TOMORROW marks the sixth anniversary of St Johnstone’s greatest ever triumph – the day they etched their name upon the Scottish Cup.

It will be a joyful celebration for the Perth club and their supporters as they remember a weekend that brought so much delight to the city.

A touch of sadness will also be in the air with 2020 being the first year since their victory over Dundee United that Tommy Wright will not be in the McDiarmid Park manager’s office.

The big Northern Irishman left his position earlier this month after a stint of nine years at Saints, seven of those as boss, and he will always be remembered as the man who delivered a first major trophy to the people of the Fair City.

One man who was key to bringing the famous old trophy back to Perth was Wright’s namesake Frazer.

The big no-nonsense defender struck up a rock-hard partnership with Steven Anderson in the middle and along with captain Dave Mackay and left-back Brian Easton the four were simply a striker’s nightmare. Just ask Nadir Ciftci.

The former Celtic and United striker sat devastated on the Parkhead turf in tears come the full-time whistle and was clearly wounded by the polished performance of the Saints backline.

Wright enjoyed his fiery battle with the Turkish striker and the combat between the pair throughout the 90 minutes is just one of many fond memories he takes away from that famous day in May 2014.

“We were so confident, but all the press had Dundee United favourites,” Wright told Herald and Times Sport.

“We had lost to them the first game of the season at Tannadice but after that every other game we beat them and we didn’t concede a goal.

“So we had the confidence that we were going to win and I think Tommy said a few times that he knew we were going to win and fate was obviously on our side. It was written.

“I enjoyed playing against Nadir Ciftci, he was a good player and you had to be on the top of your game to play against him.

“He had that wee loose bit in his head that you could get at, so obviously I used that to my advantage.

“Every now and then I get sent the meme from Saints fans on Twitter of me having a bit of a laugh at him at the end of the game.

“He gave as good as he got so it was all good.”

He continued: “I remember the whole build up to the final it was just perfect for us. From the final league game up at Inverness we went away for a couple of nights.

“Then we came back to Perth for all the build-up and then it was the same hotel as the semi-final and then obviously the game and the days after it were just brilliant.

“The open top bus tour, the amount of fans there, it was just things that you didn’t expect. 

“I had other great moments in football but nothing tops that. We only ever really had success there weren’t any failures during my time there.”

Wright joined Saints at the tail end of his career, but admits his time at the club was the highlight of his 19 years in football.

Tommy Wright played a major part in his spell on Tayside being so enjoyable and the Ballyclare born gaffer continued to work wonders long after Wright hung up his boots for the last time in 2017.

And it was that continued level of achievement that made Tommy Wright’s departure come as such a bombshell.

Wright added: “I was really surprised, I didn’t see it coming at all especially with how well they have been doing since after Christmas.

“From what he has said it sounds like it has been in the planning for a while, but it was still a shock.

“He was brilliant to work under, he is a great man manager and he would always have time for you if you had any problems and needed to speak to him.

“He helped me at the end of my career during my time at Saints by pushing me into the coaching side of things.

“I would definitely go along with the people who are saying he is the best manager St Johnstone have ever had.

“If you look at his record, European finishes, winning the Scottish Cup, top six finishes, he’s got to take that tag.

“If the club wants to build a stand for him then yeah fair enough, you don’t usually get that sort of thing when someone is still alive.

“But I have noticed the fans have got a petition going to try and get it sorted and as I say being one of the best managers in the club’s history he probably deserves it.”

One of Wright’s last tasks as Saints boss was to bring the average age of the squad down so his successor would have an easier pathway into the job when appointed.

And although Wright was shipped out along with the likes of Mackay, Chris Millar and Steven MacLean, he admits it was inevitable and is now a big fan of the new look side.

He added: “I really admire the young centre backs who are there just now.

“Jason was coming through when I was there, he went out on-loan to Queen of the South and East Fife and did well.

“Then Tommy showed a lot of faith in him at the start of this season to name him captain. At the start of the season it maybe weighed him down a little bit but he has now grown into it and he is showing how good a player he is.

“If he keeps learning and improving then I don’t see why he can’t earn Scotland caps or a move to a bigger club. 

“The danger is the money difference in terms of England is frightening, but I think for the benefit of him, it would be better to play regularly at St Johnstone and hopefully break into the Scotland squad. 

“He definitely has the makings to be a top player.”

He continued: “Me and Ando [Steven Anderson] just complemented each other when we were at the club. We were defenders, that was our job we didn’t like losing goals we hated it.

“If one of us made a mistake we would have a go at each other, but that was it, it was done with. We got on well off the park as well we were good pals.

“I think because of the amount of times we played together we got a good understanding and built up a good relationship and that obviously helps. 

“If the young lads who are there just now can try and spark that relationship then the future is definitely bright for them.”