“WE DID IT DAD, WE WON THE URC!!!!!!!!!” Joshua bellowed before starting to cry ‘happy tears’. I wondered what took him so long as the tears were already streaming down my face and my heart threatened to jump out of my chest.

By this time he’s on the table, waving his flag with so much vigour that Scottish Power were trying to get electricity, and I had my not inconsiderable frame balanced on a thankfully sturdy metal chair as I waved my Warriors flag high and proud.

This one was emotional. Pure emotion.

On the terrace in Belfast it was pure joy that I felt. I believe it was destiny that season.

There were hundreds of Glasgow fans at the 2015 Pro12 final There were hundreds of Glasgow fans at the 2015 Pro12 final (Image: SNS)

That side was too good to finish runners-up two seasons running. And it was clear in the first half that only something special from Munster would dethrone the Warriors. So it meant the closing minutes was a celebration. It was time to get the songbook out, wave the flags and just enjoy the moment.

It was anything but that kind of game in Pretoria on Saturday. This was going to be about hanging on in a stadium that was probably lucky to contain 50 Warriors fans (and I think that’s a generous figure). A wall of noise, every one of them baying for a Bulls win and the crowning of their home Champions. That’s how it was supposed to go, right?

Well, no one told Franco that he was there for a runners-up medal. It was clear from the offset that they were not there to make up the numbers.

But as the hosts racked up 13 points without reply, and Glasgow found themselves on the wrong side of Andrea Piardi, just like in the first half of the semi-final, the final looked like it was going to script - the Bulls script anyway.

Glasgow had written a different story. I’d expected Glasgow to start quickly and for the altitude to start to really kick in later on. Not the case.

They did entirely the opposite and instead, started to gain more of a hold as the game approached the half. and with the clock approaching the red, they burst into life and as Scott Cummings barrelled over the line, the fan zone at Platform exploded into life.

I had just tweeted that to have any chance, we had to score before the whistle. It was perfect timing. For me it had two effects: Glasgow knew they were in it and, psychologically, secondly and most importantly, the Bulls knew we were in it.

For all they had been largely superior, they had not buried Glasgow, didn’t have them on the ropes and instead, had seen their opponent take massive lift into a vital break.

Then came one of the greatest 40-minute period of Warriors' existence. They went for it. And I mean they went for it. Despite Goosen adding three more points to make it 16-7, a different Glasgow was on the field.

They weren’t blowing or struggling. They were evolving. Attitude not Altitude.

Instead of fading, the Warriors grew stronger and stronger.

READ MORE: How the Glasgow players rated as they became URC champions

When one George, Turner, powered over from the maul and the other, Horne put us a point up, the team grew in stature, in confidence, and, in the eyes of the Bulls, they must have grown feet taller and wider.

They changed the game completely. Yes, there were errors and penalties but they coped so much better and when Jones collected Steyn’s pass to go over and Horne made it 21-16, it was the Bulls who looked laboured and struggling.

Huw Jones celebrates his try with Zander FagersonHuw Jones celebrates his try with Zander Fagerson (Image: Getty Images)

By this point, Platform was going mental. And when Demmo picked up the loose ball and legged it to the try line, we were delirious. It was the tightest of calls of rule that one out and it gave the Bulls one last shot.

And I could hardly watch. I couldn’t talk. I could only put my hands on my head and watch as first Tom Jordan walked for the head-on-head contact and then the Bulls pushed and pushed further towards our line. It was agonising stuff.

The multiple penalties, the way they were camped on the line and as the clock, which had run slowly, suddenly going overtime now it was approaching the red and we would have no more chances should the Bulls score.

The word ‘heroic’ is banded around a lot these days. I do too. But the black and blue wall that met the Bulls lineout five metres from our line truly was heroic.

To stop that maul, a man down in exhausting conditions, knowing any penalty given or try scored would almost certainly mean defeat or at best, extra time, was a phenomenal effort and when Piardi stretched his arm out to show it was held up, the wave of emotion I felt was unreal.

