St Mirren Football Club were paid a visit by Who Cares? Scotland yesterday as they look to recruit volunteers for the Children's Hearing Scotland's Children's Panel in Renfrewshire.

Jack Ross, Stephen McGinn and Tony Fitzpatrick met with local care experienced young people at the St Mirren Training Ground in Ralston yesterday afternoon as they looked to lend their support to the campaign. 

Who Cares? Scotland is a national third sector organisation working with care experienced young people across Scotland. They wish to see a Scotland where care experienced people feel they are equal members of society and do not experience stigma and discrimination. 

2% of 0-17 year-olds in Renfrewshire are looked after which is higher than the national figure of 1.5%. 

Children's Hearing Scotland desperately need ordinary people who care about Renfrewshire's children to sit on panels that make life changing decisions about them. 

St Mirren chief executive, Tony Fitzpatrick said: "It's important for St Mirren to support this as we are a community club. It's more than just a football club, it cares for the community. Who Cares Scotland do a phenomenal job and we are happy to support them."

If you would like to find out more you can follow Children's Hearing Scotland on Twitter or go to their website.

The St Mirren U20s get their 2017/18 campaign underway this evening as they take on Partick Thistle in the SPFL Development League. 

The match between the young Buddies and Jags will take place at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie with a 6pm kick-off. 

It's likely to be a big season for the likes of Conor O'Keefe and Cameron MacPherson who look to follow the likes of Kyle Magennis, Lewis Morgan and Jack Baird in making the step up to the first team this year.

To find out more about the SPFL Development League please click here.

Gavin Reilly says St Mirren showed great determination in their win over Livingston on Saturday.

The Buddies went on to beat the West Lothian side 3-1 at the Tony Macaroni Arena despite being reduced to 10 men for the second week in a row after Gary Irvine's first half sending off. 

With the scores level at the interval, it was the striker's second half double that sealed the three points for Saints. 

Speaking to stmirren.com, Reilly said: "I'm delighted - more so just for the win. 

Going down to ten men is always hard, but we came in at half time and always knew the belief was there.

"It shows the good character and ability we've got in the changing room. At times we did have to sit in and as a striker I was behind the ball most of the time.

"I had a chance in the first half that I was disappointed that I didn't score. But you've got to keep that belief that if you get another chance you are going to take it.

"From a personal point of view it's great to get another couple of goals.

"It's a great victory especially after getting beaten off them in the league cup," he continued.

"It just shows if we keep going and keep the belief then we are going to win games." 

The win over Livingston moved Saints into fourth place in the Ladbrokes Championship after three matches. 

And ahead of this weekend's clash with top of the table Dundee United, Reilly confessed it's pleasing for Saints to be where they are at this early stage. 

You get the first three games out of the way and it's a bit of nip and tuck," he said.

"The league is starting to separate now and we are up there at the end of the table where we want to be.

"Dundee United have won their first three games but coming down to Paisley it's going to be a hard game for them so hopefully we can go and get the victory." 

Step branding at The Paisley 2021 Stadium is a new cost effective way to support the club whether you are a dedicated fan or a local business.

The new step signs will be fitted from the centre of the Main Stand, West Stand and South Stand outwards.

Each sign is digitally printed on aluminium with a matt laminate finish measuring in a 1150 x 140mm (one name per sign). 

The cost per sign including cost to manufacture is £100 plus VAT (1 year) or £200 plus VAT (3 years). 

Along with an official club certificate of authenticity signed by Tony Fitzpatrick, you will also receive your step sign at the end of your sponsorship. 

To reserve your sign or get further information contact Commercial Manager, Campbell Kennedy direct on 0141 840 1337 or email: commercial@stmirren.com 

A gallery of pictures from St Mirren's 3-1 win over Livingston on Saturday.

The Buddies took the lead early on at the Tony Macaroni Arena before Livi captain Craig Halkett headed an equaliser on 15 minutes. 

Saints were reduced to 10 men in the first half when Gary Irvine was shown a straight red card.

But the Buddies battled back from that set back with Gavin Reilly netting a second half double to secure the three points.

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

The thoughts of manager Jack Ross following Saints' 3-1 win over Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena this afternoon.

St Mirren inflicted a first defeat of the season on Livingston as ten men Saints earned a deserved three points at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

A Craig Halkett own goal got the Buddies off to a flying start before the Livi skipper equalised a little over five minutes later.

Saints were reduced to 10 men for a second week in a row when Gary Irvine received his marching order for a late tackle on Dale Carrick.

