St Johnstone celebrate 130th anniversary By Jamie Buchan February 25 2015, 11:53am February 25 2015, 11:53am Share St Johnstone celebrate 130th anniversary Share via Facebook Twitter Linkedin Whatsapp Messenger Email Post link https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/perth-kinross/255176/st-johnstone-celebrate-130th-anniversary/ Copy Link olin Laing and Linda Hill, of Murrays Bakers, present a 130th birthday cake to club legend Roddy Grant. Scottish Cup holders St Johnstone celebrated their 130th anniversary. The club was founded by members of a cricket team who were looking for something to do in the winter months. Their first official meeting took place on Tuesday February 24 1885. There are also plans to commemorate the team’s first game, a 1-0 victory over Caledonian Railway, which took place a few weeks later on March 7. The club’s original president was curler George Valentine, who played a crucial role in raising funds for St Johnstone’s first ground. The site, near the South Inch, was known as Craigie Haugh but was later renamed Recreation Grounds. On Christmas Day 1924, the team moved to its new £13,000 base at Muirton Park where it stayed for the next 65 years. McDiarmid Park named after the generosity of local landowner Bruce McDiarmid was opened in August 1989.
