (@healy1877): What do you put down to your recent excellent run of form? Also would you like to extend your stay at the club? Lastly, how easy was it to settle in Scotland?

A: Different training drills to do with timing and visualising my position to gain space in the box. Yes, I'd like to. It was difficult to settle as I didn't have a pre-season, but now I'm up to speed I'm enjoying it. 

Q: (@PDE_Sport): Do you ever sing your own song around the house? (and be honest!)

A: Lol, a few times in the shower!

Q: (@saintmurn): Do you feel you've had to change your game a lot since coming up to Scotland? Have you always been seen as a target man or is this a new part of your game you've had to adjust to?

A: I've definitely had to adjust my game as you come up against more defensive formations. I've been a target man or second striker through my career - I enjoy both!

Q: (@cassidy_alan): Do you remember the first song you had to sing in hospitality after a Saints game?

A: I think I sang Happy Birthday in a Barry White tone.

Q: (@PTFblog): Would you rather fight two Junior Morias-sized Gary MacKenzies or one Gary MacKenzie-sized Junior Morias? 

A: Neither! 

Q: (@dorman8smfc): Who do you get in with best in the squad? 

A: Junior Morias

Q: (@cwhyte25): Favourite thing about living in Scotland?

A: The different accents. 

Q: (@kyleblue2401): Who is the funniest in the dressing room? 

A: The duo of Danny Mullen and Cammy MacPherson lol

Q: (@glenvale2004): Our players are ages 15 and 16. What advice would you give to a 15/16 year-old?

A: Don't stop practicing, that's where your confidence comes from.

Q: (@FinnGibson7): Who's the best player you've ever played with?

A: May have been one or two games but more so in training I'd say Gareth Bale or Luka Modric.

Q: (@Gally87): Sophie asks....I play striker for my team and for my school, what advice would you give me to play the same position as you?

A: Enjoy being in position to score goals, make it a habit.

Q: (@AliDeFoy): Who has most influenced your football career and if you could work with any manager dead or alive who would you choose? 

A: My performance coach Jag Shoker and my academy manager at Tottenham John McDermott. If I could work with any manager it would be Sir Alex Ferguson. 

Q: (@RobHall46): How did he score that overhead kick? I must've missed that rehab session somehow

A: You taught me that one on the training ground!

Q: (Garry Williamson) Jon has shown great mental strength during a slower start than he might have liked but is now showing very good form (for which he deserves enormous respect!) What tips could he offer fans they might he able to use in these testing times to strengthen and enhance their own mental health?

A: Try and draw the positive things this period is making us realise. Time is important to everyone, use and share our time wisely.

Q: (Peter Mullan) What are he and the team doing to keep themselves fit. Can they keep themselves at the level of "readiness" they were reaching when the season was halted?

A: We've been given a programme by Junior Mendes which we follow to keep us ready for the restart. Match fitness will always be needed but it'll not take long to get up to speed.

Q: (Derek Heathwood) Jim Goodwin was a tough player but comes across as measured and balanced - what’s he really like in the dressing room? 

A: Very calm and composed, information is always clear. 

Q: (Alistair Orr) The last game against hearts was one of the most spirited performance I've seen in a long time. What do you do to get really hyped up before games?

A: Apart from music, remembering why I wanted to play football (family). 

We continue to share everybody’s frustration that nothing much has changed since last Tuesday in terms of information as to when, and in what form, we will be able to start playing football again. The view at this time from UEFA is that they want all leagues to continue to a conclusion which is one of the main reasons why there has been no decision made on the outcome of this seasons SPFL. We are hoping for more clarity on this situation by the end of this week.

Our view to date on season ticket sales for 2020/21 has been to wait until we had a clearer view of what the future looked like. Hopefully, by the end of this week we will be in a better position to make a decision as to when we should put tickets on sale.

