Legend of the Iceman

It is a mesmerising trick and has the effect of completely flummoxing Wdowczyk. Stickroth has given himself a couple of yards' space from which to swing in a cross and the ball in is enticing, head-high and floated towards the Celtic penalty spot at a decent pace. Rushing to meet it is Torfason, the Icelander having continued his run from midfield, and his header is perfect, powerful, down and into the far corner. Bonner dives to his left but the ball is already beyond him. It is April 7, 1990, and St Mirren are on their way to a 3-0 victory at Celtic Park. They have not won there since.

George Shaw and Paul Lambert would embellish the scoreline but it is the first goal that sticks in the mind. The manager at the time, Tony Fitzpatrick, who rarely needs encouraged when it comes to talking up his beloved St Mirren, was of the opinion that you would struggle to see a better one. Archie Macpherson, commentating for Sportscene that day, was similarly impressed. "This is brilliant play from the German, watch this," he said. "That's a very difficult ball to get in from so close to the line and that is great finishing."

The celebration wasn't bad either, Torfason running away gleefully, his long, unkempt hair billowing in the wind, jumping into Stickroth's arms before shaking a celebratory fist in the direction of the small pocket of St Mirren fans stationed in the far corner of the ground. That this was Torfason's first game back after a month out nursing a broken rib only added to the achievement.

Paisley is not a town known for glamour so it is perhaps not all that surprising that the St Mirren supporters quickly took Stickroth and Torfason, especially, to their hearts. In a team full of journeymen triers, forever toiling at the wrong end of the league, it was like two members from the cast of Ocean's Eleven had breezed in and instantly brightened up the place. If Stickroth was the handsome, well-groomed type the ladies swooned over, Torfason was more of a man's man, all carefree swagger and Icelandic cool.

Even when he was sent off one time, for flashing two fingers at the Ayr United fans during a cup tie at Love Street, it only added to his allure. He quickly became a cult hero among the St Mirren support. He still is to this day.

But he could play a bit, too. A virtual unknown when he pitched up from Rapid Vienna in 1989, he would go on to become St Mirren's top scorer in each of his three seasons at the club, bashing in long-range efforts, free-kicks and more than his fair share of headers. His goals, though, could not keep the team in the Premier League and he left after just one game of the 1992/93 season to join St Johnstone.

Torfason is now 51 and employed by an Icelandic bank having returned home in 1995 after a fairly inauspicious stint with Doncaster Rovers. It seems a sedate line of work for such a gregarious character but he has kept his hand in with football. He coached for a while, was on the board at his old club Fram Reykjavik, does occasional media work, and was Rangers' Icelandic scout for a short spell, a legacy of friendships made during his time in Scotland.

It has been 20 years since he left St Mirren, and 22 since that famous day at Celtic Park, but recollections from that period still come easily. "I had a tremendous time in Scotland, especially with the fans," Torfason said.

"The opportunity to go to St Mirren came out of the blue as I was about to sign a new contract with Rapid, but it turned out to be a great move. I have a lot of good memories. I'm still really fond of the Scottish game and try to follow it from over here, mainly to see how St Mirren are getting on. I've not been to their new ground yet so I will try to go the next time I'm in Scotland."

Torfason had been off the Scottish radar for some time when he popped up at Rangers last year. His friendship with Tommy Wilson and Kenny McDowall was behind the move but it proved a short-lived appointment. "I was doing some scouting work for Rangers for about a year, looking for young talent here in Iceland, but then it came to an end with a big bang with their problems. That was something you didn't really expect from a big club like that."

The victory at Celtic Park, immortalised in song by the St Mirren support, unsurprisingly remains a career highlight for Torfason and he hopes the current side get to enjoy such an experience this afternoon. "That kind of game always sticks in your mind as it was such a tremendous victory," he said. "There was only one team on the park that day and the scoreline underlines that. It's pretty unbelievable that St Mirren have not won at Parkhead since then but I hope they can do it this weekend. I will keep my fingers crossed for them and hope for good news."

INTERVIEW Paisley club's last Parkhead victory is still a vivid memory for goal hero Torfason, writes Graeme Macpherson

"The first goal was scored by Guni."

