I can't thank the Paisley Daily Express enough - I thought my medal was lost forever

Apr 24 2009 Paisley Daily Express

FOOTBALL hardman Billy Abercromby was close to tears when his beloved Scottish Cup winner’s medal was returned to him after almost 20 years.

The St Mirren legend – known to fans as ‘Aber’ – hadn’t seen his most prized possession since 1991 after it went missing when he moved home.

He feared the medal was lost forever – but now it is back in his hands, thanks to the Paisley Daily Express.

We told earlier this week how Aber had been left heartbroken after losing the prize he had won when he captained the Saints to a famous Scottish Cup triumph back in May 1987.

He had hidden the medal behind the fireplace of a house in Kilbarchan he once shared with his ex-wife but was so “out of it” through drink in those days that he forgot to take it with him when he moved out.

Aber made a plea through the pages of the Express for his medal to be returned – and was thrilled when a Saints supporter who had found it in a wardrobe came forward to hand it over.

Last night, the 50-year-old former midfielder told the Express: “This is fantastic. I thought the medal was gone forever.

“Winning the Scottish Cup was a huge part of my life and losing the medal was like losing that part of my life but now I’ve got it back and it’s a great feeling.

“It’s hard to describe just how I feel. I’m elated, stunned, shocked and feeling lots of different emotions.

“I can’t thank the Paisley Daily Express enough for publishing the story about my lost medal because, without that, I wouldn’t have got it back.

“You have brought me back my lost treasure.”

Aber – who had recently returned to the house in Kilbarchan in a desperate bid to recover the medal, only to be left gutted when his search turned out to be in vain – was at St Mirren Park for a signing session for his new autobiography when his surprise reunion took place.

The former footballer was about to start signing copies of his book – Aber’s Gonnae Get Ye! – for fans when a stranger approached him and said: “Can I have a word with you? I’ve something for you.”

SHOCK

And, when 42-year-old Kilbarchan man John Bell handed Aber the blue presentation box with his Scottish Cup medal inside, the Saints hero was in shock and struggling to hold back the tears.

John explained: “I had bought Billy’s flat back in 1991 and, about a year later, I was moving stuff in the house and standing on a chair beside a high wardrobe.

“I noticed this small box at the far corner on top of the wardrobe which was almost touching the ceiling.

“When I opened the box and saw it was a Scottish Cup winner’s medal, I assumed Billy would come knocking on my door asking for it back but he never did. As time went on, I didn’t know how to contact Billy as he sort of disappeared from football and being in the papers.

“I kept the medal safe in a case along with my late mum and dad’s possessions and put it in the loft.

“The medal has even come with me in that case when I have twice moved house since then.”

Ironically, John was at Hampden to support St Mirren in that Scottish Cup Final back in 1987 and saw Billy lift the famous old trophy.

“I had mentioned the medal to a few of my friends over the years and had always meant to try to contact Billy or St Mirren but you forget to do these things,” added John.

“I got the shock of my life on Tuesday when a friend called me and said: ‘You’re a wanted man. Your old flat is all over the front page of the Paisley Daily Express!’

“I couldn’t believe it after all this time, so I went into the loft and hunted out the medal. I also read in the article that Billy was signing copies of his book at St Mirren Park, so I thought it would be nice to turn up and present the medal to him.

“I’m really happy that Billy has got his medal back. I suppose this is a fairytale ending to the story.”

APPLAUSE

More than 200 supporters had turned up for the book signing session at St Mirren Park on Wednesday night and, when they learned that Aber had got his medal back, they gave John a round of applause.

John was also presented with a bottle of champagne which was donated by Campbell Kennedy, St Mirren’s commercial manager.

Aber, who is now healthy and sober again, said: “When John walked into the room, said he had something for me and put that wee blue box into my hand, I was overjoyed.

“I’ve got to say a massive ‘thank you’ to John for bringing the medal back to me.”

l Aber’s Gonnae Get Ye!, by Billy Abercromby and Fraser Kirkwood, is published by Macdonald Media Publishing, priced £9.99. The book is available from Provan Sports, in Causeyside Street, Paisley; Sinclair Barr Newsagents, in Glasgow Road, Paisley; the WH Smith stores in Paisley’s High Street and Braehead in Renfrew; as well as Waterstones, also at the giant Braehead mall.