Kyle Lafferty has left Johnstone Burgh with his name firmly attached to one of the biggest days in the club’s history.
The former Rangers, Hearts and Northern Ireland striker has joined Forth Wanderers, bringing his time at Keanie Park to an end.
Lafferty arrived at Burgh as one of the highest-profile signings in the club’s history and was part of the squad which went on to lift the Scottish Junior Cup.
His defining moment came in the final when he stepped forward to score the winning penalty and spark celebrations among the travelling Burgh support.
It was the sort of moment made for a player with Lafferty’s experience.
However, while the former international inevitably attracted much of the attention, those who followed Burgh throughout their cup run are keen to make sure the players around him receive recognition too.
The subject was discussed by members of the Johnstone-based Scoreboard Spotlight radio show following confirmation of Lafferty’s departure.
Scoreboard Spotlight pundit Davie Welsh believes Lafferty made an important contribution but felt some of the attention following the final overlooked the performances of his teammates.
He said: “Only thing I didn’t like was the media jumping on giving Lafferty all the plaudits… he came on and done well but for me Scullion was the man and big Diver was instrumental in driving them on.”
John Armour, also from Scoreboard Spotlight, responded: “The big name always gets the plaudits though.”
Welsh added: “Ano… feels like a kick to the stones to the lads that played their heart out the full game though… saying that, im glad it was him taking the pressure penalty tbh.”
There was certainly no shortage of confidence when Lafferty walked forward to take the decisive kick.
Armour said: “100% we knew he was scoring that penalty.”
The final provided Lafferty with the headline moment, but his contribution during the latter stages of the competition was also remembered during the Scoreboard Spotlight discussion.
Welsh highlighted his performance in the semi-final at Largs, where Burgh had to battle their way towards the final.
He said: “He was superb down at Largs, him Diver and Mason really turned the screw in the second half and started ripping them apart.”
Armour agreed with his assessment of the semi-final, describing it as a memorable day and an impressive result at a difficult venue.
For those who had followed Johnstone Burgh for years before the arrival of players such as Lafferty, the eventual Junior Cup victory represented much more than simply winning a trophy.
The club had experienced considerably more difficult times.
During the Scoreboard Spotlight discussion, Armour recalled being told by Brian that Burgh had at one stage been regarded as the “4th worst Junior team in Scotland”.
Welsh remembered crowds falling to remarkably low levels.
He said: “100% true, bringing in roughly 7 supporters! Bad times…. It was grim.”
Those memories made the scenes surrounding the Junior Cup victory particularly significant.
Welsh paid tribute to Brian for remaining with the club through that period when its future looked uncertain.
He said: “Thats why Brian is Gold dust to this club.. stuck it out untill he even thought it was the end and about to lock the gates for good.”
Armour replied: “Yup he told me that as well. The man is a legend.”
Welsh added: “Was so happy for him, going from that scenario to walking about Johnstone with the Scottish cup for everyone to get a picture with it.”
Armour recalled his own excitement when the trophy was brought into his workplace.
He said: “I was like a wean on Christmas Day when him and Vic walked into my work with the cup.”
The celebrations also meant a great deal to supporters who had watched players represent Burgh long before the club began attracting some of the biggest names in the non-league game.
Craig Menzies was singled out during the conversation.
Armour said: “So happy for Menzies too.. lived the dream before retiring! Been a big player for the Burgh over the years he was there.
“Something special about seeing him hanging out the sky light of the bus with the trophy as they stopped in the toon.”
The memories of the final itself remain vivid.
Armour admitted he struggled to enjoy the occasion until the result was finally secured.
He said: “I was ill the whole day of the final, i couldnt enjoy it until we won.”
Welsh was similarly invested in the cup run, particularly after the disappointment of Burgh’s previous Junior Cup final defeat to Whitburn.
He said: “I was buzzing oot ma tits tbh.. never recovered from the Whitburn defeat in the last final lol deserved to win that final too.”
The latest triumph therefore represented the end of a much longer journey for many around the club.
Lafferty joined that journey much later than some of his teammates and supporters, but he still produced the moment which will forever feature prominently in footage and photographs of the victory.
A former Northern Ireland international with experience at the highest level of Scottish football, his arrival at Johnstone Burgh itself demonstrated how dramatically the club’s circumstances had changed.
A side once remembered by supporters for attracting crowds that could be counted on two hands was suddenly fielding a player who had represented his country at a major international tournament.
His stay at Keanie Park has now ended as he moves on to Forth Wanderers.
But while the final penalty guarantees Lafferty a place in the story of Johnstone Burgh’s Junior Cup triumph, the discussion among the Scoreboard Spotlight team also highlights the wider story behind that success.
It was a trophy delivered by a squad, alongside people who had remained connected to Burgh through years when lifting silverware — and signing players of Lafferty’s profile — would have seemed a long way off.
Lafferty leaves having played his part in the culmination of that transformation.
And whatever comes next for the striker, the image of him stepping forward and scoring the penalty which won Johnstone Burgh the Junior Cup will remain part of the club’s history.