SCOTTISH League Cup winner Callum Booth has described St Johnstone’s victory over Livingston as “the highlight of my career”.

The full-back was part of the Saints squad which emerged victorious with a cagey 1-0 win at Hampden Park on Sunday and lifted the trophy for the first time in the club’s 137-year history.

Shaun Rooney’s first-half header was all that separated the two sides, with Booth among those celebrating at an empty national stadium.

He said: “It feels amazing.

“When the full-time whistle went, it was such a good feeling.

“It had been a long week building up to the game and there were a lot of emotions in that game. It was such a good feeling when that whistle went and to win the cup.

“It is probably the proudest moment of my career.

“Going into the game, it was the biggest game of my career and to go on and lift the trophy is the highlight of my career.

“It is probably not until you finish playing that you look back on it and it is still so new and just happened.

“It is a great achievement and certainly when I look back in a couple of years’ time, I’m sure I’ll be even prouder.”

East Lothian Courier: Callum Booth (middle row, fourth from left) was celebrating at Hampden Park on Sunday as St Johnstone lifted the Betfred Cup after victory over Livingston. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Callum Booth (middle row, fourth from left) was celebrating at Hampden Park on Sunday as St Johnstone lifted the Betfred Cup after victory over Livingston. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Booth, of Haddington, had played the last two games for the Perth side – a defeat to Celtic and victory over Motherwell – ahead of the cup final.

However, it was not until Saturday that the former Hibernian man knew he had been given the nod by boss Callum Davidson at left-back ahead of Scott Tanser.

The only goal of the game came midway through the first half when Rooney rose highest to nod home Craig Conway’s corner.

Booth said: “You always try to stay a little bit grounded and try not to get too excited – unless it is a last-minute winner – but it is such a good feeling when the ball hits the back of the net.

“The first goal was always going to be massive and thankfully we got it and it was a great feeling.

“When it went in, within about 10 seconds you are refocusing on the game. It was brilliant but there was a long way to go. We still had to stay pretty focused.”

The former Knox Academy pupil struggled to put it into words what it meant when referee Don Robertson brought the match to a close.

Booth, 29, spoke to Courier Sport on Monday and said: “There were probably a thousand different emotions going through my mind.

“Happiness, relief and joy, I suppose, just all flood you and it is like getting a shot of something. I don’t know what but it was very good!”

The game was played in an empty stadium, with friends, family and supporters having to be content watching the game at home due to coronavirus restrictions.

It meant no open-top bus or wild team celebrations into the night, with players speaking to their loved ones via FaceTime after full-time.

East Lothian Courier: Callum Booth (in blue) was celebrating at Hampden Park on Sunday as St Johnstone lifted the Betfred Cup after victory over Livingston. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Callum Booth (in blue) was celebrating at Hampden Park on Sunday as St Johnstone lifted the Betfred Cup after victory over Livingston. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Booth, who previously played with Hibs, Raith Rovers and Livingston, said: “You are buzzing to see family on FaceTime and to give them a phone. You want to share the moment with them, although they cannot be there.

“FaceTime is the next best thing at the moment and it was great to see them.

“My wee boy Remy was wearing his St Johnstone strip and to go home and give him the medal was amazing. It was great to see him and my wife Jilly; that was the next buzz as the day went on.”

However, Booth and his team-mates were not able to celebrate for too long as they were back in training the following day.

The new Scottish League Cup holders faced Hamilton Academical on Wednesday, drawing 1-1.

The defender said ahead of that match: “I think if everything was normal we would be going absolutely crazy.

“Nothing is open and we have got a game on Wednesday so it was pretty low-key

“Most of the boys would have had a couple of drinks in the house and now we are focusing on Wednesday.”