St Mirren Football Club are proudly continuing their support of Show Racism the Red Card's Match Actions Campaign during Saturday's cinch Premiership match away to Ross County.

Show Racism the Red Card is the UK’s leading anti-racism Education Charity, working within schools, workplaces, sports, and community organisations to educate children, young people, and adults on challenging prejudice and stereotypes. Using the power of football is a powerful tool to initiate conversations about anti-racism and our club has supported their messages of tolerance and inclusion for many years. Now more than ever, the importance of active anti-racism cannot be overstated.

Across Scottish football, clubs will show their commitment to anti-racism over one weekend – Friday 20th, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October. This weekend also coincides with Show Racism the Red Card’s UK-wide annual fundraising drive, Wear Red Day, taking place on Friday 20th. On this day, individuals and groups up and down the country are encouraged to wear red and donate to show their support for the campaign and its message.

The Match Actions weekend also takes place during Black History Month and as part of the celebrations, SRtRC are partnering with the National Library of Scotland. On the 26th October at Glasgow’s Kelvinhall, there will be a film screening and discussion about Andrew Watson, Scotland and the world’s first black international footballer.

Billy Singh, from Show Racism the Red Card had this to say: "We are delighted with the support for anti-racism that exists within Scottish football and are very proud of our upcoming match actions. However the work must continue.

We call on our supporters to continue to challenge racism. It is a shared responsibility across the game, from dressing rooms to boardrooms, and from stadiums to social media, to ensure that an anti-racism ethos is maintained throughout the year.

"And please remember that all our teams are made up of different nationalities from all over the world. Migrants make a positive contribution to Scotland and that's something we should celebrate."

Here at St Mirren, we recognise the importance of being alert to the inequalities that persist due to racism. A recent SRtRC survey revealed 46% of staff are aware of racist bullying or discrimination in Scottish schools, while 66.4% are aware of pupils expressing misconceptions, stereotypes, or negative attitudes that are racist.

Football is a sport that is loved across the world and football matches should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, of all backgrounds. Education is the key and in the 27 years the Show Racism the Red Card has been running, they have educated over one million participants, reaching that significant milestone in March 2023. St Mirren are proud to support them to reach their next big milestone and to ensure Scotland is equipped with the tools to challenge and eradicate racism from football and society.

For useful resources and information from Show Racism the Red Card, please:

Visit their Website: www.theredcard.org
Explore their anti-racism video platform: https://voices.theredcard.org/

And follow them on:

Instagram @SRtRCScotland
X @SRtRCScotland
Facebook.com/theRedCardScotland

Our postponed cinch Premiership fixture against Hibernian - originally scheduled for Saturday 4th November - will now take place on Wednesday 8th November with a 7:45pm kick-off.

The match was postponed due to Hibernian's participation in the Viaplay Cup semi-final. 

The new fixture details are below:

St Mirren v Hibernian
cinch Premiership
Venue: The SMiSA Stadium
Date: Wednesday 8th November 2023
Kick-off: 7:45pm

Mark O'Hara reflected on his - and the team's - start to the season with Saints set to return from the international break with a trip to Ross County on Saturday. 

The 27-year-old was named as the Club's Player of the Year last season after scoring 12 goals from midfield as we went on to secure our first top six finish in the current league format.

It looked like he had picked up where he left off at the start of the season, scoring three goals in four matches before picking up a thigh injury that saw him miss a month of action. 

He admitted it was tough to deal with the injury and believes the international break gave him the opportunity to refresh ahead of our next block of matches. 

Speaking to stmirren.com, Mark said: "It was frustrating that I had a setback with injury and maybe I have been frustrated myself as I feel I have a lot more to give.

The break lets me recharge and hopefully I'll be back to my best come the restart."

The Buddies sit in third place in the cinch Premiership with 15 points having won four and drawn three of our opening eight matches. 

Mark stressed that the side have to keep working hard, but there is a real belief within the squad to kick on and praised the St Mirren support for the part they've played so far this season. 

