Budgie gave us grinning formula.

Byline: Kenny MacDonald

Tommy McIntyre helped Hibs win one of their last pieces of silverware – but admits the key to that success was a madcap keeper in his 40s who loved eating baby food.

The defender fired the capital club ahead from the spot as they saw off Dunfermline 2–0 in the 1991 League Cup Final.

That moment of glory came in troubled times for the Hibees as Wallace Mercer tried to merge them with Hearts but McIntyre says the players laughed their way to Hampden thanks to John "Budgie" Burridge.

McIntyre is now a Celtic youth coach and while he hopes the Hoops are the ones celebrating after next Sunday's Scottish Cup Final, he cherishes the memory of his day in the sun with Hibs.

He said: "We had the alleged takeover to deal with but the camaraderie was great and a lot of that was down to Budgie.

"We went away two nights before the Final to a hotel in Stirling. Budgie went for an afternoon nap and slept in for lunch.

"The coaches went to his room to wake him up and Budgie leapt out of bed with nothing on apart from his goalie gloves!

"He also used to have a bag full of babyfood – which he swore was good for you. He was eccentric but a great guy.

"I have great memories from that game but my allegiance is to Celtic now and hopefully we can clinch the Double."

McIntyre loves his role at Parkhead and insists it's a great place to be for rising stars in the game.

He said: "The manager Neil Lennon has given 12 young players their chance in the first team in his time in charge.

"The future is bright at the club with a vibrant academy and a lot of good young players still to come through which is a tribute to the hard work of all the coaches at Celtic."

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Title Annotation:	Sport
Publication:	Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland)
Date:	May 19, 2013
Words:	330
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