Caolan Boyd-Munce opens up on St Mirren love affair after Wycombe switch
The Northern Irishman admits he'll never forget the affection shown to him by the black-and-white army.
BY KYLE GUNN
Caolan Boyd-Munce says he had 'goosebumps' the first time he heard the black-and-white army sing his name as he revealed his love for St Mirren.
The Northern Irish midfielder who arrived at the SMiSA Stadium in March 2023 is very different to the man who departed Paisley at the end of the season – both on the pitch and off it.
During his time at Greenhill Road, he became a fully-fledged international and, more importantly, a father to 10-month old son Roux.
And Boyd-Munce, who has signed for Sky Bet League One side Wycombe Wanderers, still recalls how he was serenaded for the first time in front of his family.
He told the Paisley Daily Express: 'It was Hibs away and I was taking a corner and, in the song, I heard my name for the first time and the goosebumps I got. The feeling that runs down in the back of your neck and the family hearing it was amazing.
'So, things like that will always stick with me and I've loved every part of it. I've loved playing in front of them and I'll never ever have a bad word or a bad memory.
'For me, it was more about football than me, with my son being born. So, it's always got that wee bit of an attachment to me now. This is a birthplace of my son.
'This is nearly his home. I think it's been more about things like that than just the football. But I've absolutely loved it. I genuinely can't say a bad word about all the people there.'
Boyd-Munce played a major role in the last two seasons in helping Saints make the Premiership top six under boss Stephen Robinson.
He believes that his fellow countryman leading the Buddies to these heights now means the club should be seen as more than just a stepping stone to better things.
The 25-year-old continued: 'People cannot say it was lucky or a fluke, but they can use external factors to say, 'yeah, this is why they got it'. But three years in a row, I think people can now kind of look at St Mirren as more than a platform.
'Of course, players in their career at different stages will look at that and think, 'yes, I can gain this amount of experience or I can gain this from going to St Mirren'.
'And for the gaffer and his staff to do what they've done three years on the bounce is incredible.'
Boyd-Munce also revealed that he had conversations to remain with the club – and certainly didn't part on bad terms with Saints.
And he credits that to the way Robbo runs an open-door policy with the squad. He said: 'Because we were so close, it was never an awkward conversation to have. It was never a concern to have conversations like that.
'And that's not just me. It's not just me and the gaffer; all the players and all the staff are together. It is an open changing room. I think that's why it works so well.
'Even when I hadn't made my mind up, because I hadn't, I went in and said, 'just get past a certain stage in the season and we'll discuss it'.
'So, as soon as we got towards the end of top six, we then obviously had discussions about it and I just kind of was honest with them and told them that I'm thinking about looking at my options back down in England or abroad and seeing what's out there.'
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