Saints midfielder Sara Missaghian remembers vividly how mentally tough it was to keep fit at home during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns.
And that is what made stepping on to the pitch at the SMiSA Stadium even sweeter as she and her St Mirren teammates blew title challengers Westdyke off the park.
Missaghian joined the Buddies back in 2020, a hugely uncertain time for women’s football with the club’s league campaign mothballed due to the outbreak.
Head coach Kate Cooper did all she could to keep her players both fit and engaged with the club, including fitness sessions designed to be carried out at home.
And Missaghian revealed coming on as a second-half substitute in last Sunday’s historic and dominant 3-0 win in Paisley felt even more significant after two difficult years on and off the pitch.
She told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “I joined the club in 2020 and it was a difficult time for everyone during the pandemic.
“Even during the lockdowns Kate was so important. She kept the squad going and we did training and fitness sessions at home at one point, just to keep it going.
“We had a very small squad then but we all worked so hard. It’s been tough but moments like Sunday certainly make it all worthwhile.
“Winning at the stadium against such a good team shows just how far we’ve come. To come on for the last 20 minutes and help the team see out the match with a clean sheet was a proud moment.
“I’m so proud of everyone involved over the last few years and to see the celebrations of the family and friends in the stand as the goals went in was fantastic. It’s something I’m sure we’ll never forget.”
Like her teammate Helen McLeod, Missaghian pinpointed walking out with the young mascots before kick-off as one of the highlights of last weekend’s match.
She is delighted to see young girls having many more opportunities to get involved in football as the sport continues to be more accessible to all.
Missaghian said: “To walk out with the mascots and see how much it meant to them in their eyes, it was magical.
“When I was younger, all the girl’s football teams were coached by dads who were doing their absolute best.
“But no-one could see how far women’s football could go over the last ten years. It wasn’t even seen as a career choice for women before, but now we have full-time players, as well as those balancing a career with playing.
“There are amazing opportunities for young girls now to get involved with football which is brilliant going forward.”
The Saints are hoping to carry the momentum from their historic win at the SMiSA Stadium into tomorrow afternoon’s tough away clash with SWF League One table-toppers FC Edinburgh Women.
Missaghian, who works in TV production, is confident her side can deliver an upset on the road, adding: “FC Edinburgh always make us step up our game a level.
“I’m sure we can take the energy and the excitement from last Sunday and put it to good use and help us keep winning.
“What struck me before the Westdyke game was how calm we were in the dressing room before kick-off.
“The professionalism that Kate has instilled in us certainly helped.
“To go and win so comfortably in front of a big crowd in a big stadium gives us massive confidence for the rest of the
season.
“The target now is to maximise our potential having hit our stride. We want to keep it going and I’m confident we can win this weekend.”
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