Ryan Gauld gazed out across Hampden at the sea of tangerine and thought: “Wow.”
He was aged only 14 that day in 2010 as he took his place in the crowd along with pals John Souttar and Euan Spark.
The occasion was the Scottish Cup final between Dundee United and Ross County and the trio from the Mearns were there to support the club they had joined as schoolboys.
Gauld, decked out in tangerine and black, roared on the Tannadice men as first a fabulous David Goodwillie goal and then a double from Craig Conway brought the trophy home.
The wee playmaker’s memories of that sunny May 15 day in Glasgow are still vivid. In particular, he recalls the amazing colour that set the National Stadium ablaze.
Now, experiencing his first cup final as a player four years and two days on from then, Gauld is looking forward to having even more United fans at Saturday’s showpiece against St Johnstone at Celtic Park than the near-27,500 that were at Hampden.
He will get his wish, with United supporters having snapped up almost 28,000 tickets for the Saints clash. This time, though, the now 18-year-old will be gazing up from the pitch rather than looking out from his own seat in the stand.
Gauld said: “I was at the Ross County final with John and Sparky and the United fans were amazing that day. You looked around at all the tangerine and just thought, ‘Wow.’
“I remember well how good that was. It was like the stands were shining with the colour. This time around I know it will be a sight to remember when we come out of that tunnel because of the huge support we are taking to Parkhead.”
In that massive travelling army will be a battalion of Gauld’s family and friends.
“It will be a big day for me,” Gauld said.
“My dad’s pal has put on a bus for anyone from Laurencekirk to go to the game and it is full.
“The demand has been amazing and it means a lot to me to know there will be people from my home town at the game cheering me on.
“It is great to know that. It will be a fabulous experience and one that I hope I am able to take in. There will be butterflies but that will be normal for something like a cup final.
“You would be worried if you didn’t feel some nerves. I will be trying to take it all in because you can never be sure if this one will be the last final you get to.
“To be involved in something like this at just 18 will be fantastic for me and I am determined to savour every second of it.”
Gauld may be the main player United call upon to cut open a St Johnstone defence that has usually got the better of them this season.
If so, then he is ready to give it his best shot.
“We have struggled to break them down but St Johnstone are a solid team with a lot of really good players,” he said.
“They don’t make it easy for you but why should they?
“It is up to us to do something to get in behind them. They are also more than capable of attacking you and hurting you.
“There is plenty of striking quality in their team and I am not just talking about Stevie May. So we need to concentrate on our own game and if we play as well as we can then we are a match for any team.
“You never know what can happen in a one-off final though. We will have to take our chances when they come along so that we don’t have any regrets when we leave that pitch.”