Goalkeeper Ryan Esson’s shirt and gloves are no stranger to the cup final occasion, but the veteran custodian will enter uncharted territory today when he lines up for Caley Thistle.
Esson was left out for Aberdeen’s 4-0 defeat against Rangers at Hampden in 2000, with teams only permitted three substitutes at the time.
Dons manager Ebbe Skovdahl’s decision not to include a substitute goalkeeper backfired just three minutes into the match when first-choice Jim Leighton was forced off injured after a challenge by Rangers forward Rod Wallace. The absence of a replacement goalkeeper meant attacker Robbie Winters went in for the rest of the match, pulling on Esson’s shirt and gloves.
As a result of the saga, the rules were changed for the following season to allow five substitutes.
Esson was frustrated to be spared his moment to impress in the Hampden sunshine but the experience has made the 35-year-old all the more determined to help Caley Jags win their first major silverware against Falkirk.
Esson said: “I’ll always be a decent quiz question after the 2000 final – whose strip played in a Scottish Cup final but they didn’t?
“It was a decision the managers had to make then – what are the chances of the goalkeeper getting injured? In hindsight, we can look back and say it was the wrong decision but, at the time, he probably made the right call.
“We were playing against Rangers – it was just one of those things.
“Those decisions had to be made then and it’s one which came back on us. It ruined the cup final because, really, there was no chance of it being a close game after that.
“They changed the rule afterwards, so goalkeepers have been on the bench every season since, but that’s life.
“It wasn’t a great day but I learn from those. The bad experiences are the ones that moulded me into the player that I am today.
“I don’t tend to look back too much, I can’t have too many regrets in my walk of life. I have to keep moving on and that’s what I’ve tried to do my whole career.
“Now I’ve got another chance to win a cup final, it’s a dream.”
Esson was on the bench for Inverness’ League Cup final defeat against former club Aberdeen last season.
Despite reaching another cup final just 14 months on, Esson says there is no certainty more will follow in the near future, and has called on his side to make the most of today’s opportunity.
Esson added: “I always dreamed of getting another chance in a cup final but when I moved to Shrewsbury in England and then came back, I didn’t think I’d get the chance again.
“I always hoped I’d get there but I didn’t expect it. We got to one last
season but it just didn’t happen for us and we lost on penalty kicks.
“Because we’ve had two cup finals in two years, people might expect it all the time now.
“That’s not always the case, though, because it takes a long time and a lot of work to get to a cup final. So, I hope people embrace it and enjoy the day.”