[5][6] Since the sides first met in 1882,[1] the fixture has grown in significance over the years, due in part to the demise of other Renfrewshire football clubs, and is one of the most hotly contested derbies in Scotland today.

[2][10] The meetings in the Championship since (plus one Scottish League Cup match, their most recent meeting as of 2025) are detailed below: Two of the oldest professional football clubs in Scotland, Morton were formed 1874[11] in Greenock, while the St Mirren cricket club was founded a year later.

The match was played at Cappielow on 30 September 1882 and the home side ran out comfortable victors, winning 5–1.

On 20 December 1884, a crowd of 4,500 people watched an entertaining third round match end 3–4 at Westmarch in Paisley.

[19] As the century drew to a close, the teams met for the first time in a Renfrewshire Cup Final.

St Mirren were looking to win their third Renfrewshire Cup in-a-row and seventh overall, while Morton were aiming for a second title when the original match on 29 April 1899 was played at the neutral Underwood Park in Paisley.

[10] This led to a period of St Mirren dominance, with Morton's last competitive win coming on 10 April 1999.