St Johnstone FC – Fans’ Forum Minutes
Date: 1 September 2025
Venue: McDiarmid Park
Attendance
Fans: Tom Welsh, Darlene Macdonald, Danny Williams, Stuart Taylor, Elliot Thomson, Dan Shek
Club representatives: Matty Gallagher, Aidan Smith, Bev Mayer, Aileen Campbell, Francis Smith
Apologies: Laura Stewart, Colin Mackay
1. Introduction
The Chair opened the meeting, noting that much has changed since the last forum at McDiarmid Park. Although relegation was a disappointment, there is renewed optimism around the team, supporters and club as a whole. Highlights include:
- New club shop and record kit sales
- More season tickets sold than last year
- A refreshed feel around the club, with further developments to come
At the time of the meeting, Saints were on 10 points – three clear of Raith Rovers – having enjoyed a strong League Cup group stage campaign, topping the group comfortably. Although eliminated in the following round, the excellent performance against Motherwell gave confidence for the season ahead.
Thanks were recorded to Andy Kirk and Alec Cleland for their contributions to the club, along with all departing players from last season. A warm welcome was extended to the new signings: Toby Steward, Morgan Boyes, Cheik Diabaté, Jack Baird, Matty Foulds, Liam Smith, Reghan Tumilty, Reece McAlear, Stevie Mallan, Sam Stanton, Kai Fotheringham, Jamie Gullan, Louis Lloyd, and to Jordi Aluja, now Assistant Manager.
With players and staff from Uganda, The Gambia, Scotland, Sweden, Panama, Finland, Spain, Poland, England, Austria, Croatia and Wales, the squad reflects football’s ability to unite people from across the world.
Congratulations were also offered to Uche Ikpeazu, Adama Sidibeh and Makenzie Kirk on their international call-ups. The club wished Makenzie well following his transfer to Portsmouth.
Agenda for the evening:
- Presentation by Josh Henderson (SJWFC)
- Q&A with Josh
- Introduction to Proud Saintees
- Foodbank update
- Update on stadium and facility improvements
- Open floor Q&A
2. Presentation – Josh Henderson (SJWFC)
Josh shared his journey from volunteer to his current role with the women’s team, where he has been for 14–15 months. He highlighted:
- Strong support from the club and the importance of the “One Club, One City, One Community” message
- Excitement at moving to McDiarmid Park, which has boosted visibility and youth engagement
- Ambition to grow the women’s game in Perth and build lasting success
Chair Danny Williams praised Josh’s work and encouraged supporters to attend matches, noting that entry is just £2 for season ticket holders.
Q&A with Josh Henderson
- Q (Alex): What style of football can we expect?
A (Josh): Exciting, attacking football that fans enjoy watching. - Q (Fan): Do the men’s coaches help you?
A (Josh): Yes, Simo regularly attends games, offers advice, and is very supportive. - Q (Danny): What are the ambitions after a mixed start?
A (Josh): To aim for a top-six finish after league reconstruction, with realistic progress. - Q (Tom): Where do you recruit players from?
A (Josh): Players come from Fife, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and even Elgin. Travel can be challenging. - Q (Fan): Will there be a pathway for local girls?
A (Josh): This is a priority for the future. Lack of a girls’ academy is currently a barrier.
3. Proud Saintees Introduction
Iain explained the group’s aim to support LGBTQ+ Saints fans, offering a safe, social environment and liaising with the club on issues such as homophobia. Early engagement with the club has been positive.
Leaflets were distributed, and members were encouraged to spread awareness. Iain noted that LGBTQ+ fans have already become season ticket holders after initial contact with the group.
Bev asked about links with similar groups at other clubs.
Iain confirmed contacts have been made and that he recently attended a national Football Pride event.
4. Foodbank Update
- Over 1 tonne donated this season already
- Since 2023: more than 14 tonnes of food and £7,900 raised
- Last collection saw 83 crates filled, requiring two van trips
- Thanks were given to Matty for designing and donating the new Foodbank flag
The club and fans were praised for their outstanding support.
5. Stadium & Facility Updates (Francis Smith)
- Lounges refurbished; new astroturf installed (already used by the women’s team)
- Construction of new changing facilities starting imminently, due for completion by end of September
- Fan Zone set up quickly and well received
- Internal lift project ongoing; planning issues resolved, now repositioned indoors
- Website updates continue; feedback welcomed
- Shop museum and community space opened in town
6. Open Floor Questions
(Abridged for clarity – all questions and answers were discussed in full.)
- Partnerships with Hercules CF and Turkish clubs? → No formal paperwork in place.
- MandM Direct discount codes? → Fans should have recieved email with instructions from MandM.
- Solar panels? → Quotes obtained; stand structure being assessed.
- Tiles for the memorial wall? → Stock available; further batch on order.
- Car park bollards? → Lighting improvements and temporary cones planned.
- East Stand seating? → Some cleaned pre-season; full replacement too costly in short term.
- Hospitality and pricing (including Itison vouchers)? → Packages selling well, but limited discounted offers used to attract new customers. Sponsorship also strong.
- Kits and stock issues? → Retail partner responsible; pre-orders ensure fair distribution and prevent losses. No third kit planned for sale.
- Kiosks and catering delays? → Club working with Pie Sports on staffing and layout improvements. Gluten-free options available on request.
- Queens Park away tickets? → Awaiting details; discussions ongoing.
- Future Fans’ Forum meetings? → Club producing a fan engagement calendar; meetings will be more structured.
- Recording meetings? → Trial recording for internal review, possible wider release in future.
- Category A pricing (Dunfermline fixture)? → Decision based on expected large away following and increased policing costs.
- Community projects? → Foodbank praised as an example; further initiatives under discussion.
- Co-op agreement with Hearts? → Club always monitoring loan opportunities. Adam Forrester an example.
- Car park resurfacing? → On hold due to prioritising playing budget and other improvements.
- Transfer window activity? → Loans possible until end of September; free agent market also considered.
7. Closing Remarks
Danny Williams thanked all speakers, particularly Josh Henderson and Francis Smith, for their contributions.
Stuart Taylor echoed the thanks and formally closed the meeting.
