THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

Freckleton admits all the hard times he's had in football have been made worthwhile by being part of cup history with the Buddies

- COLIN PATERSON

Miguel Freckleton admits he can't believe he has made football history at the age of 22-and just five months after signing for St Mirren.

The Buddies defender was pinching himself deep inside Hampden on Sunday night as he basked in the glory of winning the Premier Sports Cup.

A 3-1 win over Celtic saw Saints lift the trophy for only the second time in their 148-year history.

Silverware represented a fifth major club honour and completes a remarkable journey under boss Stephen Robinson who had already delivered a hat-trick of top-six Premiership finishes and European football for the first time in 37 years.

Freckleton's image, alongside those of his teammates, will now adorn the walls of the SMISA Stadium such is the magnitude of their sensational success.

And the centre-back, who joined in the summer from Sheffield United, insists it is a surreal feeling.