We've put ourselves in a good position.

"The manager has stressed that we've achieved nothing yet, but we have a good opportunity to push on and establish ourselves at that end of the league now. We have a tough run of fixtures when we return but we believe we can pick up some valuable points.

"It's a competitive squad and we are all pushing for places. It's a tough period coming up but we know ourselves that we are capable and there is a real belief in there.

"We can't thank the fans enough for their backing. It makes a huge difference, not just in terms of financially for the club, but it really drives us forward on the pitch and inspires us to do well for the support.

"Hopefully that then inspires the next generation coming through - whether a fan or a player."

Mark was named permanent captain in the summer following the departure of Joe Shaughnessy.

He says it's been an "honour" to skipper the side.

"I love being a part of the club and giving a bit back," he said. 

It's an honour to pull on the armband on a Saturday and it really does mean a lot. Hopefully it can be a successful period for me as a captain.

"I've had some big captains throughout my career and you try to take wee bits from them but in the moment you just do what you think is right. I'm maybe not a stereotypical captain but I like to think that I lead by example and that inspires those around me." 

St Mirren Football Club has today launched a new strategy as we aim to be the best community centred development football club in Scotland.

St Mirren Football Club has today launched a new strategy as we aim to be the best community centred development football club in Scotland.

Tickets for our cinch Premiership match away to Ross County on Saturday 21st October are on sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office.

Saints will face The Staggies in Dingwall on our return from the international break. 

All tickets purchased must be collected from St Mirren Ticket Office by 2pm on Friday 20th October. 

Ross County v St Mirren
Competition: cinch Premiership
Date: Saturday 21st October 2023
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall

Ross County Ticket Info

Adults - £28
Concessions* - £12
Under 18 - £5

*65+, 18-21 and ambulant disabled. 

Wheelchair and Carer - £12 (Carer free of charge)

St Mirren Ticket Office Tel: (0141) 840-6130.

St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com 

A number of Saints have been called up for national team duty during the October international break. 

stmirren.com takes a look at those that will represent their country over the next week. 

Scottish eyes will keep a close look on Alex Gogic's Cyprus tomorrow night (Thursday 12th) when they take on Norway in Larnaca. Scotland, who would qualify for Euro 2024 if they avoid defeat in Spain tomorrow, could also book their place in Germany if Norway fail to beat the Cypriots. Cyprus will then take on Georgia in Tbilisi on Sunday. 

Keanu Baccus and Ryan Strain will face off against Saints teammate Alex Greive when Australia take on New Zealand in London on Tuesday night. The Socceroos will face the All Whites at Brentford's GTech Community Stadium. It's be the second time the Buddies have faced each other in international football having squared off during last season's September international break. 

However, before that meeting, Australia will play England at Wembley on Friday night, while New Zealand play in Spain on Friday night when New Zealand come up against DR Congo at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia. 

Speaking to the press recently, Keanu told of his excitement at the opportunity of playing for his country at the largest stadium within the United Kingdom. 

It would be amazing.

"It’s something I would love to experience and I think every young kid would want to play there.

"It’s a top-notch stadium so hopefully we can all go there and enjoy the experience. Hopefully I get the chance and that we beat them. We’re not there just to have fun, we want to do our best and why not back ourselves?"

Conor McMenamin is away with Northern Ireland as Michael O'Neill's side face San Marino and Slovenia at Windsor Park in UEFA Euro 2024 Qualification Group H. St Mirren Assistant Manager Diarmuid O'Carroll is also part of the Northern Ireland setup as Senior Coach. 

There's also a St Mirren Youth Academy graduate representing with Callum Penman called up by Scotland U17s as part of their triple header as they look to reach a third successive Under-17 European Championships later this month. They will face Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey.

We wish all well during their time away and look forward to their return to Saints next week. 

Tickets for our cinch Premiership match away to Ross County on Saturday 21st October are on sale now.

