This piece is from the Buddies Briefing newsletter, which is emailed out at 6pm every Thursday. To receive our full, free St Mirren newsletter straight to your email inbox, click here.

A looping trailer cycles through various must-see attractions in Reykjavik and beyond. Icelandair were giving their best sales pitch as a short delay for take-off allowed for excursions and tour offers to be etched into the memory of all on board. 

There's the Golden Circle tour including visiting the spectacular Geysir area, Gullfoss waterfall, and Þingvellir National Park; the Blue Lagoon offering the chance to relax in soothing geothermal waters; whale and puffin watching tours departing a stone's throw from the Harpa Concert Hall.

All of that before a midnight journey into the country for the most aesthetically pleasing shot of the Northern Lights and a ticket offer for the Perlan Museum for the "Wonders of Iceland" exhibition.

The only thing I was left wondering was when they'd advertise the Hlíðarendi Stadium, home of Valur FC and the destination for a few hundred St Mirren supporters ready to watch their club in Europe for the first time in 37 years.

The capital city of Iceland has traces of viking history and volcanic activity. Tonight, it'll be St Mirren supporters arriving on the shores and raiding pubs and bars before hoping to erupt in celebration at the neat home of Valur.

It's a friendly, welcoming city where almost every nervous interaction results in the same smiling response; "Scotland?" Some of our hosts even appear to know more about Scotland than have an understanding of the historic night about to unfold with no fewer than four European ties in Reykjavik on Thursday.

There's Valur, Vikingur, Breidablik and Stjarnan all playing in and around the capital this evening but there are less sightings of other visiting supporters than black-and-white clad Scots roaming the streets.

On a dreich Wednesday morning you could mistake Reykjavik for Paisley, well if you squint at least, with St Mirren shirts dotted around the city.

A father and son stroll towards the centre in home shirts, there are families grouped together celebrating the occasion almost in disbelief and groups of supporters of all ages just living for the experience of following their club in Europe, the first time for many of them.

A trip to the stadium on Wednesday evening shows it's not just the supporters embracing the trip to Reykjavik as Stephen Robinson briefs his players ahead of a light training session. There's laughter as the threat of fronting the cost for Icelandic coffees is levelled at players on the losing team in training but there is equally a steeliness in preparations.

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Robinson is far from taking a step back in training as he darts around the pitch during a drill. He's clear in his plans, fixated on achieving complete understanding within his players and absolutely determined not to settle for qualification itself being a success.

He's assisted by Diarmuid O'Carroll - back in Valur where he played for a short spell - Brian Kerr and Jamie Langfield. The latter who can hardly contain his excitement ahead of the European outing having been at Love Street the last time St Mirren competed in Europe.

There's an acute understanding of how much this matters. The players and staff appreciate the bonkers journeys fans have embarked upon to reach Iceland - some likely to see more boarding screens for flights than goals.

A video message from Robinson is shared with fans gathered in the Dubliner pub in Reykjavik. A St Mirren playlist is blaring, there are fans on chairs leading booming chants and Happy Hour is extended - a small win for bank balances which have taken a battering in recent days.

There are familiar faces and friends you haven't met yet but crucially, everyone is united. There's no division, there's no animosity, there's no entitlement. Everyone within the small pub and pouring out into the beer garden are just happy to be there. 

"I couldn't miss it," one fan explains. "You just had to be here," says another as the sense of occasion continues to grow on the eve of the European fixture.

This has been 37 years in the making. For some, it has been a lifetime in the making - and that goes beyond those fortunate enough to travel and back to fans watching gathered in The Bankhouse, The Cave and De Beers back in Paisley.

The atmosphere is celebratory but not without recognition of the hard times which have led to Reykjavik. "What is the worst St Mirren game you were at?" sparks fierce debate with horror results chirped from within a packed group. It's a long and competitive category but serves as a reminder of where the club has come from to reach the Conference League.

There is no suggestion of slipping up either, either in Reykjavik or in domestic competition - Robinson, Jack Ross, Jim Goodwin and Oran Kearney and the fans have been united on that matter for seasons now.

The journey to Europe is about to be over. A new one begins at kick-off. In the words still ringing in the ears of locals in Reykjavik, "We're on our way."