Paisley Pride
In Glasgow, football isn’t just something you watch — it’s who you are. I went to a St Mirren v Rangers match while I was there, going alone but leaving with new friends. I ended up sitting next to a lovely family — proper die-hard St Mirren fans. The son, about my age, told me his dad grew up in Paisley, and even though they now live in Glasgow, it’d be wrong not to go for your local club. That loyalty runs deep.
There were 6,886 people packed into the ground, and the place was electric. The St Mirren cheer squad never stopped — singing, waving flags, living and dying with every play. It was chaotic in the best way. A couple of Rangers supporters tried to blend into the home section but were quickly spotted and escorted out to a mix of laughter and jeers.
On the pitch, St Mirren fought tooth and nail for a 1–1 draw, a massive result against a side that — alongside Celtic — dominates Scottish football. Some heavy tackles and a few questionable referee calls had the stands on edge, and before I knew it, I was yelling in a full Scottish accent myself — completely by accident, but impossible not to get caught up in it.
What made the day special, though, was that family. They took me in straight away — explaining the chants, pointing out players, sharing stories about the club. They didn’t just let me watch; they made me feel part of it.
It was also surreal seeing Keanu Baccus, a fellow Aussie from Melbourne City, holding his own in the middle of it all.
By full time, I’d been unofficially declared a St Mirren fan. And honestly? I think they were right. Once you’ve been in that crowd, feeling that pride, there’s no going back — you’ve got to go for your local club.
For smaller teams like St Mirren, family and community are everything. You protect them, defend them, and live for them. Even the club’s ticketing reflects that — they limit away fans so home supporters can fill their own stands safely, together. Commercially, it’s smart too: they know their audience. For St Mirren, success starts by protecting their backyard.
