Those who pour scorn on the relevance of a national final between Livingston and St Johnstone do a huge disservice to a group of history makers from Perth. St Johnstone have now taken delivery of the League Cup for the first time since formation, 137 years ago. Until this behind-closed-door experience, St Johnstone had only featured in two League Cup finals, which ended in 1-0 defeat to Jock Stein’s Celtic in 1969 and a 2-1 loss to Rangers 29 years later. This victory takes ‘overdue’ to fresh extremes.
If the absence of bigger clubs is bemoaned by sponsors and television executives, it provides the kind of welcome opportunity St Johnstone seized upon. Scottish
Football is a better place when honours are shared; St Johnstone have now broken Celtic’s consecutive trophy haul at the 13th attempt. The names of Clark, Rooney, Kerr, Gordon, Booth, McCann, Craig, Conway, Kane, Wotherspoon, McCart and May have been etched into St Johnstone folklore. Tens of thousands of supporters aren’t required for that to be a celebrated sporting fact.