Perthshire Advertiser

Hampden roar will be missing

- MATTHEW GALLAGHER

It will be eerily quiet this weekend.

St Johnstone legend Steve Maskrey knows what that feels like.

While he did not pull on the Perth colours in front of zero supporters at the national stadium, only 627 dedicated souls pitched up for a Division Two battle between Queen’s Park and Saints in 1987.

Alan McKillop’s goal was enough for a 1-0 victory.

Statistici­ans have been out in force to confirm it was indeed Saints’ last win at Hampden.

Maskrey, a crafty winger, does not remember too much about it. But he does recall how quiet the arena was.

It will be a similar feeling for the current crop of Perth stars when they line-up against Hibernian in Saturday’s Betfred Cup semi-final.

Usually an occasion packed with passion and atmosphere, this time only the keyboards of reporters and screeches from both technical areas will be heard.

The coronaviru­s pandemic continues to see matches contested behind-closed-doors. It has become the norm, unfortunat­ely.

“There weren’t many fans when I was there in 1987,”Maskrey laughed. “It’s an eerie place like that.

“I never really got used to Hampden. Although a big pitch, there was a lot of empty space behind the goals.

“I always found it a wee bit strange there, trying to get your dimensions.

“I can’t imagine what it’s like just now - going to a semi-final and there are no fans. I don’t know if it feels like a big occasion.

“I’m not sure how the players are coping with no fans. It was always the fans who drove you on and inspired you.

“But a final would be nice for all the punters sitting at home. We can’t do anything just now.”

Saints have come a long way from their Division Two days. At that point, continual top-flight success and European football was not on the immediate horizon.

“That Queen’s Park game was my first year at the club,”Maskrey explained.“I’d been at Queen of the South but was desperate to get away. The travelling was a bit of a nightmare.

“When I signed for Saints, although we were in the second division, I felt like it was a big club. I felt it was a great move for me.

“We wanted to be in the top division and Alex Totten said that when I signed. Did we think we’d get to the Premier League? I don’t know.

“You had one target at a time and the first one was to get out of that division. It was good fun with a lot of good lads.

“It was part-time but there were a lot of good memories from that time. And Muirton Park was a dream. I loved playing on that surface, a big pitch for me.”

One memory that sticks out was a chance to make the final of the Scottish Cup in 1991. Tayside rivals Dundee United were the opposition at East End Park in the last four.

“That was a real sore one for me,” remembered Maskrey.

“Big Duncan Ferguson was playing with them at the time and I remember we were getting beat 2-1.

“A ball came across into the box and I caught it on the side volley. It was flying in the net but Dave Bowman stuck his arm out.

“It caught him square on the arm and I’m screaming for a penalty. But it wasn’t given.

“They got to the final and it ended up being against Motherwell. You always think:‘What if’.

“I never actually got to a final with Saints, but it was nice to see them winning in 2014. I was on holiday at the time but watched it in a bar.”

Maskrey has his fingers crossed that good fortune will be in Saints’ corner on Saturday.

“I’ll definitely watch the game,”he said. “How often do you get two semi-finals and there is no Rangers or Celtic?

“It’s not just a chance of getting to the cup final, it’s a real chance of winning the whole thing. All four teams will be thinking the same.

“It maybe brings its own pressure because you know you have a real chance of lifting some silverware.”

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