AUCHINLECK Talbot trio James Latta, Colin Spence and Bryan Young are not the biggest trio in terms of physicality but they will undoubtedly leave huge boots to fill when they eventually leave the Ayrshire club where they have ran up a remarkable 32 playing years between them.

Evening Times Sport sought them out this week not least because they stand apart as the only Bot players to have featured in all of the four Scottish Junior Cup-winning sides under the silverware laden reign of manager Tommy Sloan at Beechwood Park.

Barring unforeseen circumstances the trio will be looking to add a fifth gong to their medal collection when Talbot take on Musselburgh Athletic in this season's Rugby Park staged final on Sunday afternoon (kick-0ff 4.05pm)

Timing could have been better as contact was made with James just as his wife Claire was going into labour at the birth of son James, but delighted to offer congratulations and report everything went according to plan for mum, dad and baby.

Eventually we managed to get the three close friends together to pose a few key questions.

WHICH of your four Scottish Junior Cup wins to date stands out in your mind ...and why?

Spenny, who was signed from Gretna and turned down Troon to sign for a bottom-of-the- table Auchinleck in 2005 had personal reasons for nominating the 2013 triumph over Linlithgow Rose, saying: "It was special for me because I captained the team in the absence of Gavin Collins though he did share the trophy presentation moment with me.

"Going up to lift the Cup is an experience that will live with me for ever and it was also our "Invincibles" season as we never lost a single league game in taking the Super Premier title and I reckon that was the best squad of players in my time at the club."

James and Butch were in agreement that their first cup win over Bathgate Thistle in 2006 is to the fore in their memories with James insisting: "Looking back now it's hard to believe Talbot were massive underdogs going into the game but the togetherness of the players and the team spirit that had been fostered by Tucker saw us come out on top by a 2-1 scoreline.

"And going back to the village with the cup was when it really hit home just what the Scottish means to the people of Auchinleck.

"Butch agreed adding: "It was absolute mayhem but my abiding memory of that day is Bathgate walking onto the pitch in the same Armani suits while we stood about like Raggedy Rovers but we were the ones who showed true class when it counted."

IF you had to name one player who has been instrumental in Auchinleck's remarkable run of Cup success since 2006 ... who would it be and why?

Spenny admitted: "Derek Anderson back in 2006 was an inspiration as have been John Boyle, Stevie Mallan and Gavin Collins at various times but I need to go for Steven White whose unsung work in pressing opponents and winning the ball has helped me no end and I can give him no bigger accolade that to say he is the epitome of a player's player."

Butch had no qualms in selecting former skipper Bryan Slavin, but only after singing the praises of defensive lynchpin Anderson, saying: "I didn't have the foggiest about Auchinleck or Junior football upon my release from Ross County but Del was a family friend who persuaded me to come down and meet Tucker so I'd have missed out on all the good times but for him."

"That said, as a teenager coming into this level of the game, nothing or nobody got me going more than Slavers whose winning spirit could pull the rest of us along with him in games when things were not going well."

Team skipper Latta was even more forthright: "For me it has to be our former goalkeeper Stuart McIntosh because that 2006 cup run would have been over at the first-round stage but for him.

"We were playing Dundee Violet away in a replay and things looked ominous when the game went to penalty-kicks and both Stevie Mallan and Davie Gillies missed their attempts at goal.

Tosh produced a couple of superb saves to bring us back in it and after I scored our last kick he then came up with another fantastic stop to get us through.

HAS there been one defining moment in this season's cup run that you felt Talbot were going all the way to the final?

"We were up against a very good Bonnyrigg Rose side in a fourth-round replay and were struggling to get a foothold when trailing 1-0, but an equalising goal was followed by Butch grabbing a winning goal in the last minute and I remember thinking luck was on our side," recalled midfielder Spenny.

Butch on the other hand felt the penalty save by stand-in goalkeeper David Gormley in the semi-final win against Hurlford United was monumental to Talbot's cup dreams.

He said: "I scored five minutes later but David's save from Stewart Kean coming seconds after big Andy was sent off visibly knocked the heart out of Hurlford and if we go on to win the cup then it's down to that moment."

Renowned battler James revealed: "I have to concur with Spenny in going for Youngy's goal against Bonnyrigg because coming back in that manner typified the Auchinleck fighting spirit that has been part and parcel of our cup wins down the years.

"I knew we were going to Rugby Park there and then."

LOOKING back now to when it all started for you at Auchinleck ... would you like to do it all again?

The clamour among all three players to get their point across was deafening but Spenny got in first with the comment: "I joined Talbot knowing nothing about the club's history and I look upon my time there as a fabulous journey that has to end sometime though I don't want to be the one pulling the brakes.

"I'd go through it all again in a heartbeat."

Butch nodded and said: "I've also enjoyed fabulous times with great team-mates and the supporters have enriched the whole experience by embracing me and my family as if we were brought up in the village.

Latta said: "I'd gladly do every minute of my time all over again and what pleases me most is every cup win is celebrated as if it was the first.

"I know players out there are moving for rewarding sums of money but winning makes you happier than earning big bucks and nobody wins more than Auchinleck Talbot."