We would like to assure all our supporters that, as a board, we are in constant communication by text and by regular video conferences to ensure we are reacting immediately to any changes in legislation and Government guidelines. We will make sure that we do everything within our power to make sure our club continues to be in a strong position throughout this situation and when we eventually get free from this lockdown.

Street Stuff continue to offer support to the local community in the form of:

• Linking in with Children’s Services to provide activities in schools for emergency services staff.
• Coming up with ideas to get young people involved in online/social media activities.
• Looking at ways we can potentially link in with other youth services to provide activities where possible.

Supporters can still get in touch with us via email.

General Enquiries – info@stmirren.com 

Ticket Office – tickets@stmirren.com 

Fans who wish to purchase anything from the club shop can still do so online. All orders will be processed and posted as quickly as possible, however, as you will all be aware the guidelines for what can be delivered changes on a daily basis. If you have any queries please email the shop on shop@stmirrendirect.co.uk. 

The commercial department will remain open and supporters and sponsors wishing to make contact are advised to do so by email commercial@stmirren.com. 

St Mirren Charitable Foundation

We have been working alongside community partners providing volunteers and last week we took delivery of essential perishable goods donated by Starbucks which we distributed to many worthwhile causes.

The fans have been great coming forward as volunteer drivers and we would ask that they make sure they are following all of our social media feeds below for updates and retweet/share/tag as many relevant parties as possible to raise awareness, it does help.

The players and staff provided messages of support for our wonderful NHS staff. Watch the video here.

Instagram – smfc_charitablefoundation

Twitter - @SMFC_CF

Facebook – St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation

Contact - gayle.brannigan@stmirren.com 

Our team of coaches have been doing a great job with all of the online educational seminars and home workouts for Buds in Boot Camp & FFIT and we are putting most of the workouts on YouTube so that all of the community can get access to them. The fans have been very supportive and vocal on everything we are doing especially with the kids challenges, competitions and tasks and we would welcome any additional ideas they may have on how we can engage and entertain them.

Thank you for all your emails and calls offering support to the club in these difficult times. It is much appreciated and keeps moral strong in these difficult times. Stay safe!

At the start of season 1975/76, Alex Ferguson was beginning to build a team of promising young players who he felt could take Saints back to the top flight. To add some style to the midfield he signed Billy Stark from Anniesland Waverley. Born in Glasgow in 1956, Billy started his football life at school and in the Boys' Brigade, before signing for Anniesland.

He made his first appearance in the stripes against Selkirk in a friendly on 26th July 1975. His competitive debut came on 20th August when he lined up against Montrose in a League Cup match. Despite being just 18-years-old, the manager pitched him straight into the top team squad and he soon became a regular in the starting XI.

Billy’s first goal came in a 2-2 draw with Morton on 6th September and he would go on to score six times in 24 matches over the season as he established himself in the Saints’ midfield. The highlight of this first season was a match against Airdrie at Broomfield on 21st February 1976. With the score tied at 1-1, Billy entered play as a 73rd minute substitute. Five minutes later he scored to put Saints into the lead, before clinching a 3-1 victory with his second goal in the final minute.

Season 1976/77 was one of the best in Saints’ history, as 'Fergie’s Furies' won the First Division in style. Billy played his part, scoring 11 times in 35 league matches. One of these goals was the opener in a 4-0 win over Dundee on 19th April 1977, which secured the title and promotion to the Premier Division. He also scored in a 4-1 Scottish Cup win over Dundee United who were, at the time, top of the Premier Division.

In the top flight, Billy continued to play well and over the following two seasons he clocked up over 80 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 goals as he matured into an exceptionally talented midfield playmaker. 

Stark played in every league game of season 1979/80, scoring eight times, as Saints finished third in the Premier Division, their best ever finish to a league season. He also played a big part in Saints becoming the first (and only) Scottish club to win the Anglo-Scottish Cup. He scored three times in the early rounds as Hibernian, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United were defeated. The final paired Saints with Bristol City. The first leg at Ashton Gate was a high point in his career, as he scored both goals in a 2-0 win to set Saints up for the second leg. He didn’t score in the return leg, but contributed to a 3-1 victory on the night, for a 5-1 aggregate win.

