Livingston’s supporters’ team – FC Livingston GS – were crowned British champions in a dramatic IFA British Cup final against Preston North End.
In a tense affair at Gretna’s Raydale Park, Livi ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a late winner from Ross Young.
Paul Miller had fired them in front early in the second-half only for Preston to answer back from the spot with 20 minutes left on the clock. But Young popped up with a decisive strike five minutes from time to make it a third British Cup triumph in nine years for the club.
A thrilled gaffer Joe Bardell said: “We’re all absolutely buzzing. Preston are a really good side and I thought it was quite an even game but we took our chance at the end then defended for our lives in the final stages and were able to win it.
“It’s huge credit to the boys and it’s great to see a bunch of pals just enjoying playing their football together and getting rewarded for their hard work.”
Livi won against the same opposition - and by the same score - in 2014 for their first title before getting the better of Rotherham four years later. And it was just a week after having suffered penalty shoot-out defeat in the Scottish Cup final to Airdrie, which made the win all the sweeter.
Bardell added: "There's a core of the team who have been part of all three which is really special. When you think about the size of the fan base, it's a great achievement to be able to have 25-30 decent players to rely on over the course of a season.
"I think with it being so soon after the Scottish Cup defeat, we maybe had that wee bit of extra determination to put it right and we're all delighted we got over the line."
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