A Day at St. Johnstone

Seeing a game at St. Johnstone FC in Perth is perhaps the football experience you’re actually after.

At some point in our travels, we might stop to ask what we’re looking for.

Take Scotland. The first place that comes to mind is probably Edinburgh, or the Highlands, or a golf course. Or, if you’re into football, it’s probably the Old Firm in Glasgow.

And those are all great; one would be fortunate indeed to experience them. But after you walk down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and realize it’s overflowing with tourists, what then? If Celtic vs Rangers, minus the context, is just another packed and loud stadium, what then? Where do we go when we have checked off the “tier 1” destinations?

Well, maybe some place like St. Johnstone FC in Perth.

The city of Perth and the River Tay.

Welcome to Perth and St. Johnstone

Clear your mind of those Instagram posts from Scotland, and see if this sounds appealing: A historic city on the banks of a river famous for big fish. The hill where Scottish kings were once crowned. A palace and grounds that date to the 12th Century. Yes, a bunch of historic golf courses nearby, and the Highlands not far off. And a community-based football club with more than 140 years of history where you can mingle with longtime fans, meet club officials, have great seats for a very good price, and even chat with the Man of the Match after the game.

That is St. Johnstone — and dozens of other clubs up and down the country.

The club shop downtown, where you can also buy tickets on the day of the game.

Obviously, seeing a game at St. Johnstone isn’t why you’re coming to Scotland, or even this part of it. But if you’re in Edinburgh and tired of the crowds — and honestly, how many souvenir shops can survive in one place? — or if you’re on a golf trip and want a break for some football, then taking a one-hour train up to Perth may be just what you’re looking for.

It’s also a calm, lovely and affordable place to spend a night or two. Scone Palace (with a beautiful hotel) is just outside of town. Within a one-hour drive are the golf courses at Gleneagles, St. Andrews, Carnoustie and others. The River Tay produced the largest-ever rod-caught salmon at 64 pounds.

Kickoff at St. Johnstone

Seeing a Game at St. Johnstone

And the football is positively traditional. The board of directors uses the same entrance as the folks who bought pregame hospitality — which costs a quarter of the same experience in Glasgow. The people sitting at your table will almost certainly be locals, out for a day at the football or maybe splurging on their once-a-year time in the lounge. Or you’ll go for the regular seats, where your neighbor might hear your accent, wonder how you’ve come to be so far off the main tourist path, and be happy to swap a few stories with you.

The stadium holds 10,000, not 60,000. The people you’ll meet in town actually live there. The visiting fans will be in the same pubs, chatting with the locals in the Fan Zone before the game. The people in the stands will greet the people working there as friends, because they are. Even the ads will be for local businesses (scaffolding, recycling and the lot) and not global corporations.

The main Geoff Brown Stand.

The point is, St. Johnstone — currently in the Scottish Championship after 16 years in the Premiership, but definitely on course to return right away — is the kind of authentic, old-fashioned, local football experience that we think you’ll enjoy. And it’s only an hour from Glasgow if you happen to be over there to see one of those other clubs.

I admit we didn’t pluck St. Johnstone out of thin air. One of our former clients is part of the ownership group, so we have a relationship with the club. We can absolutely help you see a game there and make plenty of other recommendations about how to spend your day.

Even without that, the point of football is to connect with people, not just to add to your “been there, done that” list of accomplishments. So sure, go to one of those clubs in Glasgow. But then try an Edinburgh club. And then get out of town, deeper into Scotland, and see a game at a place like St. Johnstone.

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