But a second half double from Gavin Reilly was enough to see the Buddies make it two wins from the first three league matches and end Livingston's 17 match unbeaten record.

Saints started the match well with Lewis Morgan testing Neil Alexander with only two minutes on the clock, stinging the palms of the goalkeeper with a fierce effort just inside the box. 

The good start would soon pay dividends as St Mirren went ahead on 10 minutes. It all came from the effort of captain Stephen McGinn who picked the ball up in midfield and drove forward before attempting to clip the ball in to the middle for one of the oncoming Saints players. It came off Halkett's outstretched leg before looping over Alexander to send the visitors into an early lead.

The Buddies were value for their lead after the way they had started the match and could have doubled their advantage after Morgan slipped in Gavin Reilly a few minutes later. The striker had Cammy Smith in the box as support but went it alone drilling the ball mere inches by the far post. 

Saints were on top but the home side could have been level on 15 minutes when Scott Pittman rose to meet Rafaelle De Vita's cross. The midfielder powered the header goalward only to be denied by a truly wonderful save from Craig Samson. However, Saints failed to get the danger clear after the goalkeeper's save with Livingston winning a corner from which they'd find their equaliser. Halkett made amends for his part in Saints' opener as he met Josh Mullin's corner to bullet home the equaliser.

The home side grew in confidence and then, for a second week in a row, St Mirren were reduced to ten men when Gary Irvine was shown a straight red after catching Dale Carrick late. That meant a change of shape for the Buddies, going from a 3-4-3 to a 4-4-1 and gave the Lions a man advantage with around an hour of the match still to go. 

The windy conditions were also making it difficult for Saints as Livingston tried to make their extra man count. Craig Samson was on hand to deny De Vita's header after the forward met a terrific Mullin cross at the far post, before strong hands from the keeper kept out Joe Thomson's long range effort just before the interval.

Half Time: Livingston 1-1 St Mirren

Livingston came out of the traps quickly with Pittman having a shot blocked by Adam Eckersley.

But it was the visitors who would take the lead for a second time despite being down a man. Lewis Morgan was caught late 40 yards from the Livi goal as he tried to burst forward at pace and Saints were awarded a free kick. Ian McShane floated the ball into the box, where it was headed out only as far as Cammy Smith who let fly. Alexander got his hands to the effort, but only succeeding in pushing the ball into the path of Gavin Reilly who knocked it home.

And less than 10 minutes later the Buddies were three to the good with Reilly again on the scoresheet. Like the first it came from a free kick after Cammy Smith was pushed. McShane flung it deep into the Livingston box where he picked out Stelios who had peeled away at the far corner. The Cypriot nodded a header across the face of goal where Reilly was sliding into to crash it into the net to give Saints a cushion.

The drama in the match was far from over as Danny Mullen went into the book for a poor challenge on Stelios. Manager Jack Ross was sent to the stand as he protested the decision to take the full back off the pitch after receiving treatmenta.

Livingston had to chase the game, but it was Saints who were looking the more likely with the speed of Morgan causing problems when he hit the home side on the counter on several occasions. The closest the winger came was on 84 minutes when he broke through with John Sutton in support. He elected to go alone but saw his attempt blocked by Halkett.

The home side almost pulled one back two minutes later when substitute Nikolay Todorov cracked the bar after being teed off by Cadden. 

But the makeshift St Mirren defence held firm and Saints picked up a big three points to move them up to fourth place with just three games played. 

Full Time: Livingston 1-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, Buchanan, Eckersley, L.Smith, McGinn, McShane, Stelios, C.Smith (Kirkpatrick 74), Morgan, Reilly (Sutton 67)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Whyte, O'Keefe, Stewart, Duffy

Livingston: Alexander, Longridge, Halkett, Gallagher, Byrne (Mackin 66) , Pittman, Thomson, Mullen, Mullin, Carrick (Todorov 71), De Vita (Cadden 60)
Subs Not Used: Maley, Penrice, Knox, Jacobs

Referee: Craig Thomson
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Ross Anderson

Attendance: 1609

St Mirren are back on league duty tomorrow as they travel to West Lothian to face Livingston in the Ladbrokes Championship after their IRN-BRU Cup exploits earlier in the week.

The Buddies bested a stubborn East Kilbride in the Challenge Cup on Tuesday night, scoring two goals in the last few minutes to win 2-1. The Lowland League side had somehow managed to keep Saints at bay, with Jack Ross' side registering 33 shots in the match, before scoring with less than 10 minutes remaining to take a shock lead.

