The clubs bonded during a Europa League qualifier in the summer of 2012. Their connection remains close today

By Nutmeg magazine

Curious things, friendships. How they wax and wane as people’s lives and circumstances change, strained by time or distance. Friendships between football supporters can be similarly curious in their formation. Some are more easy to understand, often born out of shared values, perhaps colours, or out of a simplistic attitude of “my enemies’ enemy is my friend”, but as in life tight bonds can occasionally form between the most unlikely of partners.

In 2013, as St Johnstone unveiled a black and red striped away kit, much of Scottish football will have moved on fairly quickly. Just another kit launch. But there was something more to it than that. The red and black stripes were a tribute to a club from almost the other side of the European continent, who in turn were unveiling a blue and white away strip of their own in honour of the Perth Saints.