Season 1980/81 was another fine season. Billy played in 39 matches scoring seven goals. He also made his debut in European competition as Saints faced Elfsborg of Sweden in the UEFA Cup. A 2-1 aggregate win took Saints through to the second round where he came face to face with Johnny Rep, Patrick Battiston and the legendary Michel Platini as St Etienne ended Saints adventure with a 2-0 aggregate win.

Billy scored 10 goals in 33 league matches in season 1981/82 but it was the cup competitions that made headlines for Saints with semi-final appearances in both the Scottish and League Cups. Billy played in every match, scoring twice in the League Cup, but it wasn’t enough as Saints failed to reach any of the finals.

The following year was to be Billy’s last in Paisley. He played a total of 42 matches, scoring 11 times. Again, it was the cups that made the headlines with a quarter-final appearance in the League Cup, Billy scoring four times in the competition, including one in the quarter-final 2nd leg, but Saints fell 3-2 to Hearts. The Scottish Cup was also memorable. Victories over Dundee United and Morton took Saints into a quarter-final tie with Airdrie. It took Billy just three minutes to open the scoring. Frank McAvennie and Ian Scanlon made it 3-0 before Billy added another two to complete a 5-0 win and claim his first senior hat-trick. Sadly, in the semi-final Rangers won 1-0 in a replay with a controversial 'goal'in the final minutes of extra-time.

In June 1983, former boss Alex Ferguson paid £70,000 to take Billy north to Aberdeen. In his eight seasons at Love Street he played in 345 matches and scored 84 times,placing him on the seventh rung of Saints all-time scoring charts.

This article first appeared in the St Mirren matchday programme on 18th July 2017 for the match against Livingston.

We've got 10 questions to test your St Mirren knowledge (answers below).

1. On this day last year St Mirren beat Dundee 2-1 in the Ladbrokes Premiership thanks to goals from Danny Mullen and Brad Lyons. Which player was named #SMFCMOM that afternoon?

2. How many goals did Danny Mullen score last season?

3. What was the scoreline when we defeated Dundee on the final day of the 2018/19 season?

4. Tomorrow marks two years since we drew 2-2 with Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium to move a point closer to promotion. Who scored a penalty for Saints that afternoon?

5. Who finished top scorer in our title winning season of 2005/06?

6. Who scored our first goal that season?

7. How many times have St Mirren won the title in the second tier of Scottish football?

8. St Mirren were the only Scottish Club to win the Anglo-Scottish Cup. What season did we win it?

9. Who did we beat in the semi-final of the Anglo-Scottish Cup the season we won it?

10. Which player scored a brace in the second leg of the Anglo-Scottish Cup final?

ANSWERS

1. Ryan Flynn

2. Seven

3. 3-2

4. Harry Davis

5. John Sutton

6. Alan Reid (v Forfar, Challenge Cup)

7. Five

8. 1979-80

9. Sheffield United

10. Doug Somner

We are aware of an incident this afternoon where a member of the public has entered the stadium and run on to the pitch.

We would like to make supporters aware of the dangers of entering the stadium illegally. Climbing the fence at the stadium could cause serious injury due to its height and the anti-climb spikes at the top.

The club also wishes to remind supporters of Government guidelines during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. People should stay at home and only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home). The single most important action we can all take in the fight against coronavirus is to stay at home in order to save lives and protect the NHS.

The individual involved has not followed Government guidelines and could have caused himself serious injury while illegally entering the stadium.

This type of situation will not be tolerated and CCTV footage has been passed on to the police.

John 'Cockles' Wilson retired over fifty years ago but is still remembered fondly around St Mirren Park, and had a supporter’s club named in his honour.

Born in West Kilbride, in 1935, he gained the nickname 'Cockles' from his time scouring Ayrshire beaches for shellfish to help with the family business.

