The St Mirren Open Day for season ticket holders will take place at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on Sunday July 9th from 11am. 

The players will take to the field at 11:30am for a one hour training session before spending an hour meeting supporters and signing autographs. 

There will be a range of activities in and around the stadium with a bouncy castle, face painters, the Street Stuff dance team, soccer skills, beat the goalie and much more.

The club shop will also be opened on the day, while supporters thinking about joining the SMFC 1877 Supporters Club can have a look around before signing up. 

The Red car park will be closed on the day for activities so those attending are advised to park in the Black and White car park.

Season ticket holders can bring a guest and as many children as they want to the open day. 

It's not just Jack Ross and James Fowler who have been busy shaping their St Mirren squad this summer.

Allan McManus, the Head of the Youth academy, has been hard at work over the close season making changes to the U20s. 

Some players have moved on, while a number of youngsters have been promoted from the U17 squad. 

They are a fantastic bunch," he said of the players moving up from the 17s. "As a team they did really well last season in the under 17 league.

"The biggest thing for me outwith their quality is that they really want to be professional footballers. I don't think people realise when they come in here how hard you have to work to get to the levels required to be a professional footballer.

"There's no doubt with all the lads that we've brought in from the academy that it is what they want to do with their careers and they have that discipline and single-mindedness to improve and aspire to get to the first team as quickly as possible."

While Allan has high hopes for all in the U20 squad, a name who stands out is Ethan Erhahon who has been capped by Scotland at U16 level. 

The Head Academy admits that Ethan attracted interest from a number of clubs in England and said he is delighted that the 16 year-old has decided to stay at the Buddies

Speaking on the step up for the players from the 17s, Allan believes it will be a big adjustment for the players.

He said: "It's a massive one, particularly for guys like Ethan and David Wilson who have actually come in a year younger than the rest of them.

"Ethan is another one who we have high hopes for as we do for them all. Ethan though has played international football at U16s. There was a lot of interest from some really big clubs down south so we are delighted that we have managed to hold on to them.

"Like the rest of them, if Ethan works hard and applies himself then he could do really well in the game."

One of the new faces to join the academy is Evan Horne who recently left fellow Ladbrokes Championship side Dunfermline. 

Evan is a local boy, hailing from Renfrew and Allan believes he'll be a good signing.

We've had a lot of good feedback in relation to Evan's time at Dunfermline," he said.

"We were made aware of Dunfermline's situation that they were no longer continuing with their 20s team.

"He spent a bit of time in and around their first team and I'm really pleased to bring somebody in who is almost ready to be in and around first team football and to give him the opportunity to do well here.

"I'm looking forward to working with him." 

Saints have seen the likes of Kyle Magennis, Lewis Morgan, Jack Baird, Stevie Mallan, John McGinn, Kenny McLean and more reach the first team in recent years and Allan believes that this should inspire the current academy crop to work hard

That's our biggest selling point at the football club," he said.

"The bottom line is if you put the hard work in and you are deemed good enough you will get an opportunity.

"We are very fortunate at the moment with the management team that if the young ones are doing well then they will be in and around training with the first team.

"From my point of view - working closely with the first team - there is that link there and constant dialogue with the manager and James [Fowler]. For the younger ones it is there for them.

"There's no secret - it's hard work and dedication. If they go about their business the right way some of them could have bright futures."

Andy Webster's time as a St Mirren player came to an end as his contract expired at the end of last season.

But the ex-Scotland international has been helping out with the U20s and Allan confessed having someone with Andy's experience around makes sense.

It's a no brainer for myself," Allan confessed.

"I get on very well with Andrew and when we covered the first team last season we worked closely together.

"Andrew's experience speaks for itself, but the big thing for me is his attention to detail and professionalism.

"It would be a great addition to have him in on a permanent basis and that's something that hopefully the academy and the club can hopefully come to some agreement."

St Mirren in the Community are now taking bookings for this summer’s Football Camps.

The Camps will run over the upcoming school summer holiday at the club’s exclusive Air dome and at the Lochbarr Leisure Centre in Lochwinnoch. 

The fun will all kick-off on Monday 3rd July with camps running Monday through to Friday over the six weeks of the school break with camps for 3 to 5 year olds and 6 to 12 year olds.

Participants at the Football Camps are required to bring with them suitable indoor clothing and footwear (no metal studs or blades), shin guards and goalkeeper gloves (if appropriate) in addition to a light healthy snack and plenty of water/non-fizzy drinks.

We are offering a special 50% discount that would mean a one week place for a 3-5 year-old would only cost £18.75, while 6-12 year-old places would cost just £24.50. 

To make use of this limited offer your child needs to be a kids season ticket holder and full payment must be made when booking at the St Mirren reception. 

We have just 10 of these offers available for each of the six weeks of the camps so you'll have to be fast to avoid disappointment. 

For more information email communityadmin@stmirren.com 

Bookings can be made by downloading and printing the booking form, completing it in full and returning it to info@stmirren.com 

To download the booking form please click HERE.

With the St Mirren players returning to training last week ahead of the new season we can confirm the plans in place for pre-season.

The Buddies will face East Fife in a closed-door match on June 27th before travelling up north to face Inverness Clachnacuddin on Friday 30th June (7:45pm KO) and Nairn County on Sunday 2nd July (2pm KO). 

