Sixty two years ago today Motherwell beat the bookies odds on favourites to take the first national silverware. The achievement has lived in the shadows of the Scottish Cup win that followed the next year but the significance of the victory should not be forgotten. The Hibs team, famous five and all, would win that season's league championship by ten points (at a time when a win earned only two), yet they were thrashed 3-0 in front of 64,000 at Hampden.
For many years the League Cup competition played the early games in sections and Motherwell reached the knockout quarter final dismissing Hearts, Partick Thistle and Airdrie on the way. Celtic were next up and the 4-1 win at Parkhead made the second leg a formality. We marched into the semi final with a 4-2 aggregate.
Ibrox was the venue for the semi and Ayr United provided stern opposition. It was a ding dong battle and the lead swung between the teams. Ayr were ahead in the closing stages but goals from Aitkenhead then Watson won the nail biter 4-3.
The strength of Hibs in the final was underlined by the seven internationalists they fielded. There was no scoring until the last fifteen minutes. Hibs dazzling forward line had been held by a defence described at the time as 'compressed steel'.
Kelly headed Younger's parry in the net for the breakthrough and two minutes later Shaw's cross was headed back by Watters for Forrest to head in number two. An error from the Hibs 'keeper gave Watters the chance of the third goal and his lob sealed the game. Manager George Stevenson saw captain Andy Paton lift the trophy.
In March 2007, Andy's contribution to the club was rewarded when he received the accolade of Motherwell's Greatest Player at a tribute evening in Fir Park.
A civic reception was held in the Town Hall the following January to mark the occasion.