Muirton Park

Muirton Park (1924–1989) was the second of three football grounds the football club St Johnstone from Perth, Scotland, have occupied in their history. It was preceded by the Recreation Grounds (1885–1924) and succeeded by McDiarmid Park (1989–present).

From 1885, St Johnstone FC played its home fixtures at the Recreation Grounds, which was situated opposite Perth Prison on Edinburgh Road. However, as the club grew in stature and obtained Scottish Football League status, it became apparent that the Recreation Grounds no longer met their needs and would cost too much to develop. The men in charge of the club’s affairs decided it was time to look at other options and locations for the club to relocate.

Soon after, vacant land at Muirton was chosen as the preferred site out of several given serious consideration for a brand new football ground. The Muirton site was adjacent to an "excellent public highway" (i.e., the Dunkeld Road) and was served by the Corporation trams. The underlying soil conditions were also ideal for creating a fine football pitch, plus there was ample space for spectators to enter and exit the proposed new football park.

It was then unanimously agreed at a meeting of the shareholders held in February 1924, that the club would move to the new Muirton Park site at what was at that time on the northern outskirts of the town. Muirton Park was constructed in accordance with almost all football grounds of that era: it was of a basic design with uncovered terracing on three sides of the ground. The grandstand running along the Dunkeld Road side of the pitch was of a steel and concrete construction but with wooden flooring and seating. The pitch at Muirton Park was of international standard and dimensions. The first match took place on Christmas Day, 1924, against Queen's Park in front of an official attendance of over 11,000.

The stadium was largely unchanged until the early 1950s, when a terracing cover was added to the east side. A record attendance of 29,972 was set by a 1950–51 Scottish Cup tie against Tayside derby rivals Dundee. The floodlights were also installed in the 1960s and were first used on 28 November 1964 in a match against Hearts. Reigning FA Cup holders West Ham were invited up to Scotland for a challenge match on 16 December 1964 to commemorate the inauguration of the new floodlights. The uncovered standing areas behind each goal were colloquially known as the Ice Rink End and the Florence Place/Town End. Before the permanent segregation fence was erected it was common for fans to "change ends" during half-time and congregate towards the end that St Johnstone was attacking.

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