GLF 55: Derek has a tear in his eye as he looks contemplates finals past and present.
Well, well!
What a Tuesday night in Edinburgh that turned out to be.Before the game I have no doubt that everyone would have had their preferred way of winning; a 2-0 stroll perhaps, or a nail biting 2-1 (like we almost got!).The actual reality though was stuff of sheer fantasy and I’d be surprised if any fans had even dreamt that it was a possibility to win like that.What it does show again is that there is nothing else quite like being a ‘Well fan.I was only eight when we won the cup in 1991, I’m (just about) a grown up at the ripe old age of 22 this time.Aside from the obvious fact that I’m now allowed a few shandies pre-match to calm the nerves without being taken into child services, this final already means so much more.Youth is wasted on the young according to George Bernard Shaw and back in ’91, I did not appreciate what was happening.I knew my father had been struggling along to Fir Park for thirty-five years without a final or European football but that didn’t really register.Instead, I turned up in 1987, ambled around the country for a couple of years and then Tom Boyd was lifting silverware.As much as I appreciated us winning the cup, it wasn’t mine.That cup belongs to my father and the other people who had put the hours and miles in.
This time though, I have earned my little share of the trophy.I have seen us lose about thirty cup games and suffered the pain to go with them.I’ve seen us lose by five goals at Tannadice and McDiarmid, I’ve seen us lose inexplicably at home to the likes of Thistle and Raith Rovers.I’ve been to Motherwell games all over Scotland as well as England, Holland, France and Germany.There have been good moments - dozens in fact - but there have also been the times spent in the depths of despair, wondering if we’ll ever win anything again, wondering if we’ll get relegated, wondering, even, if we would still be in existence in a weeks time.Now we are back, after fourteen years, within touching distance of silverware.Will we win it?The odds will be against us of course but then they usually are.
That brings me onto the main point of this diatribe.The League Cup has been criticised by almost everyone at some point or other, myself included.It is a diddy cup, people say and it is repeated that often that it is almost believed. Old Firm fans genuinely would like to get rid of it but when have they ever been representative of the decent Scottish sporting public?Look at last years final, 40,000 Hibs fans were destroyed whilst the 27 people and dog that supports Livingston were over the moon.Was it a diddy cup to them?Think of how you felt at 2-0 in the semi when we were there, in a national cup final!Then remember the crushing blow when it had been taken away from us.For further proof, look at the reaction of the Hearts fans when the scored - you do not go pitching head first down five rows of hard plastic seating for a meaningless goal in a meaningless cup.I cannot possibly find the words to describe how we all felt when
itzpatrick scored but look at the number of ‘Well fans who went downstairs at 2-1 or in extra time.These fans have followed the team for years, yet couldn’t risk watching when we were on the brink of glory.Our beloved club has existed for over a century yet we have picked up only four major titles in that time.We are on the verge of another and no matter what people say; the feeling in the hearts of our fans, our players and our management proves the League Cup doubters wrong.It is the third trophy - always has been - but getting that trophy back in our cabinet will be a magnificent achievement and one which we will rightly celebrate.
That trophy will be back.And we will celebrate.
Derek Wilson
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