Originally a centre forward, he began playing with Ardeer Recreation in Stevenston and was brought to the attention of Saints in 1955. Included in the Saints’ team as a trialist for a friendly match against Reading on 21st March 1955, under the assumed name of Alan Robertson, his match lasted just three minutes, as he broke his collar bone! However, he was offered a contract and signed on 16th April 1955 as a 19-year-old.

Over the next two years John spent a lot of time in Germany, completing his national service in the RAF, so playing opportunities were limited. He made his top team debut against Queen of the South on 11th August 1956 in a League Cup match at Palmerston, but had to wait until February 1957 for his next start, when he lined up at left back against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup. His league debut came three days later against Queen of the South at Palmerston and he went on to play in the remaining ten matches of the season, establishing himself as the regular left back.

Having completed his national service, 1957/58 was the season that he became a regular in the team, cementing his reputation as a tough tackling full back. He played in 41 of 43 competitive matches and scored his first goals in the top team. With a striker crisis affecting the club, manager Willie Reid played him at centre forward for a match against Hibs on 22nd February 1958. John netted once and led the line well in an amazing 5-5 draw. He continued at centre forward for the remainder of the season scoring seven times in 12 games.

Season 1958/59 opened with a League Cup tie against Airdrie on 9th August and John continued at centre forward, scoring his first senior hat-trick in a 4-3 win. He continued to lead the forward line until the New Year, scoring nine times along the way. By the time the Scottish Cup campaign got underway, he was back in his full back position and, after missing the first-round thrashing of Peebles Rovers, he played in the next three rounds as Saints made their way to the final.

On 25th April 1959, John lined up at Hampden to play his part in bringing the cup back to Paisley following a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen.

Over the next three seasons, Cockles played solidly at left back, playing 126 matches. The highlight of this period was another Scottish Cup final appearance, unfortunately, losing to Rangers in April 1962. The disappointment of this was countered by him being awarded the Saints player of the year award for the season.

Season 1962/63 saw him play in just 20 matches due to injury, but he was back to fitness, and goal scoring form, for the following season, as he scored six times in 34 matches. He scored a further two goals from 41 matches during season 1964/65, bringing his total to 24 goals. Not a bad record for a player who played mostly at full back.

Cockles played in four matches at the beginning of season 1965/66 but an injury against Morton at the end of August was to keep him out for the rest of the season. He made a return at the start of the following season, but only managed two League Cup matches before dropping out of the team again.

He returned to the team for two matches in January 1967, but these were to be his last competitive games for the club. He made a substitute appearance in a friendly against Queen of the South on 1st March, but never appeared in the first team again. At the end of this season Saints were relegated to the Second Division and Cockles decided to retire.

Over his 11 years at Love Street he played a total of 320 competitive games and scored 24 times. He will always be remembered as part of the 1959 cup winning team.

Towards the end of 1984, it was announced that Cockles was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and the club organised a benefit dinner for him. Sadly, John died on 24th February 1985. The dinner went ahead in his memory, at the Glynhill Hotel in Renfrew, on 25th March 1985. It was attended by many of his former colleagues as well as fans and other big names from the world of football. A fitting tribute to one of Saints’ greatest players.

This article first appeared in the St Mirren matchday programme on 24th September 2017 for the match against Queen of the South.

Everyone at St Mirren applauds NHS workers for their hard work each and every day especially during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

We've got 10 questions to test your St Mirren knowledge (answers below).

1. Who scored St Mirren's first league goal of 2019/20?

2. Which lower league side did the St Mirren Colts beat in the third round of the Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Cup?

