News & Media | St Peter's Boys Club: Season Preview | |
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Author: Kevin Judge
Paisley based St. Peters Boys Club was established in 1984, with aspirations of giving local lads from Renfrewshire a realistic opportunity to ‘play the game’ and benefit from all the positive aspects football can provide, is a simple but clear ethos that has not waned to this day.
From Mini Kickers, consisting of approximately sixty 4-6 year olds, to an accomplished and exceptionally well trained ‘Under 17’s’ team, the process of nurturing youth football in Paisley has proven to be a rewarding challenge over nearly three decades, and has amazingly produced over hundreds of keen footballers.
Admittedly, developing the ‘Saints’ has been an arduous task, but one that Club President Robert Clark and his faithful committee and coaching staff has relished, when flourishing future stars enjoy playing the game to the best of their capacity.
Brimming with enthusiasm and pride Robert has acquired the talents of Jim McGhee, Harry McAuley, John Dalziel, and Paul McTaggart on the committee and further bolstered by similar minded coaches, to construct a remarkable and creditable core to the club.
 Ensuring the integrity of this structure, and undeniably relieving monetary concern, the club are very appreciative to their faithful and generous sponsors, particularly by recognising new sponsors The River Inn.
The plethora of teams spanning from a wide age range require an equal number of club home and away strips, therefore St Peters are eternally grateful to Complete Dentistry, I Sheridan and McComish Group, for kitting out their budding footballers.
A season of travel burdens has been eased by the generosity of Johnstone TOA Cabs Ltd, with indebted acknowledgements directed towards Tod & Mitchell Criminal Defence Solicitors, Ocean Bathrooms, First Group and MI-Technologies.
Obviously, the sturdy development from the club’s organisation has influenced and eased the pitch performances, where attributes of efficiency and graft have developed themselves onto the pitch with impressive performances and cup victories.
The St. Peters 1997 team will kick off their new season against the formidable Division ‘A’ champions Antonine Blacks, in an action-packed replay of the last seasons’ two major cup finals. The red and black strips of St. Peters U14’s triumphed in both the David Mushet Cup and the West Regional Cup, with a tense 3-1 penalty shoot-out and a terrific 3-0 win, respectively.
These club accolades are expected to continue as the pre-season competition, th Barrhead Tournament, held across a long weekend in mid-August, allowed St. Peters U13’s to follow in their elders’ studded footstep’s.
Soaring to table highs due to their twin 5-0 victories over Erskine YFL and Barrhead YFC Yellow, the Saints became suitably grounded by a 2-1 defeat to Huncoat United and a 1-1 draw with Hillwood.
Securing a semi-final match against Barrhead YFC Reds in the Plate Trophy consolation category; the Saints revived their initial tournament form, with an emphatic win and a showdown with Barrhead Colts in the final.
 St. Peters U13’s shone in the final, with a sublime scoring list of Shaunn ‘Nacho’ Clark, Jack Hillcoat, Callum ‘Scully’ Scullion, Murray ‘Muzz’ Wilson and team captain Niall Herron, boasting a different scorer for each goal, in their 5-1 cup win.
Promising signs on the eve of the new season and a tantalising ‘under 13’s’ away tie with Renfrew Victoria, as Club President Robert Clark foresees “the club moving to the next level”.
Robert has rallied the cry for more players to join this impressive Paisley football set-up, one which has the added request for additional coaches to accommodate for numbers and improve upon St. Peters current high standards.
Emulating the feats of ‘Players player of the year’ Naill Herron, ‘top goal scorer’ Callum Scullion or ‘Sportsman of the year’ Hadyn Stewart are lofty but achievable accolades coaches will hope to instil on their new recruits.
Surpassing satisfaction is an imperative and bold move, desired by the president and coaching staff which highlights the continual ambition of the club to “become a hub for football in the Paisley area, acquiring their own park and training facilities” and signifies a destination for development in the West region of Scotland.
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