Totten reflects on 'smashing time' in Perth

Friday 24th February 2017

Alex Totten may have left St Johnstone as a top flight team, but the Perth sides fortunes weren’t as fair when he took over, and Totten has fond memories of leading Saints’ resurgence in the late 80s and early 90s.

“When I took over at Old Muirton, St Johnstone were the third worst team in Scotland at the time. Thankfully, things worked out great while I was there and in three seasons we were back in the top flight. Everything fell into place, and Geoff Brown’s plans for a new stadium materialised which played a huge part. The stability of the club off the pitch, the exciting football and the fabulous support from the fans all played a huge part in the side’s success.”

Alex’s memories of the team’s tale of rags to riches was summed up in a quote by one of his star players, and while lots of factors played to Saints’ advantage, Alex knows the change of ownership was instrumental to the club’s monumental change in fortunes.

“I remember Paul Cherry saying to me that the 1990s at St Johnstone was ‘an era that will never be repeated’ and he was right. Saints are role models for other clubs now. I remember when I won the Manager of the Year Award that if there had been no Geoff Brown, there would be no St Johnstone. Geoff ran a tight ship, but a good ship, and his son is continuing the great work.”

Having managed at Dumbarton before coming to Perth, moving from the top of the second tier to the third bottom club in Scotland may not have been a glamourous move, but Alex knew he was making the right decision.

“Before coming to Saints I was at Dumbarton, who struggled for crowds as most people who lived nearby just crossed the Erskine bridge and went to see Celtic or Rangers. I wanted a team to myself and, like Aberdeen, Perth is a perfect example of a one team city, and with the prospect of a new stadium, it was enough to excite me. People said I was crazy, but I knew there was potential, and thankfully I got it right. I travelled 45 minutes there every day and it was an absolute joy.”

As the last manager at Old Muirton and the first at McDiarmid Park, Alex says the upgraded facilities made a huge difference to how his team played and the prospect of the new stadium was highly influential in his decision to move to Perth.

“McDiarmid Park was a great improvement on Old Muirton. While Muirton was bigger, it was falling to pieces and part of one of the stands was closed off when I came. I saw every brick and every girder go into McDiarmid, and the new stadium was enough to help me sign new players, which was a big plus. When I signed Allan Moore from Hearts, he made the move from full time to part time just so that he could play at the brand new all-seater stadium. We had some great matches there, like beating Airdrie and Aberdeen.”

Managing in one of the club’s more successful spells, Alex has plenty of St Johnstone highlights to choose from, but narrowed it down to a handful of famous wins in Perth.

“To beat Aberdeen 5-0 was fabulous but beating Airdrie for promotion was my favourite match. We won 3-1 but it could have been six or seven. We were playing in front of seven, eight, nine thousand fans every week and that day, every player played their part. I loved when we opened McDiarmid too, and Fergie brought up Sir Matt Busby and Bobby Charlton. Off the pitch, winning Manager of the Year was special for me, especially to beat the bosses of Celtic and Rangers.”

Through it all, the thing Alex remembers best was his fantastic relationship with the fans, who remember him equally fondly.

“When I took over, the fans game me a special scarf with my name on it, which I wore to every game, and I just promised them I’d give them 100%. It was a great group of fans in Perth, as well as the supporters’ groups in Crieff, Blairgowrie, Auchterarder and all across Perthshire. I’m glad than when I was there, we had an exciting team to watch, and that was what I wanted. It was a great bunch of lads with a great team spirit, and that’s what fans want. I loved my time in Perth. I managed for 22 years at six clubs and I can say that undoubtedly my time at St Johnstone was my most enjoyable.”

Still following St Johnstone, Alex is delighted to see that the legacy he helped to begin is being continued by the current team.

“There needs to be a lot of credit given to Tommy Wright with what he’s done with the club since coming in. I was there when they won the Scottish Cup in May and it was fabulous – he’s done a great job. Top six time and time again is what they deserve, because they’re a well-run club that uses real common sense.”

A manager who will go down in St Johnstone folklore, Alex truly believes that there is something special about the Perth club.

“I have very fond memories of my time in Perth. They’re a smashing club and I’m glad I had the chance to be a part of the team. They’re well run, role models for other clubs and the club that I enjoyed managing the most.”

Interview by Ross Gardiner.