A Famous Cup Run to Cherish

Posted on Wednesday, February 18th, 2015

6 matches played over a period of four months, 20 goals scored in total and 6 x cup games played in front of 7,000+ fans combined. Described in numerical terms perhaps it’s a story which sounds pretty average, almost run of the road. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Our Scottish Cup run this year has been a wonderful journey and adventure, one which has delivered so many magic feelings and memories. Walking off our Academy stadium pitch after beating Clyde and Morton and also scoring late to draw vs. Berwick are moments and memories to be cherished forever.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who came out to support us during our cup exploits. To see many people from across the Spartans family and our local community at our cup games against league sides at home, also last night at Berwick, was a huge and truly memorable thrill. It’s something no one in the home dressing room will ever forget. To be in the hat for the quarter final draw is another memory what will last a lifetime, along with a whole sea of other special moments.

I’d also like to thank everyone who took time to send a good luck messages via text and/or e-mail, before each of our cup games, but especially in the wake of the Morton result and the build up to last night.

Family members, friends, loved ones, work colleagues and former team mates and foes from on the park took time to send a text/note; the good luck messages for everyone in the home dressing room just kept coming. Personally, I’d like to thank the large number of people from within the game who took time to send their congrats and sincere best wishes.  I’d also like to say ‘thanks’ to Davie Bingham and Zorro who both provided scouting reports along the way.

Naturally we are all disappointed to go out the cup, especially when the QF prize on offer was so great. However, if we’re honest, since the QF draw was made we’ve been playing at Easter Road each and every day in our imagination. To be able to so, was magical. It’s every non league club’s dream to play in such a tie, to get so close has been an amazing experience.

As a club, Berwick where hugely gracious in victory last night (also after the 1st game too). Let’s not forget how significant a night last night was for our rivals too. Colin Cameron was a class act on and off the park. When it would have been easy to forget others and get caught up in his own celebrations, he made time to say ‘hard lines and well done’ and was very complimentary about our side and Club. I know Colin, his staff and players enjoyed the sense of occasion and interest created around both cup games.

On a more personal note, going head to head with Billy Ogilvie, Barry Ferguson, Jim Duffy and finally Colin Cameron has been a great test and learning experience. Our staff and players have risen to the challenge, saved our best football this season for our cup campaign.

It’s hard not to wonder today and think about ‘what if’ we had got a penalty early on and/or Jack Nixon’s shot at the death had been a few inches lower. Last night was always going to come down to small margins, also to who got the rub of the green. It didn’t fall for us or go our way on the night, however, the players gave everything, which is all we can ever ask for.

The pitch and overhead conditions, but also the ‘prize’ at stake, meant the game itself was a pretty scrappy affair (especially the second half), with players on both sides frightened to get caught on the ball and make a mistake. After such a testing affair, it was to our player’s great credit that we finished the game so strong.

So what now? We take encouragement from our cup campaign. It’s no secret we wrote off our league campaign at the start of December following defeat to Preston. Our domestic form, for want of a better phrase, has been disappointing.

Taking everything into account, we made a decision to invest in and prioritise our cup preparations over league games and local cup competitions. Midweek friendly matches were arranged behind closed doors, extra sessions put on etc.

Was it the right thing to do? For me it was. We delivered a positive result at home, enjoyed the Quarter Final draw and took 1000 Spartans fans to Berwick last night for the replay.

Lastly, a final word of thanks to our players. To defeat one part time league team in a cup campaign is noteworthy, to defeat another full time league team (for the 1st time in our history) in the same season is special. This past fortnight we almost did the unthinkable and took three league scalps in one season.

For that and delivering the best Scottish Cup run of the majority of our careers, you deserve so much credit. You helped to create lots of magic memories to be cherished.  You carved your name deep.

All the best,

Sammy