Can St Mirren scratch 36-year European itch?

It is fair to say that a lot has happened since 1987.

That is certainly true for St Mirren Football Club, who have seen countless players and managers pass through the doors in Paisley over the course of the last three-and-a-half decades.You do, however, have to turn the clock back that far to find the last time that the Buddies graced a European stage.

The intention in the present is to replicate achievements from the now somewhat distant past.

St Mirren are daring to trade blows with the Old Firm elite, landing a few along the way and putting themselves in a position where points may well deliver prizes.

Shrewd business, both on the field and in the dugout, is allowing a success-starved fan base to dream once more.

Competing for domestic title glory any time soon may still be a bit of a stretch, but those seeking a free bet on the wide range of Scottish football markets – which include everything from individual match results to top-six finishes – will be starting to spot value in the Buddies.

They missed out on continental qualification by the narrowest of margins in 2022-23, with manager Stephen Robinson jokingly suggesting that was part of a much grander plan after seeing many of his coaching rivals vacate supposedly prominent posts.

He has said: “Somebody told me last season four out of the five managers who got to Europe got sacked so that’s a reason why we didn’t get to Europe last year, it was well planned. We stuck to our guns.”

Having ‘allowed’ others to head for Europe this season, the plan is to get over that particular line in 2024 – maybe with another shiny piece of silverware collected along the way.

Robinson has added on collective ambition: “I’d like to do both. I’d like to get into Europe and win a cup but maybe I’m dreaming, maybe I’m fantasising a bit.”

His exploits have allowed St Mirren to get a little carried away.

After going more than 30 years without leaving Scottish shores for a competitive fixture, the Buddies rightly believe that their time in the European sun is long overdue.

Back in November 1987, they faced Belgian outfit Mechelen in the second round of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. A 2-0 defeat on home soil dashed continental dreams, but the expectation at that time was that more adventures would quickly follow.

Three relegations out of the top tier have been suffered since then, with a League Cup win in 2012-13 as good as it has got for the Buddies.

That success did not secure European qualification, but a lofty finish in the Scottish Premiership this time around will deliver tickets to somewhere more exotic than Glasgow or Aberdeen.

St Mirren have been treading those paths for what feels like forever, with a change of scenery very much longed for.

Opportunity knocks in 2023-24, with Robinson and Co determined to prove that they can be the ones to scratch a 36-year itch – allowing a loyal group of supporters to dust off their passports once more.