Ridgers: I’ll be a lot busier this time than I was in my last final

BY his own admission, Mark Ridgers knows he could well be the busiest man in Glasgow tonight if Inverness are to cause a Scottish Cup shock against Celtic at Hampden.

The Caley Thistle keeper is under no illusions that he’s likely to need the performance of his life, given the way the odds are stacked against the Highlanders.

‘I know I’ll be busy and have to do my job when called upon,’ said the 32-year-old (below). ‘The whole team have to be really on the ball.

‘We know the relentlessness and the way Celtic keep going. If you score against them, they’re the team that says they’ll go and score another two.

‘I hope I’m not busy, but the likelihood is I will be. So it’s a case of doing what we can do and get it spot-on on the day, hope they have an off-day and then you never know.’

Regardless of what colour the ribbons on the trophy happen to be come full-time, Ridgers will certainly see more action than his last taste of Scottish Cup success.

Back in 2012, with only a handful of senior appearances under his belt, he was an unused substitute for Hearts as they thrashed rivals Hibs 5-1 at Hampden.

Still in the formative years of his career at that point, it was an experience which sharpened his sense of appreciation about the opportunity he now has.

His winner’s medal from 11 years ago was stuffed away in a drawer, only to be discovered recently when he was rejigging the layout of his house.

If he were to add another medal to his collection tonight, he insists this one would take pride of place and, as a native of Inverness, would mean so much more.

‘The 2012 final was incredible, I was 21 or 22,’ he explained. ‘To be a part of that occasion with the Edinburgh derby in the final was incredible.

‘The atmosphere was brilliant and to win it was amazing. At that age, you think it’s possible you might not get another opportunity. Then time goes on and you think your chances have gone.

‘I got my medal, which I literally just found the other day. I was swapping rooms. Since the baby has been born, I’ve had to juggle about the house and I found it. To have two winner’s medals would be amazing — but doing it this time would mean a hell of a lot more than that one.

‘When you get the medal, it’s not in a box. I was on the bench when we lost the League Cup final to St Mirren at Hearts and that was in a box. The Challenge Cup winner’s medal, that was in a box.

‘The Scottish Cup final one, believe it or not, doesn’t come in a box. They just hang it around your neck and that’s it.

‘It just says “winners” on the back of it. It doesn’t say anything else. For what it is, it’s so small but it means a lot. Like I say, if I could get my hands on one this time, it would mean a lot.

‘Growing up, you watch Scottish Cup finals and having the opportunity to play in one is now there. You dream of this and I’m very grateful, fingers crossed, that I get the chance to play in one.

‘Never did I dream of playing in a Scottish Cup final, especially for Inverness. Being from here, it makes it that bit extra special.

‘If I can get another medal, it will be hanging up at the front door as soon as you walk in! They’re all going to be on display. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far in my career but this would top it.’

Ridgers knows that he and his Caley team-mates will have to be on top form if they are to cause an upset at Hampden against a Celtic team chasing the Treble.

He also revealed that he hasn’t practised penalties in training and will rely on instincts if the game goes to a shootout. He added: ‘It will be difficult against a top team. The last couple of years, Celtic have dominated Scottish football.

‘To go out and win it, we have to have nine and ten out of tens from everyone and hope they have an off day. ‘Football throws up crazy results and we’ll need that. But we’re also going out to win as much as they are.

‘I don’t study penalties that much. I go on instinct and that’s always been the case. If the game does go to penalties, I’ll always fancy myself to save at least one of them.’