I remember asking the head if I could leave to see Saints... and he let me

“Due to COVID, I haven’t been to Perth since February last year. But I got a box delivered to the door the other week with a year supply of Perthshire Advertisers.

“It’s a bug for me. When I started, I couldn’t let it go. I try and put something interesting out and I think people like that.

“I’ve got everything on computer now. The club will sometimes ask: ‘When was the last time this happened?’ And I can give an answer in five minutes.”

Brian and Alastair’s books include ‘Bristling with possibilities: The Official History of St Johnstone FC’, its updated version ‘Manifest Destiny,’ and their latest work ‘Hagiography: The Great Saints.’

A League Cup final victory may well prompt calls from fans for another masterpiece.

Brian laughed: “I saw some guys suggesting that we update Hagiography — it’s just out!”

He would, however, love nothing more than for his next work to be compiling the stats of a first-ever League Cup win.

“I was at the 1969 League Cup final at Hampden,” Brian recalled.

“I was about 20 at the time and still remember holding back the tears at the end of the game.

“I really thought they were going to get an equaliser and a winner.

“It was just so disappointing and heartbreaking to lose by a single goal. Saints really did play well that day.

“Finals and semi-finals, they are special occasions. The cup final in 2014 was absolutely fantastic and just a special day.

“Let’s hope we can build on that and can put the League Cup in the trophy cabinet too.”