Saints then play host to Ladbrokes Premiership side Dundee on Tuesday 4th July (7:45pm KO) as Neil McCann brings his side to Paisley. 

Jack Ross' side will take on his former club Alloa at the Indodrill Stadium on Saturday 8th July before taking part in an open day for season ticket holders at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on Sunday 9th July. 

St Mirren will end their pre-season schedule on Wednesday 12th July with a closed door match against Ross County.

All ticket information and fixture details including times for the open day will be announced on stmirren.com in due course. 

When we launched the sale of the season tickets we announced that for every 250 season tickets sold we would be doing a ‘golden ticket’ draw with a range of great ‘money can’t buy’ prizes to be won.

With over 1700 season tickets sold we have already seen season ticket holders win two director's box seats with access to the executive guest lounge for a match at the Paisley 2021 Stadium, a tour of the St Mirren Youth Academy and the chance to have lunch with the first team squad and a 2017/18 St Mirren jersey with 'fan' and the number 12 on the back. 

The latest winners are Nairn Sharp and Margaret Armstrong. Nairn wins a brand new 2017/18 replica top that will be presented by a player or member of the management team, while Margaret has won two director's box seats with access to the executive guest lounge for a match at the Paisley 2021 Stadium during the 2017/18 season. 

Buy your season tickets now at the ticket office or online to be included in as many draws as possible with more great prizes to be won.

Gary Irvine admits he can't wait for the season ahead after the Saints returned to pre-season training last week.

The defender finished last season strongly as the Buddies pulled off the great escape to avoid relegation to League One.

And the 32 year-old, who recently put pen to paper to extend his stay at the Buddies for another year, says he wants the team to build on last season's finish.  

I had built towards that last season and it was always in my mind," he said about extending his deal.

"I'm delighted and I think it's just excitement and I'm dying to get the season started now with the way the team finished that season there.

"You didn't want the season to finish to be honest and we've basically kept the same squad so it's time to build on that now. 

"A lot of that was hard work and it was with most of the boys in there. There's still the same feel good factor in the dressing room, all the boys get on with either, there's a good balance so all these things are positive." 

Speaking on returning to training last week, Irvine said: "I'm one of the ones who like getting back and getting into it again.

"You're coming into your job and you are meeting some new colleagues and you are getting to know their characters, personalities and abilities.

"That's what you look forward to in pre-season. It gives you that time to bed in and get to know each other."

Saints were paired with Partick Thistle, Livingston, Airdrieonians and Stranraer in this season's Betfred Cup and Irvine confessed he is a fan of the new format that came into place last season.

It was actually good last year," he said. "It was obviously new and I'm looking forward to it.

"The competitive games and going into the mini-leagues meant you had something to play for in getting to that next stage.

"There are some tough ties in there, but it's good that a competition is set out like that so early on and gives you that competitive edge." 

Nathan Flanagan has moved up to the St Mirren first team after penning a one-year deal subject to SFA clearance. 

The youngster, who joined the St Mirren academy at the start of 2016, spent a portion of last season on loan to League Two side Annan Athletic where he won their Young Player of the Season Award.

I'm buzzing to be honest," he told stmirren.com. "I was on loan to Annan last season and I think it really helped pushed me on and get this deal. I think it developed me a lot quicker. I was happy with my development there.

"I'm really excited to get started and hopefully kick on and push myself to get into the team. I want to catch the gaffer's eye as quickly as I can and hopefully get some game time and build on that."

Jack Ross said: "Nathan needed that experience. He was at a stage in his career where he needed go and prove himself at first team football and he did very well.

"That was probably why he's earned himself the opportunity to be involved in our first team squad."

Stephen McGinn says the team are relishing the challenge ahead of the new season. 

The captain told stmirren.com: "It's going to be exciting, it's going to be up and down as the Championship always provides, but we are relishing it."

The Buddies returned to training yesterday as they look to prepare for a successful season ahead.

You can watch McGinn's interview in full below. 

A gallery of pictures as the players returned to training yesterday and pre-season got underway ahead of the new season.

Match gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography and  John Millar - © millarpictures

Last season The Scottish Disabled Supporters Association received a donation of top of the range equipment for use with fans experiencing visual impairment. It was the unanimous decision of the Scottish Disabled Supporters Association to donate this equipment to St Mirren in recognition of the efforts by SMDSA.

The system, including transmitter and several receivers, provides live commentary on the game courtesy of St Mirren TV and is the same as that used in the Etihad and Emirates stadia. It is capable of use anywhere in the stadium and is available to both home and away fans.

St Mirren season ticket holder Andrew McGaw is partially sighted and unable to see three quarters of the pitch.

He was a keen user of the service throughout last season and told us: "Last season I discovered the facility which gave me live commentary on matches which immeasurably increased the enjoyment of the game and saved my son from having to talk me through it!" 

The procedure for borrowing a receiver is as follows:

1. The booking form can be downloaded by clicking HERE, it must be completed and e-mailed to info@stmirren.com 24 hours prior to kick-off.

2. The equipment will be collected from Reception where a deposit of £10 will be taken.

3. At the end of the game, the receiver must be returned to Reception where the £10 deposit will be returned.

Further information can be obtained at the club by e-mailing info@stmirren.com