A couple of minutes are worked into Stevie May’s schedule whenever April 13 swings around.
It might be seven years on but, without fail, the St Johnstone striker will be alerted to video highlights of a certain afternoon at Ibrox. The Scottish Cup semi-final of 2014 against Aberdeen.
For some, the celebratory scenes and outpouring of emotion of that day was greater than winning the final itself.
Semi-finals had not been kind to the Perth club. Even earlier that year, in the League Cup, Saints had been thumped 4-0 by the Dons.
It appeared similar was about to unfold when Niall McGinn latched onto Peter Pawlett’s pass to slot beyond Alan Mannus.
But this was going to be May’s day. St Johnstone’s day.
Stern words at half-time were exchanged and, just after the hour mark, the Newburgh magician reacted when James Dunne’s high boot sent the ball back into the box.
Cushioned control with the right, a quick touch with the left and a low, deadly finish into the far bottom corner to spark the highest of pile-ons in front of the cheering Perth support.
It was around this moment when the ‘who the f**k’ is Stevie May?’ chant really picked up some speed. Yet it was to get better.
Eighty-one minutes were on the clock and the ball was lobbed forward by skipper Dave Mackay. May, not renowned for his aerial ability, rose tall to flick into the feet of experienced strike partner Steven MacLean and got on his bike.
Suddenly he returned the favour. A clever touch catapulted the long-haired forward into the box and carved the space for one of world football’s greatest ever toe-pokes. The power was too much for goalkeeper Jamie Langfield.
May whipped his top off in celebration and sprinted with arms swinging. Watching it back this week, he laughs at his poor decision.
“I kind of ran away from the fans,” May chuckled, speaking yesterday as Saints prepare for another Scottish Cup run.
“It was just so much emotion. I had to run somewhere, go somewhere.
“I didn’t really know what to do. We still had work to do in the game, but it was such an amazing feeling.
“I notice all the fans more when I look back on the videos. You get caught up in the moment and don’t remember too much.
“But at the time you could still feel what it meant to the fans and then everyone around the city after it.”
Saints would move on to lift the cup the following month. Their first piece of major silverware.
Of course that will be forever special for May. But, on a personal level, the drama of the semi-final will also always be remembered.
“We were down at half-time, regrouped and then got those two goals,” May said. “We had come so close to getting to a final before.
“It was special. And I think what made it more special was how the game against Aberdeen had gone in the other cup.
“We lost 4-0 and it was a real tough one for us. To come back and show the character after being one down... really special.”
May is one of few St Johnstone players to now have a Scottish Cup and League Cup medal following this year’s success at Hampden. For a boy who worked his way through the youth ranks in Perth, it’s the stuff of dreams.
“It will be nice further down the line to get something sorted to celebrate the League Cup win,” May smiled.
“Thankfully I have been to two finals with St Johnstone and won them both. That’s an amazing achievement for the club.”
Another medal would be nice and Saints’ quest for Scottish Cup glory this season continues on Saturday. Clyde travel to McDiarmid Park for fourth round action.
May said: “We just need to make sure we don’t underestimate them and give everything we can. You don’t take anything for granted.
“You don’t give them something to hold on to. If you lose a goal early, it makes your job so much harder.
“They will have seen the fifth round draw and have the chance to go to Ibrox or Parkhead. No doubt about it, they will be up for it.
“The motivation is there for them but we just need to be professional.”