And what a goal it was. It even spawned a song. Pat Bonner launches a long goal kick. The ball is headed back across the halfway line by Brian Martin towards Gudmundur "Guni" Torfason who plays it wide first time to the galloping Thomas Stickroth. Now Stickroth can fair move but as he dashes towards the Celtic corner flag with Dariusz Wdowczyk for company it looks like he is about to run out of space. Suddenly, though, about six feet in front of the goal line, the German stops, switches the ball from his right foot to his left and then quickly back again to his right.

It is a mesmerising trick and has the effect of completely flummoxing Wdowczyk. Stickroth has given himself a couple of yards' space from which to swing in a cross and the ball in is enticing, head-high and floated towards the Celtic penalty spot at a decent pace. Rushing to meet it is Torfason, the Icelander having continued his run from midfield, and his header is perfect, powerful, down and into the far corner. Bonner dives to his left but the ball is already beyond him. It is April 7, 1990, and St Mirren are on their way to a 3-0 victory at Celtic Park. They have not won there since.

George Shaw and Paul Lambert would embellish the scoreline but it is the first goal that sticks in the mind. The manager at the time, Tony Fitzpatrick, who rarely needs encouraged when it comes to talking up his beloved St Mirren, was of the opinion that you would struggle to see a better one. Archie Macpherson, commentating for Sportscene that day, was similarly impressed. "This is brilliant play from the German, watch this," he said. "That's a very difficult ball to get in from so close to the line and that is great finishing."

The celebration wasn't bad either, Torfason running away gleefully, his long, unkempt hair billowing in the wind, jumping into Stickroth's arms before shaking a celebratory fist in the direction of the small pocket of St Mirren fans stationed in the far corner of the ground. That this was Torfason's first game back after a month out nursing a broken rib only added to the achievement.

Paisley is not a town known for glamour so it is perhaps not all that surprising that the St Mirren supporters quickly took Stickroth and Torfason, especially, to their hearts. In a team full of journeymen triers, forever toiling at the wrong end of the league, it was like two members from the cast of Ocean's Eleven had breezed in and instantly brightened up the place. If Stickroth was the handsome, well-groomed type the ladies swooned over, Torfason was more of a man's man, all carefree swagger and Icelandic cool.

Even when he was sent off one time, for flashing two fingers at the Ayr United fans during a cup tie at Love Street, it only added to his allure. He quickly became a cult hero among the St Mirren support. He still is to this day.

But he could play a bit, too. A virtual unknown when he pitched up from Rapid Vienna in 1989, he would go on to become St Mirren's top scorer in each of his three seasons at the club, bashing in long-range efforts, free-kicks and more than his fair share of headers. His goals, though, could not keep the team in the Premier League and he left after just one game of the 1992/93 season to join St Johnstone.

Torfason is now 51 and employed by an Icelandic bank having returned home in 1995 after a fairly inauspicious stint with Doncaster Rovers. It seems a sedate line of work for such a gregarious character but he has kept his hand in with football. He coached for a while, was on the board at his old club Fram Reykjavik, does occasional media work, and was Rangers' Icelandic scout for a short spell, a legacy of friendships made during his time in Scotland.

It has been 20 years since he left St Mirren, and 22 since that famous day at Celtic Park, but recollections from that period still come easily. "I had a tremendous time in Scotland, especially with the fans," Torfason said.

"The opportunity to go to St Mirren came out of the blue as I was about to sign a new contract with Rapid, but it turned out to be a great move. I have a lot of good memories. I'm still really fond of the Scottish game and try to follow it from over here, mainly to see how St Mirren are getting on. I've not been to their new ground yet so I will try to go the next time I'm in Scotland."

Torfason had been off the Scottish radar for some time when he popped up at Rangers last year. His friendship with Tommy Wilson and Kenny McDowall was behind the move but it proved a short-lived appointment. "I was doing some scouting work for Rangers for about a year, looking for young talent here in Iceland, but then it came to an end with a big bang with their problems. That was something you didn't really expect from a big club like that."

The victory at Celtic Park, immortalised in song by the St Mirren support, unsurprisingly remains a career highlight for Torfason and he hopes the current side get to enjoy such an experience this afternoon. "That kind of game always sticks in your mind as it was such a tremendous victory," he said. "There was only one team on the park that day and the scoreline underlines that. It's pretty unbelievable that St Mirren have not won at Parkhead since then but I hope they can do it this weekend. I will keep my fingers crossed for them and hope for good news."