As a kid playing on the artificial pitches across the road from Ibrox for youth club Harmony Row, Grant Anderson never thought for a minute that one day he would eventually line up against Rangers.
He felt he would be lucky if he made it into the Juniors, performing in front of a couple of hundred people every week.
Now though, having worked his way up the football career ladder the hard way, the 27-year-old is set to face Rangers in Sunday’s Ramsdens Cup final in front of a packed house at Easter Road and it is an occasion he is determined to relish.
He said: “Our home pitch at Harmony Row for a couple of seasons was the Astroturf across from Ibrox. Then Sir Alex Ferguson gave us money and we moved to the pitches in behind Braehead. He does a lot in the background.
“I was there for four years and I think I won something like three Scottish Cups, three leagues, three League Cups and a West of Scotland Cup.
“I was put into the honorary members list and was invited to the grand opening at Braehead. Sir Alex was there and stayed for the full day.
“He’s put the money into that and has a lot to do with it. But to start with I played all my home games in front of Ibrox.
“We would kick-off earlier if Rangers were at home, because of how busy it got but you would still have a few hundred fans turning up early and watching some of our games.
“The guys were selling scarves, the burger vans were going and fans would watch us, because there was nothing else to do. I doubt any of them would recognise me from those days though.”
Anderson added: “I could never have imagined back then that I would one day be playing against Rangers in a cup final. Never.
“I would look across at the stadium and imagine what it would be like to play on that pitch. Even playing at Ibrox empty in a charity game would be great.
“This final isn’t at Ibrox, but even then it will be a great experience in front of a full house. I thought the best it would get for me would be playing in front of 400 people against Auchinleck Talbot.
“But I’ve kicked on from my time in the Juniors and long may it continue.”
Anderson is far from your typical footballer, having spent five years at university studying for an engineering degree.
That helped him secure a job as a projects manager but the firm he was working for went bust and he was made redundant.
Anderson then worked as a labourer before Hamilton took a chance on him and he finally became a full-time footballer.
Being a pro is something he appreciates all the more after everything he has gone through to get to that level.
He said: “I have my honours degree so it’s always something to fall back on. I was at Caledonian Uni for five years and it’s good to have that. But I want to play football for as long as possible. Is this work? This is enjoyment for me.”
While Raith start the final as underdogs, Anderson says the players are in a buoyant frame of mind after last weekend’s vital league victory at Alloa.
And they also have the memory of their fine Scottish Cup win against Hibs at Easter Road in February with Anderson scoring what proved to be the winner fresh in their minds.
He added: “It’s going to be a good occasion. After the win on Saturday, the mood in the camp is a bit better.
“We are all excited about it. There wasn’t concern about the league form but the cup final was becoming a bit of a distraction.
“After that win at the weekend, the cup final has come at the right time. We can get it out the way and what happens, happens.
“I enjoyed my last visit to Easter Road. To get the winner was great. It was the first time I’d score competitively against a Premiership side and I was happy. The fans were great that day and there will be even more this time.
“Rangers are a league below us but look at the size of the club. Being Glasgow Rangers, with that fanbase and expectation, it will put a lot of pressure on them, and ease the pressure on us. That will make it a more enjoyable day for us.”
Anderson and the rest of the Raith players have worked this week on the training pitch to ensure they are ready if the final has to be decided by penalties.
However, he will not be at the front of the queue to volunteer to take one at Easter Road.
He added: “We had a go on Tuesday but practice makes perfect I suppose. I’m not entirely comfortable with it.
“It’s a terrible way to lose a match, but if you win it, it’s great. The takers haven’t been decided yet but in my head I have an idea of who would take them. It depends on who is on the pitch.
“Would I take one? I’m pulling a hamstring!”