By Robbie Boyd

St Mirren skipper Mark O’Hara spoke exclusively to UWS news ahead of the ‘buddies’ match against Rangers this Sunday the midfielder said how its always been a dream to captain a football team, from a young age.

He said: “when you grow up you probably aspire to be a captain of a team, so to achieve that with a club that means a lot to me, its massive I enjoy the responsibility and to give back to the club and people when I can.”

O’Hara is from neighbouring Barrhead and says he is reminded of the responsibility every time he goes home to see his mum and dad, knowing what it means to the local kids in his area is something that O’Hara finds “heartwarming”

He said: “In my street theres four or five young boys who all cut about in St. Mirren tops now and its heartwarming to know that I have contributed to that.”

When O’Hara signed with the ‘buddies‘ he linked back up with boss Stephen Robinson who he had worked under whilst at Motherwell, O’Hara shares how he believes Robinson is the best manager he has worked under.

He said: “I had always stayed in touch with him when he was down south- he was always keeping tabs on me, when he approached me I was delighted to join up with him again. He is a brilliant manager and he is the best I’ve had, and its brilliant to be a part of that.”

St. Mirren could go six points in front of struggling Rangers, when the sides meet at the SMISA at Sunday lunchtime but O’Hara puts the form down to the teams hard work.

He said: “The situation we find ourselves in now, with a chance to go six points ahead of Rangers, going into the October break is massive, wed have snapped your hand off for that at the start of the season.”

Mark has signed a contract keeping him in Paisley until the summer of 2026, saying that he and his family are settled as he lays out to be part of more success and history with St, Mirren following the clubs first top half finish in 38 years last term. O’Hara is determined to keep that going, in this campaign and in the future.

“Im loving my time here, its easy to say when you’re younger that you’re maybe looking to try different things but I love it here, my family love me being here. I think if we were to achieve something special wether that be getting into Europe or win a cup here, that would be a dream come true.”

Manager Stephen Robinson has instilled a belief in the squad despite the Paisley side being knocked out of the ViaPlay cup at the quarter-final stage. But O’Hara insists that the team know the importance of keeping up their good form in the league, but does hope for similar if not more success when tournament football comes back around this Autumn. With the return of the Scottish cup, but the ‘buddies’ captain knows St. Mirren are chasing a record this Sunday and hopes it can continue a monumental 18-month spell for the ‘Paisley Pandas’

He said: “First and foremost I think we’ve got to go and achieve something special n the league, the Scottish cup will come, but we have beat everyone in the league the past 18-months apart from Rangers, but hopefully we put that one right on Sunday.”

listen to our radio report here.

Here are highlights from the buddies last match V Kilmarnock, courtesy of St Mirren FC youtube