A First Step to Cup Triumph (1987)

(first published in the match programme for St. Mirren v Dundee, 31^st January 2026)

The Third Round draw for the 1986/87 Scottish Cup saw the twenty-four top division clubs join the competition along with the eight winners of the Second Round ties. St. Mirren were paired with Highland League side Caledonian, the tie being scheduled for Love Street on 31^st January 1987.

Caledonian, more popularly known as Inverness Caley, were currently competing near the top of the RB Farquhar Highland League and their road to Hampden had begun back in September. Since then, they had successfully negotiated three Qualifying Cup rounds against Huntly, Peterhead and Rothes to enter the Cup proper. Alloa Athletic were then defeated after a First Round replay and in the Second Round they demolished Spartans 5-0.

St. Mirren approached the tie with a little trepidation as they were without the services of Brian Gallagher and Tony Fitzpatrick through injury, and had accepted Chelsea's offer for Steve Clarke only a week before. On the plus side, Frank McGarvey was available again for selection in what would be new Manager Alex Smith's first Cup tie with the Club.

Issue number 18 of St. Mirren's official programme for that season was a 20-page, B5-sized publication printed black on white gloss paper with red spot colour throughout and priced at 50p. The cover featured the full match details above a photo of Frank McGarvey in action during the recent Tennents' Sixes tournament at the SECC in Glasgow.

In "Manager's Report", Alex Smith reflected on his side's 0-1 Premier League loss to bottom side Hamilton Academical in the previous week's match, stating that it was "easily the worst performance from St. Mirren since my appointment". He stated that the team must learn to break down a defensive formation, contain play in and around the opponent's box and to not concede soft goals at the back.

He did take solace in the fact that Dave Winnie and Brian Hamilton, both returning from injury, had performed well and also welcomed the selection of Norrie McWhirter and Paul Lambert to the Scotland U-18 Professional Youth squad for the forthcoming match against Wales.

Turning to the day's match, Smith welcomed Caledonian and highlighted that, as they had lost only one competitive match in the season so far and scored 106 goals in the process, they would be given the utmost respect.

The fixtures and results for Saints' First and Reserve Teams occupied page four opposite a full-page photo of Ian Ferguson and Celtic's Murdo MacLeod in further Sixes tournament action.

Two pages of text and photos were then devoted to the visitors, reviewing their Cup run thus far and highlighting key members of their playing staff.

John Byrne then detailed the last Scottish Cup meeting between St. Mirren and Caledonian back in 1914, as well as looking back at some of Saints' other Cup matches. Caley's 1986/87 record and the full list of the day's Scottish Cup ties occupied page nine opposite.

The centre pages were dominated by a photo of Paul Chalmers' goal against Falkirk in the Tennents' Sixes, above a listing of the two teams, officials and ball sponsorship details.

Andrew Swann's 20-question quiz on page twelve ran opposite a photo of action between Caledonian and Rothes in the Qualifying Cup Final. "Editor's Notebook" presented Saints' record against Highland League opposition, whilst Mark Scott's piece kept the reader up to date with the English scene.

Archie Rose's "Saints In Reserve" looked back at his side's return to action after weather disruption in a game against Oakburn in Linwood; a match decided by a John Phillips goal two minutes from time.

This issue, which contained six pages of adverts, is relatively easy to obtain nowadays despite the fact that it is of interest to general collectors of Non-League in the Cup programmes and also to Saints collectors, given its significance in the Cup run of 1987.

The tie attracted a meagre attendance of 3,494 in what was a cold, crisp day on a bone-hard pitch. Saints' trepidation was well founded and Caley sought to exploit the home side's defensive weaknesses in what was a dreadful first half performance by the home side.

After 40 minutes, Paisley hopes of a third Scottish Cup triumph were almost extinguished when Caledonian's Wilson Robertson found himself with only Campbell Money to beat, but in the striker's panic, he blasted wide and the score remained goalless at the interval.

A much-improved St. Mirren took control in the second half. In 58 minutes, McGarvey drew visiting 'keeper Billy MacDonald away from goal to turn and cross for Kenny McDowall to head home. Caley responded, and Money was forced to bring off a great save from Kevin Mann to preserve Saints' lead.

In the 68^th minute, McDowall returned the compliment by neatly setting up McGarvey to sweep home St. Mirren's second goal and, five minutes later, Ian Ferguson drove home a 25-yard free kick to make the final score 3-0.