St Johnstone historians are researching a book on ‘The Sixty Greatest Saints’.
And co-authors Alastair Blair and Brian Doyle have appealed for help from the club’s fans to track down relatives of stars from a bygone era.
“We are compiling a list of the ‘Sixty Greatest Saints’ – not just players, but managers and officials too,” explained Alastair.
“We are going to rank the list of players, managers and officials, as well as selecting our all-time top Saints team and substitutes.
“You can be sure some it will prove controversial, especially with different generations of supporters.
“Every fan has their own favourites and memories of players in action.
“Brian and I are no different, being dyed-in-the-wool Saints supporters.
“But we are trying to look at the bigger picture, pinpointing key people in the history of the club, from those early years in the 1880s through to the present day.
“We have been working away quietly on this for a couple of years and are now ramping up our efforts.”
Alastair and Saints statistician Brian, who completed the award-winning official club history ‘Bristling With Possibilities and the updated ‘Manifest Destiny’ following the 2014 Scottish Cup triumph, hope that former footballers and relatives will have information on past Perth heroes.
It is a nationwide search, online and by personal contact, that is well underway.
The Saints minute books are, once again, throwing-up some fascinating details. Alastair is no stranger to the club’s official documentation, having sifted through the bound volumes researching the definitive history of a club dating back to the Victorian era.
“We have gathered a lot of information on all the players on our list but it’s the little details, from family and friends of former football colleagues that will make all the difference,” he said.
The duo are looking for information on –
Willie McIntosh (pre and post WWII) – died West Midlands, 1990
Bobby Davidson (1930s) Coventry? – died 1968
Paddy Buckley (1950s) died, 2008 – Tranent
Willie Imrie (1920s/30s) Fife, died 1945
Jimmy Munro (1930s) – died c. 1978, Glasgow
Jimmy Benson (1920s – died Edinburgh, 1989
Gordon Smith (1970s/80s) – died Glasgow 2014
Willie Steel (1920s/1930s) – died 1990, Blantyre/Glasgow
Harry Ferguson (19202-30s)– Alloa/Hillfoots area.
John Robertson (1880s/90s) – Pitlochry/Perth; died Perth 1927
Ian Rodger (1950s) – Perth
Johnny Liddell (1950s/60s) – died Grangemouth, 1999
Tommy Muirhead (manager, 1930s) – died Helensburgh, 1979
David Brown (1940s, post war)
Peter Jack (groundsman from 1925 to 1961) – Scone/Perth
Ernie Ewen (1950s) – died, Edinburgh, 1966.
Jimmy Fleming (late 1920s) – died 1969, possibly Glasgow
Anyone who can assist in the search is asked to contract Alastair at alastair.blair@thepotentmix.co.uk
