Gary Clark scored a double the last time Hamilton Accies won the Scottish Challenge Cup, and hopes the current squad can emulate that success.
Clark netted twice, with Chris Hillcoat adding a third, as Accies beat a star-studded Greenock Morton side 3-2 in front of a 7,391 crowd at St Mirren’s Love Street ground in Paisley in December 1992 to lift what was then the B&Q Cup, retaining the glass trophy they had won the previous year with a 1-0 win over Ayr United.
Their opponents that day included players like Derek McInnes, Alan Mahood and Rowan Alexander, who scored twice in the Paisley showdown.
Hamilton travel to Falkirk on Sunday to take on Championship rivals Raith Rovers, and Clark hopes to see them lift silverware.
On his own success, Clark, 58, said: “The first thing I remember is how good the crowd was. We had a tremendous support there.
“I also remember that Morton were a right good side at the time. They had Derek McInnes, Alex Mathie, Alan Mahood and Rowan Alexander – a lot of those boys went on to do very well in their careers.
“It was a difficult game. My memories are that I scored a couple of goals, which was nice, but it was a great team effort from the boys.
“I remember the goals. STV missed one of them, and they missed the good one!
“The first one I was about 10 yards out, it came to me and it was a pretty simple finish, to be honest. There was a gap in the corner and I just hit it there.
“The second one was a left-foot shot and that wasn’t unusual for me but it was my weaker foot. I hit that from about 20 yards and it went into the bottom corner, luckily enough for me.
“The third goal, Chris Hillcoat went through on a brilliant run and I was in the middle for a tap-in, but he hit a shot himself and scored, so it was great for him as well. He was a tremendous player and a great boy.
“The manager at the time was Iain Munro who was a tremendous manager, a tremendous guy.
“It was a good day, I enjoyed it.”
Clark, who also played for Clyde and Albion Rovers, reckons Accies have a good chance of triumphing at the Falkirk Stadium.
He said: “They have tough opposition. Raith are a good side, but I think Hamilton have improved enough for it to be a 50-50 game.
“I’d love to see them win it, I’d love to see them lift the cup, and I’m going to go along to the game.
“Winning the Challenge Cup, and the B&Q Cup back in the day, was a good achievement, and I hope the boys go on and lift it next week.
“It will be a great experience for the young guys. I’d love to see them win it.
“It’s not easy winning cups. I was very lucky, and I play five-a-sides with James McFadden, but I read the other day that he played at the highest level in Scotland for 10 years and never won anything.
“There are a lot of very good players – far better than I was – who go through their careers and don’t win anything.”
Clark hopes to see results pick up for Accies and added: “I still go to games and it’s a tough time, because money dictates football now and there’s a bigger gap than there was when I played.
“I think it’s tough for the team at the moment and John Rankin is doing a good job. They’ve picked up in recent weeks. After the transfer window in January they’ve brought in a couple of good, experienced players, and it has really helped.
“Hopefully they can get out of the relegation battle and move up the league in the coming months.”
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