Raith Rovers manager Grant Murray admits he is delighted the club will be returning to the scene of one of the most memorable nights in their history to face Rangers in the Ramsdens Cup final.
The Scottish Professional Football League, following suggestions the game could took place at Ibrox, announced Hibs’ 20,500-capacity Easter Road will host the April 6 showdown between the sides.
Raith took on European football super-power Bayern Munich in Leith in their home leg UEFA Cup second round clash in 1995 11 months after shocking Celtic in the League Cup final.
The game was switched from Stark’s Park due to Hibs’ greater capacity.
Despite a 2-0 defeat Jurgen Klinsmann notched a brace the evening is still fondly remembered by the club’s supporters.
Raith who lost the second leg 2-1 after leading at the break emerged with their pride intact from the clash in Edinburgh but Murray hopes they will be leaving with the Ramsdens Cup in April.
He said: “The club has history with Easter Road. They played a big European game there, a massive game for the club and this is one the players will enjoy. It’s a fantastic stadium with the new stand in place.
“It was out of our control where it was going to be. You reach a cup final and they don’t come along very often, so you’re not too fussed where it’s going to be, you’re just delighted to be there.
“We are just happy we are in it and we obviously found out on Tuesday night it’s going to be against Rangers. It’s great, it’s a big cup final to look forward to.
“It’s a great venue to play at, it’s a really nice stadium and hopefully it will be a full stadium in April. The lads are looking forward to it but we understand now it’s going to be a very difficult final.
“Rangers have made a fantastic start to the season. The run they have put together, in any league, is a great achievement and they’re a quality side.”
Murray, meanwhile, does not need anyone to tell him how hell-bent Ally McCoist will be to win his first cup final as manager of Rangers.
Despite flying high in the Championship, Raith are the bookies’ underdogs to beat runaway League One leaders Gers in the showdown.
However, he made it clear his own team would love to upset the odds by lifting the silverware.
Murray revealed: “We are always going to be the underdogs when we play Rangers, albeit they are in a league below us. That counts for nothing.”
“It will be Raith Rovers’ first appearance in the Ramsdens Cup final. It will be the first time for Rangers as well.
“Ally, being Ally, will be desperate to win it. He had a fantastic football career as a player, he won the Third Division as Rangers managers.
“He’s now going into a cup final, he will want to win it. Of course, we want to win it as well. It would be a great achievement for the players.
“They will be able to look back on their careers and say they played in a cup final against Rangers. To go on and win it would be huge. It’s massive for me, it’s massive for everyone involved at the club.
“We want to enjoy it and give the best possible account of ourselves.
“But we can put the final to the back of our minds just now and look forward to it when it comes around. While we are doing well in the Championship, it’s early doors and no one has talked about promotion or anything like that.”
Raith have a more immediate cup date on Sunday when they face League Two leaders East Stirling in the Scottish Cup.
“It’s going to be a very difficult tie,” added Murray. “They are a team who are doing really well this season.”
The match will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA, with a 4.05pm kick-off.