Saints will face The Staggies in Dingwall on our return from the international break. 

The club has received an allocation of just under 500 tickets for this match and these are available online and at the St Mirren Ticket Office. 

Online sales will be available until 10am on Monday 16th October for postage and until 10am on Wednesday 18th October for Ticket Office pick-up. Please note that these are all physical tickets, there are no e-tickets available for this match.

All tickets purchased selecting Ticket Office pick-up must be collected from St Mirren Ticket Office by 2pm on Friday 20th October. 

Ross County v St Mirren
Competition: cinch Premiership
Date: Saturday 21st October 2023
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall

Ross County Ticket Info

Adults - £28
Concessions* - £12
Under 18 - £5

*65+, 18-21 and ambulant disabled. 

Wheelchair and Carer - £12 (Carer free of charge)

St Mirren Ticket Office Tel: (0141) 840-6130.

St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com 

I thought we started really brightly. The game changes on the red card."

The manager gave his thoughts after Saints' loss to Rangers in the cinch Premiership.

St Mirren's unbeaten start to the cinch Premiership season came to an end after a 3-0 defeat to Rangers at The SMiSA Stadium. 

There was little between the sides until a VAR call saw Saints reduced to 10 men midway through the first-half when Ryan Strain was shown a straight red card for a handball in the box. James Tavernier scored the resulting penalty for the visitors. Abdallah Sima added a second with less than 20 minutes of the match remaining before Tavernier rounded off the scoring in the final minute.

There was a minute's applause prior to kick-off as we paid our respects to our former striker Frank McDougall who sadly passed away last week at the age of 65.

St Mirren players applaud as we paid our respects to Frank McDougall (Image: Jeff Holmes)

Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening 20 minutes with Rangers having more of the possession, but Saints were well-organised and looking to cause Rangers problems. The first real chance of the game came when a ball floated to the back post found Scott Tanser. But the left-back, who agreed a new Saints contract yesterday, didn't get the connection he would have wanted and stuck it wide. 

Rangers' best chance came when Zak Lovelace played a dangerous looking ball across the face of goal which Sima failed to convert at the back post. The Rangers forward screamed for handball and when the ball went out of play, the game was stopped for a VAR check. The Buddies were dealt a double blow when Strain was given a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity with the handball and Rangers were awarded a penalty. James Tavernier knocked home from 12 yards to give his visitors the lead on 30 minutes. 

Zach Hemming made a wonderful save four minutes later to deny the visitors the chance to double their advantage. The Saints number one was at full-stretch to push Connor Goldson's header over the bar. The Buddies stopper made another big save in the final moments of the first-half when he blocked Nicolas Raskin's strike. 

There was still very little between the sides in the second-half despite Rangers having the man and goal advantage. 

Saints made three changes to try and find a way back into the match with Caolan Boyd-Munce, Alex Greive and Mikael Mandron coming on to replace Keanu Baccus, Greg Kiltie and Toyosi Olusanya. But Rangers would seal their victory when they hit Saints on the counter and added a second three minutes after the changes. Raskin raced through to a ball over the top and rolled the ball across the box for Sima who fired into the low corner of the net. 

Rangers substitute Cyriel Dessers had a chance to make the final scoreline more emphatic for the visitors when he broke clear on 85 minutes, but the forward shot straight at Hemming. 

The visitors would add a third though with Tavernier scoring his second with a stunning strike from the edge of the area in the final minute of normal time. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-3 Rangers

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Strain, Baccus (Boyd-Munce 68), O'Hara (c), Tanser, Kiltie (Greive 68), Olusanya (Mandron 68), McMenamin (Nahmani 81)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Small, Flynn

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Lundstram, Raskin, Cifuentes (Rice 90), Sima (Lammers 90), Roofe (Dessers 60), Lovelace (McCausland 41)
Subs Not Used: McCrorie, Ridvan, Sterling, Davies, McKinnon

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter 
Fourth Official: Grant Irvine
VAR: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 6,984