St Johnstone

Kit History

Spring 1885 a k

1885-1887 a c

1887-1888 a

1888-1890 a

Registered as "scarlet and white"

1890-1894 a

1894-1897 a c

circa 1897 a

circa 1905 a

1907-1908 a

1910-1914 a c d m

1918-1919 a c

1919-Nov1920 a

Dec1920-1922 a c

1922-1925 a c

1925-1931 a

1927-1929 away a

1931-1933 a c

1933-1938 a c e

1938-1946 a c

Aug-Dec1948 a

Jan1949-1952 a c

1952-1954 a

1954-1955 a c

1955-Aug1956 a c

Sept1956-1958 a

1958-1960 a

1960-1962 a c

1962-1963 l

1963-1967 a c e

1967-1971 a

1971-1972 l

1972-1974 a

1974-1976 a c i

Umbro

1976-1977 m

Admiral

1977-1979 j

Adidas

1979-1980 a

Umbro

1980-1982 c j

Umbro

1982-1986 c g

Matchwinner

1986-1989 b c

Bukta

1989-1991 b

Bukta

1991-1993 b

Bukta

1993-1994 b c

The Saints (Own Brand)

1994-1996 b c

The Saints (Own Brand)

1996-1997 b c

Xara

1997-1998 b c

Xara

1998-2000 b c

Xara

2000-2002 f

Xara

2002-2003 f

Xara

2003-2004 f

Xara

2004-2005 f

Xara

2005-2006 f

Xara

2006-2007 f

Surridge

2007-2008 h

Surridge

2008-2009 h

Surridge

2009-2010 h

Joma

2010-2011 h

Joma

2011-2012 h

Joma

2012-2013 h

Background

st johnstone 1954-55 The genteel county town of Perth is a far cry from the grim industrial communities of central Scotland where association football first took hold. Nevertheless, in 1884 members of a local cricket club decided to play football during the winter months, wearing black and white jerseys, the colours of the club. The following year they formally constituted St Johnstone FC, derived from Perth’s colloquial name of “St John’s Toun,” registering their colours with the Scottish FA as maroon and white. A piece of land was leased and became known as the Recreation Ground, the club’s base until 1924 when they built Muirton Park, their home for the next 65 years.

In 1891, the Saints joined the Northern League where they remained for three seasons. Over the next 20 years they had spells in the old Central League and Central Combination as well until 1912 when they were elected to Scottish Division Two when that division was expanded. In 1915 the Second Division was suspended and two regional competitions were set up. St Johnstone, however, suspended operations until 1919 when they joined the Eastern League. The following season St Johnstone joined the rebel Central League, a competition whose rules allowed members to pay higher wages than those available in the Scottish Football League. A number of top players defected to the rebel clubs who proved so successful that in 1921, it was incorporated into the SFL as the new Second Division.

In 1924, St Johnstone were promoted to the First Division where they played until the outbreak of war in 1939, (apart from a spell back in the Second Division 1930-32) generally finishing respectably in the top half of the table. A crest was worn in the promotion winning 1923-24 season but we have not been able to establish the details.

When the Scottish Football League was restarted in 1946 it was decided to restructure rather than simply take up where things were in 1939. St Johnstone, despite having finished eighth in Division One, were placed in the new Division “B.” It was not until 1960 that they won promotion, this time as champions of Division Two, their first senior honour. They lasted only two seasons but in 1963 they bounced back, once again as champions. For the next 12 years they managed to hold on to their place in the top flight. Their best spell was, arguably, under Willie Ormond when the team reached the Scottish League Cup Final for the first time in its history in 1969 followed by a third place in the Scottish Football League thereby securing a place in European competition for the first time. Ormond’s men performed with distinction, overcoming quality opposition from West Germany and Hungary before succumbing to Yugoslavian opposition.

st johnstone crest 1980 The formation of the Premier Division in 1975 proved their undoing. Out of their depth in the more competitive environment the Saints were relegated in 1976 having won only three games, 21 points adrift.

In 1980 team wore a circular crest with a lamb and flag as its centrepiece.

In 1983 the Saints won the First Division title (now the second tier) but the next two seasons brought them close to bankruptcy and they plunged down the league to find themselves in Division Two (third tier) in 1985. With attendances slumped to fewer than 1,000 and Muirton Park crumbling, the board invited local business man Geoff Brown to step in as chairman. A share issue raised £150,000, sufficient to secure the club for the immediate future and in 1986 Brown bought Muirton Park for st johnstone crest 1989 retail development. Thanks to the donation of land from local farmer, Bruce McDiarmid, a brand new 10,000 all-seated stadium was built in August 1989 and named McDiarmid Park.

From the beginning of the 1989-90 season, a new club crest was introduced. the lamb and flag remained at the centre but was now mounted against a two-headed eagle, which comes from the coat of arms of the Perth & Kinross District Council's coat of arms. At various times this was stitched directly onto the shirt or mounted on a shield.

By 1990, St Johnstone were back in the Scottish First Division (second tier) and in 1997 they stormed to the divisional championship, 20 points clear. They more than held their own in the Premier Division/Premier League, reaching the semi-final of the Scottish st johnstone crest 2009 Cup, the final of the League Cup and finishing in third place in 1999. As a result they qualified for the UEFA Cup for the second time. Although the club were relegated in 2002, they remained a strong contender for a return to the top flight and in May 2009, this ambition was achieved just in time for their 125th anniversary.

For the 2009-2010 season a special, commemorative crest was introduced.

Historical Football Kits

Kit History

Background

Sources