Doug Somner: Last News

St Mirren Hall of Famer Doug Somner managed in 1979, with the prolific forward bagging an incredible 35 goals in his first season in the stripes.McGarvey had been the Buddies top goalscorer for three seasons, scintillating form that persuaded Liverpool’s legendary boss Bob Paisley to bring the striker to Anfield.Undoubtedly huge boots to fill, but Somner wasted little time in helping his new club quickly forget about what they’d lost - becoming just the second Saints player to finish as top scorer in the Scottish top flight.The former Partick Thistle man revealed his goalscoring exploits at Firhill prepared him mentally for the pressure which was to come his way after St Mirren manager Jim Clunie splashed £100,000 on his signature.Speaking

St Mirren midfielder Billy Stark believes his Buddies passed up a golden opportunity to win the Premier Division in 1980.After an impressive sixth place finish in the 1978/79 season the Saints shot up the table the following campaign, in part thanks to the goalscoring exploits of striker Doug Somner who went on to net an incredible 25 goals to pick up that year’s golden boot.Despite having lost key players Frank McGarvey and Tony Fitzpatrick at the start of the 1979/80 season, to Liverpool and Bristol City respectively, Jim Clunie’s men started strongly and an incredible run of just one defeat in sixteen games had them sitting second in the table in mid-March.Stark himself contributed seven goals up to that point, forming a formidable

St Mirren career, he took to the pitch at Easter Road last August for a season opening clash with Hibs just two days after joining the club.Despite being quickly thrown in at the deep end the affable 29-year-old went on to enjoy a fruitful first campaign with the club, ending up the Buddies top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions despite the season ending early.Now the former Tottenham Hotspur striker is taking aim at breaking the 20 goal barrier, a feat that hasn’t been achieved by any St Mirren striker since Doug Somner in 1981.He told Express Sport: “Last season I only arrived two days before our first league game and signed the day before and it was all a bit of a rush to get ready.“I didn’t even know anyone’s name in that first