Even before Inverness Caledonian Thistle produced their treble-busting antics at Hampden last month the mayhem was underway for James Vincent.

Momentous as that Scottish Cup semi-final victory may have been it must, in personal terms, be considered secondary to the events that preceded and followed it after he and his girlfriend had their first child and then got engaged.

"Nikki had our daughter Isabella six weeks ago and things have been pretty hectic because we got engaged as well after I proposed to her a couple of weeks back," he explained.

The timing means he will probably not be supported at Hampden by those closest to him in the same way most of his team-mates will be, but that has done nothing to dampen Vincent's euphoria and he can even see some personal benefit in the decision that his girlfriend and daughter will stay in Inverness.

""She's not coming to the game, the initial plan was that she'd come down with the baby in the car with a friend, but the closer it has got she's decided against it so will probably just watch on television," Vincent explained.

"I'd love to be showing Isabella photos and stuff from the cup final in years to come, though.

"I'm on a high from everything that has happened in my personal life at the moment so it would be great to achieve something in my football.

"Once it's all over, I think I might just sit down and think to myself: 'Wow, that was pretty hectic!'

"It has been really good, although the sleepless nights take a bit of getting used to, so going to the hotel before the final will be good for me... I'll enjoy the sleep."

Their absence will also be compensated by the presence of many other family members he has not seen for a while with a number of them taking advantage of a rare opportunity to watch him in action.

"It will be good to have that support because they don't get to see me play very often, we've even got people I've not seen for years coming to the game as well like my dad's best mate, who I was close to when I was younger," said Vincent.

"I've not been home for a few months, so it's going to be a great day out for everyone.

"Most of them are from Manchester so it's not a huge journey to get to Glasgow, but it's still nice they're making the trip up."

In footballing terms the midfielder also admits to being astonished by the turn his career has taken since he arrived in Inverness two years ago from English non-league side Kidderminster Harriers, resulting in this weekend's chance to compete for world football's oldest trophy.

"It is the biggest game of our careers for each and every one of us," he said.

"To be honest, I never believed I'd play in a Cup Final like this. I always thought I'd move on from Kidderminster but I didn't think I'd come as far as I have to be where I am now. It's fantastic.

"The biggest game I've played in before coming here would have been the play-offs at the end of the Conference season.

"Last year's League Cup final was a great day as well, but this one has been hyped up a little bit more and it's the more prestigious cup in Scotland so this is going to be the biggest game ever."

Clearly, then, things have never been so good for the 25-year-old Englishman and the way they have come together in his personal and professional life somehow seems to reflect the environment that has been created at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, allowing this group of players to generate the mood and momentum that have taken them to this point.

"Getting the time to go home is a problem when you play up here but you get used to it," Vincent explained.

"A lot of the lads are in the same boat so we understand it. It makes the lads closer in the dressing-room because you don't have local friends to hang around with.

"The boys all stick together and that's great for the team morale. When new players arrive here, the lads are very welcoming and we're able to help them adapt to life here.

"There is a transition but it was made easy for me. There are less distractions here. Inverness is a great city, but when you're away from home and maybe only have your family with you, you definitely focus more."