Michael Kennedy is tonight basking in the glory of Scottish football's "biggest ever upset".
His history-making Darvel side defeated giants Aberdeen in an incredible clash at Recreation Park, with punters backing them at a whopping 40/1.
Jordan Kirkpatrick bagged the sole strike in the 1-0 victory, and 'Vale boss Kennedy reckons it eclipses Berwick Rangers defeating Rangers in 1967.
“It’s a remarkable achievement. Fair credit to the lads. All week they have been driving that message about having belief.
“When you believe in yourself and have a real togetherness, then anything is achievable.
“I told them that in my team talk and it all went to plan. It was a perfect evening.
“We rode our luck at times. Our keeper pulled off some good saves, but I thought in the spells when we had legs and energy we played some fantastic football.
“That is our philosophy. That is how we play every week. I didn’t want to change anything going into the game even though we respected Aberdeen’s status in terms of football in this country.
“To a man, the players were outstanding."
He continued: “I think this is probably the biggest shock ever and what a moment for the guys in their careers.
“I have a special group of players, they have a remarkable bond and I have no doubt as they move through life this is something they will look back on with fond memories.
“History makers. What an achievement."
Kennedy had no doubt his troops would shock the nation.
He said: “All week, you build a plan in your head. You work on it all week in training. It’s easy when you are sitting in the house and you are thinking about it, but it’s not as easy putting it into practice.
“What you saw in this game is what we have worked on all week. The players have to execute it. Ultimately, they are the ones who have to do it and they are a credit to themselves.
“I genuinely believed all week we would win the cup tie. That was my message and it was important we stuck to our philosophy with the way we played.
“I didn’t want us to sit in, I didn’t want us to just manage our way through the game. I wanted us to impose ourselves and play the philosophy that I believe in.
“For large spells we did that and I think the club and the players deserve immense credit for that.”
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