I picked up the boy, stuck him on the table, jumped up on my seat and went for it.

The tears streamed and it was like nothing I’ve experienced in sport before. It was just pure emotion."

 

Joshua wasn’t around nine years ago when we won but since two weeks old, he’s been attending Scotstoun on a regular basis. hundreds of selfies have followed over the years with numerous players and coaches but this has been his first season as a season ticket holder.

He’s been to every home match, stuck around in the wind and rain for pictures and to speak to players and get to know many of them (Yes Steyno, Matt, Seb, Zander and Stafford, I’m talking about you in particular) and this was just as special for him as it was for me. And therefore, I know how special it was for all of you.

From the doldrums of the final Rennie days to Wilson and that game in Dublin, we’ve risen higher and faster than we ever could have imagined.

As a father, I dreamed of days like this and celebrating with him but thought it would be a long way off.

I’m thrilled to be completely wrong. As we hugged, cried and celebrated, I said to him: "wee man, this is what sport does to you. This is why we support our team, for these moments”.

To share this with him is something that will live long in the memory.

To see him on Tuesday celebrating with the players, giving high fives, signing his song to Steyno (lyrics by yours truly, McCartney and Lennon have hee haw to fear) and wearing firstly John Manson’s medal and then Matt Fagerson’s, with a smile as wide as the Clyde, it made me realise just how lucky we’ve been.

Joshua got a chance to wear Matt Fagerson's medal at Tuesday's homecoming at ScotstounJoshua got a chance to wear Matt Fagerson's medal at Tuesday's homecoming at Scotstoun (Image: The Pen)

Call me biased as he’s my boy’s pal, but Steyn has been a magnificent captain both on and off the pitch this season. His leadership is superb and you can see the respect the players have for him.

Joshua absolutely adores him and he’s given us many brilliant family memories this season.

When he’s not been there, Stafford and Sione have deputised wonderfully for him and then you look at the wider group and see that this has been a massive collective effort.

Whether it’s Gray in the engine room, Zander doing another 80-minute shift, Matt, Rory and Demmo smashing anything in an opposition shirt, Henco pulverising attackers, Sione running it from anywhere, Seb chancing everything and anything or Duncy Weir leading the charge from the bench, we can proud of every single one of them. They’ve given absolutely everything for that shirt and for us this season.

This was something really special.

While a first title, one I was proud to witness first-hand in Belfast, always ranks highly this is the single greatest achievement by a club side in Scottish Rugby history. It is up there in with Grand Slam wins of 1925, 1984 and 1990.

To do what Franco, Kyle and the lads have done is nothing short of incredible. To knock out last season's runners-up, last season's winners (on their own turf) and then, with next to no prep time, head to South Africa to defeat the former runners-up, at altitude, is an astonishing effort.

Glasgow celebrate as Kyle Steyn lifts the URC titleGlasgow celebrate as Kyle Steyn lifts the URC title (Image: Getty)

And the final words must be dedicated to the man who has turned us around.

On Tuesday night at Scotstoun, Franco made the point that not everyone was so happy when he was appointed but hoped they were now.

Mr Smith, the job you have done is nothing short of inspirational. To take roughly the same squad Wilson had and take them to a European final in your first season was superb.

READ MORE: The Pen says Glasgow's turnaround is all down to Franco Smith

To take the same squad, with a couple of additions, to Loftus and lift the URC is something I didn’t think I’d see.

Franco Smith has masterminded Glasgow's transformationFranco Smith has masterminded Glasgow's transformation (Image: SNS)

You have transformed this club and this team. Energised and galvanized the supporters and you have done it the ‘Warriors way’, By playing fast, exciting rugby that gets bums off seats, but instilled a belief and mental toughness in these players that gives them the power to take on anyone and think we can get a result.

If this is what you can do with this group of players in two years, I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Thank you, Franco. You’re definitely a Weegie now!

URC Champions 2023/24. Sounds great doesn’t it?