St Johnstone’s fifth round Scottish Cup draw brought back special memories for legendary midfielder Paul Cherry.
The Perth club were pulled out of the hat alongside Ayr United and face a trip to Somerset Park on Saturday, February 8.
Cherry looks back on that venue with a smile having helped secure the Division One title with Alex Totten’s Saints in 1990.
He scored the opener with a back-post header before Steve Maskrey added the second to send travelling supporters wild behind the goal.
Celebrations ensued but Perth players soon found themselves in hot water with assistant Bert Paton.
“I scored the first goal and I think Steve Maskrey on the wing put the ball over,” Cherry reminisced.
“It was a really good cross and was just a case of getting my head on it. We used to say it was as easy as taking your hat off and saying good morning.
“Taking your hat off, bang in the back of the net, thank you, good morning. There was nobody around me and If I had missed, it would have been a shocker.
“The goal took the pressure of us and then Maskrey scored the second.
“The Saints fans were behind the goal and the police wouldn’t let them onto the pitch.
“There was one particular highlight for me. We came in to the dressing room and were all singing, then threw Bert Paton in the bath. But nobody had checked the temperature.
“It had been filled with red-hot water. So we’d thrown him in and wondered why he was screaming.
“We had to get Bert out of the bath pretty quickly, because his shell-suit would have started melting.”
The party continued on the trip home, Cherry adding: “The team bus was full of lager and Gary McGinnis started singing American Pie.
“He started in Ayr and I think he finished in Glasgow. We were telling him enough was enough, but he sang the whole lot.”
Cherry, who now lives in Spain, always thought Somerset Park was a tough place to visit and he expects no different for the current crop when they travel next month.
“It’s compact and you normally find they will be well organised,” he said. “You’ll always find it’s a good old tussle down at Somerset Park.
“Saints have got to approach it professionally and not take anything for granted. They need to treat it like a Premiership match.
“It’s a big game for Ayr United and they will automatically rise to the occasion. If Saints think they can go down and just turn up to win, they will get a nasty surprise.”
The hard-working former central midfielder helped Saints to a Scottish Cup semi-final during his playing days. Now he would love to watch Tommy Wright’s men lift the crown for a second time.
“The biggest Scottish Cup for me personally was getting to the semi-final,” Cherry said. “We played Rangers and against all odds got a draw. Fortunately I got man of the match that day.
“Players look forward to the Scottish Cup. At the end of the day, it gives clubs like St Johnstone a chance of winning something or getting to a final. That is what supporters rely on.
“There’s something about the Scottish Cup. There is a real buzz about it - and everyone loves the next round.”
