The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Former players recall day 60 years ago when Fifers became Hampden heroes
ANNIVERSARY: St Andrews United pair remember 1960 Junior Cup final win
Two surviving members of the St Andrews United squad who won the Scottish Junior Cup at Hampden 60 years ago today have described the club’s “greatest day”.
On May 21 1960, Romeo Borella and Tommy Will were part of the United squad who travelled to Glasgow to face Greenock Juniors in the cup final.
Remarkably, the 11 men who faced Greenock in front of 34,603 fans at Scotland’s national stadium had never previously played altogether.
The team was selected by the club committee rather than the coach and went into the final as massive underdogs.
However, in true Roy of the Rovers fashion, the Fifers returned home to
St Andrews not only with the cup after a 3-1 victory but with their very own Roy Race, in the form of Borella.
The Crail restaurateur beat Tail o’ the Bank goalkeeper Mike McGinlay with two terrific solo efforts in the second half.
Future Rangers and Newcastle United inside left Willie Penman promptly added a third with a mis-hit shot through McGinlay’s legs.
St Andrews United club historian Donald Gellatly interviewed the pair and said: “Borella later expressed disappointment that stewards stopped the celebrating squad from parading the trophy around the perimeter of the pitch yet there were no such issues when the players arrived back in St Andrews.
“United’s left-half and bulldozer driver Tommy Will remembers a pipe band marching in front of the bus and the civic reception held at the town hall.”
Borella and Will are the only surviving members of the starting 11 from that famous day 60 years ago.”
Today’s planned celebrations have been postponed but a golf day has been rescheduled for October.