St Mirren sign strategic partnerships with two New Zealand clubs

St Mirren have similar agreements with Northern Irish side Rosario YFC and Australia’s Para Hills Knights SC.

St Mirren announce new strategic partnership (PA Archive)

St Mirren have announced new strategic partnerships with both Birkenhead United and Nelson Suburbs in New Zealand

The collaboration between the clubs will see the exchange of players and coaches, as well as sharing of resources and expertise, while academy tours  and tournaments will also take place when safe to do so

St Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick told the club’s official website: “We are delighted to officially become strategic partners with Birkenhead United and Nelson Suburbs.

“We believe that these partnerships will bring significant benefits on the field in terms of talent recruitment, as well as commercially and operationally as we share our knowledge and resources.

“The partnerships are a key part of our vision in growing the St Mirren brand and expanding our footprint worldwide. We are very much looking forward to working with Birkenhead United and Nelson Suburbs.”

David Williams from Birkenhead United said: “The opportunity to partner with a professional club enables a number of new outcomes for Birkenhead United.

“We are further enabled on a journey to improve the level and quality of coaching we can provide to our community, to both the participation and elite groups.

“For any player with an aspiration to an elite or professional career in football the opportunity offered by this partnership becomes an explicit part of an attraction and recruitment policy for us.

“We believe that this formal partnership, at a club level, can only be a positive for both NZ Football as a whole, raising the profile of football both within and outside the borders, and for the potential opportunity for representative players into the future.”

Gary Booth from Nelson Suburbs said: “Developing a pathway for growth and resource sharing between our club and a club of St Mirren’s stature is exciting for Nelson Suburbs.

“We believe it will be hugely beneficial for our players, managers and coaches to be able to share knowledge and learn from a leading Scottish Premiership club and it can only strengthen and add value to our club.”

Birkenhead United and Nelson Suburbs become the latest clubs to partner with St Mirren, following similar agreements with Northern Irish side Rosario YFC and Australia’s Para Hills Knights SC.