A new St Johnstone history – just in time for Christmas!

Following the two versions of the Official History (“Bristling with Possibilities” and the updated “Manifest Destiny”) and the more recent “Hagiography – The Great Saints,” the lads have spent the last few years researching and writing about the greatest and most significant games in our club’s history. Continuing with their tradition of quirky book titles, this new book is called “Matches in Dispatches” and it is based on contemporary newspaper reports, allied to memories from fans and players of the games featured.

“The book is in three parts,” Alastair told us, “with the first section covering all the important milestones, such as the first ever game, the first local cup win, the first national cup win, the last and first games at the Recreation Grounds, Muirton and McDiarmid Park, etc.  In total, there are 30 games featured, before Part II examines what we’re calling the most significant games.  These may not necessarily have been fantastic matches, but they were all, for a variety of different reasons, interesting or in some way important in determining the future of St Johnstone at different times throughout the ages.” 

Finally, we have ranked what we believe are the 30 best matches in Saints’ history.  While we’re pretty sure no-one will agree entirely with our choices for each position in this pantheon of greatness, we do hope that our list will provoke a lot of debate and friendly comment about which matches are included. And while many of our selections will come as no surprise (for example, there are a few games against Dundee and the Old Firm that feature), we have deliberately chosen games from every period in Saints’ history in order to demonstrate that great performances and results are not just those within living memory.”

“Matches in Dispatches” is currently on track to be ready for Christmas this year. Along with many other items from the St Johnstone shop, it will make an ideal present for the Saints’ fan in your life. 

A key feature of each section is that, where possible, the chapters contain recollections and quotes from Saints’ fans and players who were there.  Some of these, we are told, are very funny.  We’ll be publishing wee snippets over the next few months to give you a flavour of what it contains, but in the meantime, why not start your own poll amongst your mates to see if you can come up with the same list as Brian and Alastair?