Stephen Robinson stood tall at Hampden, but he pointed firmly at everyone else.
St Mirren’s manager praised a collective effort after his side defeated Celtic 3–1 to claim the Premier Sports Cup in style.
The Buddies delivered a disciplined and fearless display. Jonah Ayunga struck twice in the second half.
Those goals sealed St Mirren’s fifth major trophy and one of the most memorable days in the club’s history.
Straight from the final whistle, Robinson deflected personal praise.
He focused on the people behind the scenes and the players on the pitch.
“In terms of coaching staff, playing staff, admin staff, we’ve got the smallest in the country,” the Northern Irishman said. “And for the level of work they put in, I’m delighted for them more than myself.
“Obviously, I’ll sit back and enjoy it at some stage. But for the people that put all the hard work in and the players that have to go in the arena, they’re the ones that deserve all the credit.”
In football terms, this win adds weight to Robinson’s growing legacy.
He has now guided St Mirren to three consecutive top-six finishes in the Scottish Premiership.
He has also delivered their first League Cup title since 2013, ending a decade-long wait.
Momentum swung fully St Mirren’s way after the break.
Ayunga’s energy and movement unsettled Celtic’s back line. The Saints took their chances. They never lost belief.
For Robinson, the emotions ran deeper than tactics and trophies.
“It’s hard to put into words,” said the 51-year-old, who lost two cup finals against Celtic when he was Motherwell boss.
“I was looking for my family. My two boys are over from Belfast. My wife was here, she doesn’t go to lots of games because she doesn’t like the stick that you get. My sister’s here, her husband. So it’s brilliant for them.
“They’re the ones that read all the stuff. They hear all the criticism. You forget as a manager, I’m somebody’s son, somebody’s dad, somebody’s husband, somebody’s brother, and they take it a lot more personally than I do. That’s the industry I’m in.
“For them, it’s a special day. I’m delighted to give them that day.”
As the season has shown, Robinson has built more than results. He has built trust.
Even during winless runs, the stands stayed united.
“The fans have been fantastic to me. Even when we went six games without a win or something, at no time did I hear any criticism. They’re just behind the group. They believe in what we do and that’s very refreshing in an era of football where you don’t get a lot of time.
“When you see banners, when you see the fans’ reaction, I’m absolutely humbled. I don’t really seek a lot of attention in life, I’m quite happy for my players to have it.
“They’re the ones that have to put their bodies on the line, take the information on board, carry that out. I like to see them get the praise more than anything.
“They’re the ones that’ll be remembered forever. I want to see their name and their pictures all around the stadium like the other teams that have won trophies.”
From Paisley to Hampden, this was a victory powered by belief.
St Mirren outworked a giant. They outplayed expectations.
And under Robinson, they continue to punch above their weight in Scottish football.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
