Connolly on Saints’ first cup final team

DONALDSON

– Jimmy is still a big pal to this day. He was your typical daft goalie and he could be wild at times. But he was a terrific shot stopper and he came for everything. The defenders knew he’d clean out three or four players if required. JOHN LAMBIE – People said with John every second word was a swear word. I’d say they were wrong. His first would be a swear word! A tough guy to play against. He had a great turn of pace, lightning quick.

WILLIE COBURN – A steady defender, an 8 out 10 performer every time he stepped on to the pitch. A local man, he made the club’s Hall of Fame and that says it all.

ALEX GORDON – An unsung hero. A quiet man off the pitch but he formed a great partnership with Benny in the heart of the defence. He would clean people out if he had to but he had a bit of pace about him.

BENNY ROONEY – The team captain. A leader and he would drive everyone on. A hard man, he wanted to win every battle. He would be at the heart of everything, leading by example.

BUCK MCCARRY – A big, big man and the enforcer in the middle of the park. Another guy who was hard as nails and very vocal. Buck’s job was to win the ball in there and move it on.

IAN MCPHEE – He wasn’t going to win tackles but Ian was neat and tidy on the ball, a skilful footballer and good passer of the ball with real awareness of what was going on around him. KENNY AIRD – Our Jimmy Johnstone, a tricky winger with a real burst of pace about him to terrorise full-backs. We’d get the ball out to him and expect it to come into the box.

FRED AITKEN – Not the quickest, for sure. A big genial lad. But Freddie’s left peg was something special. His delivery into the penalty box was truly exceptional and a nightmare for defenders. HENRY HALL – What a finisher wee Henry was, a goal scorer supreme. He got a lot of close-in goals because his reactions were just so quick. His pace took him across defenders and he was always looking to get on the end of things. GORDON WHITELAW – There was only one sub in those days. Gordon was another of our technical players, a game changer with good awareness who had a terrific shot on him from 25 yards. That was no mean feat remembering the footballs we were playing with.