With St Mirren heading for the exit door at the first hurdle, Ross Stewart did well to get in front of the opposition defender to reach Stelios' ball into the box and lifted it over Kilby goalkeeper Jacob Kean to level the scores on 87 minutes. The game was poised for extra-time only for the ball to end up at the feet of Lewis Morgan in the 92nd minute after a scramble in the box. The young winger composed himself before crashing a low shot in off the post in the 92nd minute to give Saints the win. 

Meanwhile, tomorrow's opponents Livingston's IRN-BRU Cup campaign also got off to a winning start with David Hopkin guiding his side to a 2-0 win over Morton at Cappielow. Nikolay Todorov fired the Lions into the lead after just five minutes before a second half goal from Danny Mullen secured their passage into the second round. It was a result that maintains the newly promoted side's unbeaten start to domestic football this season. 

St Mirren have already taken on the Lions this campaign when Hopkin brought his men to the Paisley 2021 Stadium in the Betfred Cup in July. Dale Carrick's second minute strike was enough for the visitors to take home the three points in Betfred Cup Group H with a 1-0 win. 

However, Saints can take heart from the fact that they have won in their last five trips to the Tony Macaroni Arena - a run stretching back to November 1999. In those five matches the Buddies have won by a scoreline of 2-1 twice, 3-2 on two occasions along with a 1-0 victory. The last St Mirren defeat away to Livingston came in the second round of the Challenge Cup back in 1995 when the Lions ran out 2-0 winners.

Both sides are likely to come in to tomorrow's match looking to make up for league results last week. 10 man Saints were defeated 4-1 by rivals Morton, while Livingston saw a two goal lead against Brechin slip to allow the Angus side a share of the spoils. Despite their unbeaten start to the season, Livingston's two draws in the league see them sit one place below the Buddies who are in fifth thanks to their opening day win over Falkirk. 

The Buddies will be without Jack Baird who is suspended following his red card in the derby last week while Dale Hilson, Kyle Magennis and Josh Todd remain sidelined. 

Ahead of the match, manager Jack Ross said: "We are as we were squad wise with the exception of Jack [Baird].

"I think it's been a peculiar season so far as we've been a bit up and down. The one thing we have lacked is consistency.

"But we go into the game in a good frame of mind and the players have a belief that they can go and win it.

"I don't think there was much between the two teams when they came to our place in the Betfred Cup. For the players to know about their players and some of their strengths and weaknesses it is beneficial that we've played them already.

"I look forward to it though. It's always a good stadium to go to." 

St Mirren in the Community Football Centres return this coming Tuesday (22nd August) for the new season. 

The classes will run from Tuesday to Saturday until June 2018, however, please note that centres will not run during the October, Festive and Easter School holidays. 

Sessions may be subject to change due to events taking place within the centres throughout the term. Any changes will be announced ahead of time on stmirren.com.

Schedule

Tuesdays
Arkleston Primary School, Renfrew - 3-5 years - 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Arkleston Primary School, Renfrew - 6-12 years - 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Wednesdays
Ralston Primary School, Ralston - 3-5 years - 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Ralston Primary School, Ralston - 6-12 years - 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Thursdays
Lochbarr Services, Lochwinnoch - 3-5 years - 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Lochbarr Services, Lochwinnoch - 6-12 years - 5:00pm to 6:00pm 

Fridays
Gryffe High School, Houston - 3-5 years - 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Gryffe High School, Houston - 6-12 years - 7:30pm to 8:30pm

Saturdays
Airdome @ Paisley 2021 Stadium - 3-7 years - 9:00am to 10:00am
Airdome @ Paisley 2021 Stadium - 8-12 years - 10:00am to 11:00am

All sessions are £3.50. 

For further information about St Mirren in the Community call: 0141-889-2558 or email: communityadmin@stmirren.com  

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 19th August), St Mirren head to West Lothian to face Livingston in a Ladbrokes Championship match-up at The Tony Macaroni Arena.

The latest info we have  on Travel Clubs heading to The Tony Macaroni Arena for the match is as follows:

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

The bus for Livingston will leave Abercorn Street at 1:30pm.

Tickets for this bus are now on sale from the bar.

North End Travel Club

The bus for the match against Livingston will leave the Sneddon at 1:00pm.

Bus tickets are on sale from the Brewer's Tap, £6 each.

Chivas Travel Club

The bus for the Livingston game will leave from The Court Bar at 1:30pm.

Tickets for this bus are now on sale from The Court Bar.

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

We will be leaving at 1:30pm for Livingston.

This bus is now sold out.