Forfar Athletic v St. Johnstone – Match Preview

The ‘Loons’ play their last pre-season fixture prior to Premier Sports Cup action when St. Johnstone head to the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park on Saturday.

Jim Weir acknowledges that this will be the sternest test to date for his new look squad, but the ninety minutes will play a vitally important part in the players’ preparation for the visit to Annan on Saturday week. The match itself will be Saints’ first public outing of the season, a campaign which will sadly see them perform out with the Premiership for the first time since 2009.

The ‘Loons’ management team would ideally have liked a full handful of pre-season games but thankfully in the midst of the problems that befell the scheduled outing with Jeanfield Swifts on Tuesday past, we still managed to play the fixture behind closed doors at Station Park. The home side recorded a 2-0 win over the East of Scotland League outfit, all the squad getting more valuable game time, the marksmen on the night, Brad Rodden and Angus Mailer.

Jim and Gavin are delighted with the squad’s overall fitness level as competitive football approaches, fitness coach Mark Farrell deserving of great credit for his work in this regard and proving why he is such a vital cog within the ‘Loons’ backroom team. Once again Jim will have the bonus of all his signed players being fit for tomorrow’s clash against a club which of course means so much to him having played, captained and coached the McDiarmid Park outfit over a lengthy part of his career in the game. All sixteen members of the current squad will likely get a run out at some point with the home fan base no doubt looking forward to seeing the new look attacking duo of Martin Rennie and Scott Shepherd in action once again.

Current boss of the Saints Simo Valakari has brought in five new faces to date all from sides who competed in the Championship last term, as he begins the re-build of a side that the loyal Perth support hope will see their side clinch a quick return to the top tier of the Scottish game.

Attendances at pre-season fixtures are difficult to predict but ‘Loons’ officials were delighted with the turn out from the home support for the match with Montrose last weekend and hopefully a reasonable number of fans from the Fair City will make the thirty mile jaunt on the day.

An important reminder that the kick-off tomorrow is scheduled for 2pm.

Reduced admission prices are being levied for Saturday’s fixture;-

Adults £12
Concessions (14-17 year old/65 & 0ver) £8
Under 14’s £1

Admission on the day is by cash only payment at the turnstile. Tickets though can also be purchased on line in advance at https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/forfar_athletic_v_st_johnstone_0725

Forfar Athletic season tickets are of course valid for this fixture and these can also be purchased online prior to the match online at https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/fafc_season_ticket_202526

Please note that there is as always extremely restricted parking behind the David McGregor stand reserved for players and officials and that there will be no parking available beyond the hospitality area. Parking will be available at Market Muir and surrounding streets.

The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will be open as normal at this fixture.

The 1984 Lounge at the ground serving a selection of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks will be open with supporters of both sides welcome from 12.30pm. till kick-off. It will re-open on the final whistle for a minimum period of one hour.