After 130 years of waiting, the Saints go marching in Celebrities show their true colours for the Cup final

AFTER 130 years, 11 men finally lived up to the words of their most famous song… and the Saints went marching in.

Yesterday witnessed one of the most remarkable stories in Scottish Cup folklore when St Johnstone lifted their first major trophy since they were formed in 1884.

The Fair City of Perth looked like a ghost town around 3pm as 15,000 Saints fans packed into Celtic Park in Glasgow to roar on their side to a 2-0 win against Dundee United.

Their average attendance at McDiarmid Park is 3,000 but yesterday the Saints’ ranks were swelled by kids, grannies and fairweather fans who wouldn’t normally make the game.

Whirling their blue and white scarves above their heads shortly before kick-off may have caused anxiety in the home of the Greens but it made for an exhilarating atmosphere as the teams lined up.

As he celebrated in Glasgow city centre after the game, Saints supporter Nigel Temple admitted: ‘I’m ecstatic. I can’t believe it.’ The 21-year-old student at Stirling University said he had attended the final with his girlfriend more as a day out, rather than in any expectation of winning.

He added: ‘I was just happy taking pictures of the fans having a brilliant time. Not for a minute did I believe we’d be coming away from Celtic Park with a trophy.

‘People have supported the Saints all their lives and never seen a piece of silverware. Now, I’ve been to my first final and we’ve won the Scottish Cup.’

As if a major trophy is not enough, yesterday’s result gives the club a run in European competition for the third season in a row.

Steven Anderson and Steven MacLean scored to seal victory over their Tayside rivals. At the final whistle, St Johnstone players celebrated in front of their ecstatic fans, players grabbing their kids out of the stands to join in the ticker-tape party on the pitch.

A public party in Perth will begin outside McDiarmid Park at noon today when the open-top bus carry- ing the victorious team will begin its journey through the city.

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright, in his first year in charge of the club, described the victory as ‘130 years of hurt released’.

He said: ‘I’m proud of my players. What a day for St Johnstone. It’s tremendous. I don’t think anyone in football could begrudge this club.’

First Minister Alex Salmond also congratulated St Johnstone on their success.