3. How many league matches have Saints won this season?

4. Stephen McGinn reached what St Mirren landmark this season?

5. Who captained Saints in the 1999/2000 season?

6. What side did we beat 8-0 on our way to winning the 99/00 First Division Title?

7. Which player scored a hat-trick in that 8-0 win?

8.  St Mirren win the 99/00 First Division title with a 3-0 win against who?

9. Who scored St Mirren's first goal in the then SPL in 2000? 

10.  St Mirren's first SPL win came against which team?

ANSWERS

1. Ilkay Durmus (v Aberdeen)

2. Stirling Albion

3. Seven

4. 200 appearances

5. Tommy Turner

6. Clydebank

7. Barry Lavety

8. Raith Rovers

9. Ricky Gillies

10. Dundee

Given the uncertainties that still remain about when we will be playing competitive football again the club needs to budget to ensure we can continue to pay all players and staff and make sure we are in a strong position to ride out this storm and continue our upward progress as a football club.

The biggest commitment any individual supporter can make to our football club on a yearly basis is by buying a season ticket.

The vast majority of fans getting in touch with us have said they do not want any money back from this years’ season tickets should the season not be played to a conclusion, and all at the club hugely appreciate your loyalty and support at this difficult time.

However we feel the least we can do is offer something back, so we would like to offer all current season ticket holders entry to one league cup game and one pre-season friendly free of charge next year in return for not getting any compensation this year’s season ticket.

We are aware that some clubs have already put season tickets on sale but we would prefer to wait for a bit more clarity before making a decision on a release date. We can assure you that there will be no increase in prices next season unless the situation changes dramatically.

The stadium and airdome remain closed for the foreseeable future but we will continue to update you on a weekly basis.

Buddievision will remain free for the rest of this season but we would ask all those who can afford to do so to continue their monthly subscriptions as it is a valuable source of income for the club and every last penny is vital at this time. If you have any inspirational ideas of things you would like to see on Buddievision please contact james.hunter@stmirren.com 

Supporters can still get in touch with us via email.

General Enquiries – info@stmirren.com 

Ticket Office – tickets@stmirren.com 

Fans who wish to purchase anything from the club shop can still do so online. All orders will be processed and posted as quickly as possible, however, as you will all be aware the guidelines for what can be delivered changes on a daily basis. If you have any queries please email the shop on shop@stmirrendirect.co.uk 

The commercial department will remain open and supporters and sponsors wishing to make contact are advised to do so by email commercial@stmirren.com.

Street Stuff have 11 staff members assisting with the delivery of activities in schools which are currently open for the children of emergency service workers. We will continue to assist the local community in any way we can to help us all through this crisis. All other Street Stuff programs are cancelled for now.

Over the course of the past week since the stadium closed, the team at St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation have worked hard to ensure that there is no delivery interruption to any of our programs. Last night was the first night of the new online workouts and educational content and it was very successful and although these were created for our groups, they will be posted on all of the social media platforms, stated below, and YouTube for all to see and take part.

Our community football team have been very creative with all of their children’s activities, from skills & drills, to fun comps & challenges and educational projects, with the coaches, parents and now players taking part. We will be rewarding participants in unique ways and would again encourage you all to follow the social media platforms below for updates as these activities will be posted most days.

As you know we have pledged our support and resources to Star project and other local partners and would thank our dear friends at Manorview Leisure for reaching out to us to offer us all of the fresh produce from their hotels which we donated to Star and are now distributing out to community fridges and those in need.

While the planned Kiltwalk has been postponed we are still taking donations from anyone who feels they can help with the Hunter Foundation adding a 50% Bonus to fundraising totals as of 31st March.

The Foundation can be contacted on any of the following channels:

Instagram – smfc_charitablefoundation
Twitter - @SMFC_CF
Facebook – St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation
Email – gayle.brannigan@stmirren.com

We thank you all for your continued support and urge you to stay safe and follow the Government’s guidelines so we can all get back to watching the game we love as soon as possible!

Prices have been reduced for the 2019/20 St Mirren home and away shirts! 

Adult shirts have been reduced to just £25, while kids shirts are down to just £20. Limited stock is available to order online.

Due to the stadium being closed as part of Government guidelines in the ongoing fight against coronavirus, orders could take a few weeks to process.