Dundee United winger Craig Conway swears he will do his best to bring the Scottish Cup back to Tannadice after being urged to do so by fans in no uncertain terms.
Conway has had colourful words come his way as some supporters have revealed just how much they want glory in the country’s premier knockout tournament, 16 years after beating Rangers to lift the silverware.
With nigh on 27,000 making their way to Hampden to back Conway and his team-mates as they do battle with Ross County, there will be plenty of encouragement shouted from the sidelines.
“You better ******* win this cup that’s basically what they’re saying to us,” said Conway, smiling.
“It is one of those things that everyone remembers when Dundee United won it for the first time back in 1994.
“It meant so much to so many people in the city and beyond.
“So we just want to do it for them as much as for ourselves.”
He added, “It would finish off a good season in style.”
Conway was a member of the United side that lost out to Rangers in their last final, the CIS Cup in 2008, when they were defeated in a penalty shootout.
Now they can use memories of that day as motivation to clinch the Scottish Cup.
Conway said, “It was heartbreaking to lose the way we did.
“Most people would agree that we dominated the game, but to get beat on penalties compounded our misery.”
He added, “I remember I missed a penalty it hit the post and ran agonisingly across the face of the goal and nearly hit the other post.
“There are boys here who still feel the heartache, so obviously want to go one better by lifting the cup this time round.””Fantastic opportunity”One of the more intriguing aspects of this year’s final is that United’s ’94 goal hero, Craig Brewster, will be in the County dugout assisting manager Derek Adams.
Brewster took Conway from Ayr United to Tannadice when he was manager for which the player will always be grateful.
He said, “I have a lot to thank Craig Brewster for.
“I don’t think we will be shaking hands before the game but I have a lot of respect for him.”
He added, “He signed me for United and obviously things didn’t quite work out for him.
“If it wasn’t for him, though, I wouldn’t be here.”
United secured third spot in the SPL weeks ago, so were entitled to relax somewhat in the build-up to Saturday’s showdown, according to Conway.
However he said, “If you had been at training the last couple of days you would have seen the tackles flying in the boys are up for it.”
He added, “Now this is a fantastic opportunity to make ourselves legends.
“It is one we want to grasp.”