The Scottish Cup trophy has been well travelled during its stay in Perthshire.
And Saints boss Tommy Wright isn’t ready to give it back, just yet.
The McDiarmid Park men start what they hope will be a successful defence of the cup against Ross County tomorrow. And Wright maintains that another end-of-season glory day is a realistic target.
May 17 last year was desbribed as a once in a lifetime experience for everybody connected with St Johnstone, understandably given it was over 100 years in the making.
But the Northern Irishman wants to make sure that isn’t the case.
“There isn’t a day goes by in Perth without someone bringing up the cup win,” he said.
“The trophy has been all over the area, visiting schools and community clubs – and Roddy Grant’s house. He is the minder and goes everywhere with the trophy. It has nearly lived with Roddy.
“It has been brilliant for the club’s profile. Businesses and school kids have had an opportunity to see it and we have made the most of it.
“It shows the glamour of the cup. It wasn’t until the quarter final stage last year I realised it was the oldest club trophy in world football. It is a special competition.
“Everyone loves a final and wants to win a cup and for smaller clubs it is a realistic target and chance to claim some glory.
“The backbone of the squad is still here, with the back four and midfield much the same. We have lost the goals of Stevie May and Steven MacLean but Brian Graham, James “McFadden and Michael O’Halloran are three that can chip in with goals for us.
“The excitement of the cup has been building over the last two days. The players want to sample it again and go as far as possible.
“I for one don’t want it to be a once in a lifetime experience.”
Wright doesn’t subscribe to the theory that as holders they are under greater pressure than most of the 32 clubs left in the competition.
“We have the same chance as everyone else to win the competition and that is the way we have to approach it,” he pointed out.
“At the start of any season the slate is wiped clean and we start again. This one was no different. Top priority is finishing no worse than 10th in the league and do well in the cups. We went out of the League Cup to Rangers in the quarter final but we are picking up in the league.
“I don’t put myself or the players under pressure by setting targets we may or may not be able to achieve.
“We have to make sure we are right for what will be a difficult game against Ross County.
“The cup is important to smaller clubs. We know that over five games clubs like ourselves can go and grab some glory, as we did last season.
“I know I want to experience more of it and I’m sure the players are the same.
“It’s not in our minds that we are defending the cup. It is all about getting into the next round.”
Wright also stressed that last weekend’s 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened County will be irrelevant tomorrow.
“Cup football is all about what happens on the day so what happened last week against Ross County has no bearing on this game,” he commented.
“They might fancy their chances given that they put us under pressure towards the end. But we fancy our chances. It is about being right and clinical on the day.
“I know Jim has touched on it, recalling that Kilmarnock lost next time round after winning the cup. If they want to target as the holders us so be it. But if I was playing against the cup holders the motivation would just be to win the game.
“The motivation is to get through to the next round. If the shoe was on our foot it wouldn’t be a motivational tool playing the holders.”
* David Wotherspoon has resumed training after his hamstring injury and is available. Gary McDonald is also back but won’t be risked as his lay-off has been longer.