First Team
30th Anniversary of McDiarmid Park's Official Opening
17th October 2019
Today - Thursday 17th October - marks the 30th anniversary of the official opening of McDiarmid Park when on this day in 1989, Manchester United were invited to take on Saints in a fixture to mark the momentous occasion.
As part of the celebration of this 30th anniversary year at the home of St. Johnstone Football Club, we have created a specially adapted crest and will shortly unveil some exciting new leisurewear which fans will be able to pre-order with the 30th anniversary crest on it.
Some of the biggest names in football were in attendance that night to mark the opening of McDiarmid Park, including Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton.
It was the next step in the club's rise from the bottom tier of Scottish football under then Chairman Geoff Brown and as many of you will remember, Saints went on to win the Division One title and gain promotion to the top flight later that season.
Speaking about today's 30th anniversary of McDiarmid Park's official opening, Chairman Steve Brown, said: "We’ve had three decades filled with great successes and memories since we made the move to McDiarmid Park back in 1989.
"There have been many fantastic moments here including some incredible European nights and hopefully we'll have more to come in the next thirty years.
"It’s hard to believe that it was on this day in 1989 that McDiarmid Park was officially opened when a star studded Manchester United side came to Perth to take on Saints.
"It’s one of the many great memories that we have enjoyed at the stadium, having names like Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton and of course former Saints striker Sir Alex Ferguson here that night made it extra special.
"Everyone at the Club is looking forward to building on the successes of the past three decades in the years to come."
More details about the new leisurewear will be released soon.
The teams that night 30 years ago
SAINTS: Balavage, Treanor, McVicar, Thomson, Cherry, Johnston, Moore, Curran, Grant, Jenkins, Heddle. SUBS: Maskrey, Blackie, Ward, Barron, McKillop, Thompson
MANCHESTER UTD: Leighton, Martin, Donaghy, Bruce, Phelan, Pallister, Robson, Ince, McClair, Hughes, Sharpe. SUBS: Gibson, Blackmore, Duxbury, Maiorana