Lambert celebrated cup glory with a soft drink

Mar 16 2013 by Jeff Holmes, Paisley Daily Express

Paisley partied on the night St Mirren won the Scottish Cup ... but, while his team-mates were living it up, Paul Lambert was safely tucked up in bed.

There were plenty of hungover Buddies the morning after that glorious Hampden triumph in 1987.

Lambert, however, was not one of them.

He explained: “My age counted against me on the evening of the cup final. I was only 17, so I was barred from the after-match party at a Paisley hotel because I wasn’t old enough to drink.

“I was back home in bed by 10.30pm on the night St Mirren won the cup.

“To be honest, I wasn’t one for drinking anyway, so I didn’t think I was missing much.”

Looking back, Lambert admits he should have done more to take in the whole cup final occasion.

He added: “I was young and didn’t really get caught up in the excitement of it at the time.

“Perhaps my biggest emotion was mortification when I met my dad at the end of the game and tears were streaming down his face!

“I told him to behave himself but he just kept saying ‘Do you realise what you’ve done – you’ve just won the Scottish Cup.’

“I’m a bit embarrassed by my nonchalant acceptance of it all now but what can I say?

“The years have taught me that the vast majority of pros never get to experience a day like that and there I was, still not 18, having done it.”