Mackay, Anderson, Wright, Easton. The back four that won the cup – and one of the best defensive units in recent Scottish Premiership history.
But now, the last of that quartet has left – with Steven Anderson, scorer of the opener in the 2014 Scottish Cup Final and all time St Johnstone appearance record holder leaving the club.
As a fan it’s gutting that Anderson – along with Tommy Wright – couldn’t get a proper send off due to the coronavirus lockdown scuppering the 2019/20 season. We can only hope both of these legends make it back to McDiarmid Park for a proper send off when football returns.
But even though we can’t pay proper tribute to a Saints stalwart his former colleagues rushed to Twitter to praise the much-loved stopper.
Frazer Wright – who with Anderson formed an almost impenetrable wall at the heart of Saints’ defence – was sad to see Ando go:
David Wotherspoon, who suppplied the cross for Anderson’s most famous goal in a Saints shirt, added:Sad to see my old partner in crime @stevenando85 leave @StJohnstone after all these years but he gave everything for the club and brought out the best in me. Even tried to straighten my nose for me ๐ pic.twitter.com/AwThUoSr6Z
— Frazer Wright (@WrightFrazer) May 20, 2020
Dave Mackay – another member of that famous backline – joined in the praise but also alluded to Anderson’s famously dour personality:Sad to hear @stevenando85 time has come to an end with @StJohnstone . Such a pleasure to share a changing room with such a dedicated and hard working guy. Put everything into playing for the club and want to thank him for putting his head on my corner on May 17th #legend
— David Wotherspoon (@Spoony_10) May 20, 2020
Tam Scobbie joined in the jokes:Sad to see @stevenando85 leave St Johnstone. What a servant heโs been for the club. A top player and professional but an even better guy. He would rather get hit on the face blocking a shot than score at the other end! All the best wherever you end up mate.
— David Mackay (@CuptieDMackay) May 20, 2020
And Tony Watt, only at Saints for one season, added his memories of his brief time working with Anderson:Gutted to see @stevenando85 leave @StJohnstone. Gave everything he had for the club in every game and training session he took part in, moaniest guy Iโve ever played with, although you couldnโt understand his shouts with the marbles he had in his mouth. All the best ๐๐๐๐ป๐๐ป
— Thomas Scobbie (@TScobb88) May 20, 2020
Words canโt describe what a guy @stevenando85 is ๐ฅ one of the craziest men Iโve played with but one of the best guys. What an incredibly underrated player aswell โค๏ธ
— Tony Watt (@32watto_) May 20, 2020
the saints will miss a proper legend ๐ช๐ป still playing into his 60s incredible ๐๐คฏ
All the best turkey touch ๐ pic.twitter.com/deBHAKsxDb