Stu and Tam go head to head

Apr 15 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THEY might be on the same wavelength for their award-winning radio show but this weekend Off the Ball pals Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan are heading for an almighty fall-out.

They are going head-to-head at Hampden tomorrow in a High Noon showdown, in the countdown to St Johnstone’s eagerly-awaited clash with Motherwell in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Presenter and Saints diehard Stuart said: “Tam and I go head-to-head over 10 rounds at Hampden. It’s a half-hour show from noon.

“That gives me enough time to run round the ground to the North Stand where I've got a ticket bang in the middle of the Saints fans.

“Each round will be themed so for the ‘Greatest Ever Player’ section Tam will bang on about Davie Cooper and I'll retaliate with Sergei Baltacha. Only one of them has lifted the UEFA Cup and Davie Cooper is unknown in Kiev!

“We have been involved in broadcasts before on days when our teams have been playing each other.

“We were at the opening game of last season.

“It was a great 2-2 draw and a really good advert for the SPL.

“Saints have had great results against Motherwell. I remember Peter MacDonald’s perfect hat-trick and George O'Boyle lobbing their keeper from the half-way line in the 5-1 game.

“Tam was born in 1969 so claims he was too young to go to the last cup semi-final, when Saints won thanks to goals from Freddie Aitken and Buck McCarry.

“I was a teenager and went on the infamous Perth Academy bus – that was a great night out.

“There will be a real edge to things this weekend, big time. Saints have found it hard to score but have been playing well so I feel good about it.

“We all wanted Motherwell not Dundee United I’ve no complaints on that score. So far we have avoided the Old Firm who we traditionally get in the semis, so it’s a case of so far so good.”

Their close-to-the-bone shows have occasionally attracted yellow cards down the years but Stuart and Tam have been a huge hit with listeners since they first hooked-up.

“Tam and I only met the week of our first show together,” the Perth man recalled.

“It was soon after another infamous Saints-Motherwell encounter at Fir Park. We beat them 1-0 with a goal by John Inglis but unfortunately events elsewhere meant we were relegated.

“Saints tickets are selling at a brisk pace and I think there will be a good support at Hampden. The websites are buzzing about the game.

“I know a few expatriate Saintees that want to come home but are hedging their bets hoping for the final.”

Cosgrove is hoping to see an army of blue and white bedecked fans at the National Stadium and tickets are still on sale at McDiarmid.

“I sometimes get frustrated by some fans who don't give the club the credit they deserve – semi-finals are now commonplace,” he said.

“But in my teenage years growing up in Perth they were rarer than hen's teeth.

“I think we have acquitted ourselves well in recent years. We’ve won the Challenge Cup, won promotion and the last task is to go forward to the national final and win the cup.

“I am an eternal optimist and I feel sure we will do it someday – and preferably soon. After the game I’ll be going into Glasgow with my mates from Perth. I’m not sure if we will bump into Tam.

“Maybe he will be doing one of his restaurant reviews, still desperately trying to be working class as he eats foie gras in a five-star hotel!

“For me it will be a hoarse throat and rolling out the old classics. If I get through the day without shouting ‘Knock Knock’ and ‘Wendy Saints Go Marching In’ in the streets of Glasgow it will be a sorry state of affairs.

“C'mon the Saints!”