Fans are 'brilliant' says Stephen Robinson as he praises the Saints faithful
Robbo praised the crowds for turning out in force this season, especially considering that two of the country's biggest clubs, Rangers and Celtic, are their neighbours.
St Mirren fans have been applauded by their gaffer for sticking with the club through hard times and turning out en masse when players have needed a lift.
This season saw a mix of emotions sweep through the stands. A return to European football saw the Buddies start the season on a high, but their fortunes soon turned and it looked like the club was on the brink of a relegation battle.
However, a late surge in form ultimately saw the Saints make the top six for the third year in a row.
Robbo praised the crowds for turning out in force this season, especially considering that two of the country's biggest clubs, Rangers and Celtic, are their neighbours.
'I don't know what the average crowds were when we first came in but they're really good now. I think 6,200 is our average crowd,' the Paisley chief said.
'That's brilliant for a small club when you've got two huge football clubs on your doorstep as well.
'That's credit to the fans, credit to the players because they're not coming to watch them if they're not playing well.
'The stadium has been full most weeks and the atmosphere has been fantastic. I'm humbled by the reaction that I got [when the fans thanked him with a banner at the Ranger match] and the support that I've got.'
The top six finish came despite a number of challenges both on and off the pitch.
The team had to contend with a non-playable surface at their Neilston training ground and the dismissal of three key players who all appeared in court on separate matters.
Robinson said strength and resilience to get through those hard times will always pay off for both players and management.
He added: 'When there were tough times — and you do at a club like St Mirren always go through tough periods — and the character of the group showed.
'The staff and myself, I hope we showed that we can deal with pressure, we can deal with hard times.
'I always say to the boys that bad times don't last forever. The good times always come back, and tough people always last, not the bad times.
'That's a little phrase we use all the time. Bad times don't last forever, tough people do.'
The 50-year-old continued: 'And they've proven what a tough and talented group they are, and they've continued to do it.
'The bigger thing is the consistency. Teams can do it once every five or six years.
'But we've done it three years in a row and as I said, success is relative and that's a huge success for us.'
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