Smith savours end of his trophy drought

Falkirk coach Alex Smith insists the Ramsdens Cup triumph tastes every bit as sweet as leading St Mirren and Aberdeen to Scottish Cup glory.

While match-winner Darren Dods lapped up the limelight after securing his first-ever trophy in two decades in the game with the 1-0 victory over Hamilton on Sunday, the experienced Smith ended his own 22-year wait for silverware.

The 72-year-old climbed the Hampden steps as a winner in 1987 with the Buddies and then went on to clinch a League Cup and Scottish Cup double in 1990 at Aberdeen. It was at that time that Smith vividly recalls being tipped to match Sir Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden spell at Pittodrie and the respected coach is thrilled to have enjoyed that winning feeling again following a long wait.

He said: “It’s fantastic to win another trophy. It was 22 years since we won the double at Aberdeen and 25 years ago since we did it with St Mirren.

“I’m really proud to have picked up this trophy, the feeling I experienced was the same as all the others that I’ve won in my career.

“It’s 11 players on the park giving the fans a great feeling, a feeling that was enjoyed by the St Mirren and Aberdeen fans back then.”