Paul Dixon has admitted he still feels the pain of missing out on Dundee United’s Scottish Cup final victory over Ross County in 2010.
The defender joined in the post-match celebrations, was in some of the party photographs and, as a boyhood United fan, was still delighted that the team had beaten the Staggies 3-0 at Hampden to lift the trophy.
However, that wasn’t quite enough for Dixon the player, who was made to pay a high price for breaking his toe after just 16 minutes of the semi-final win over Raith Rovers and being replaced by Keith Watson.
Dixon now finds himself on the cusp of another Scottish Cup final, with the Tangerines facing Hibs in the last four at the national stadium this afternoon.
The thought of meeting either Rangers or Celtic in the showcase occasion on May 21 is a tantalising prospect for the full-back.
It would hand him a wonderful opportunity to perhaps ease at least some of the misery he felt as he kicked his heels on the sidelines six years ago.
Dixon said: “Finals don’t come around a great deal during your career.
“It’s something that I want to experience, especially after missing out in 2010.
“That is still quite raw for me and it always will be.
“I tried to get back in time but, in the grand scheme of things, I was absolutely nowhere near making the final.
“I was in oxygen tents for an hour a day but I was kidding myself.
“The bone hadn’t even started knitting together again so I was miles off being fit.
“I think as soon as I heard I had broken my toe I knew I was in trouble.
“I was aware something bad had happened in the Raith game.
“I walked off and I met our physio Jeff Clarke at the side of the pitch and told him I thought I had broken my toe.
“I went to A&E that night and they confirmed it.
“I think it was then that I had the realisation I was never going to make it.
“I told the gaffer (Peter Houston) I wanted to give myself a chance but, in the end, there was no way we were going to risk it.”
Proverbial salt was rubbed into the proverbial wound when Dixon discovered he wouldn’t even be given a winner’s medal despite contributing so much to the Tangerines’ successful campaign.
“I played all the way up to the semi final until I got injured,” he recalled.
“I felt part of it in terms of the cup run.
“But I didn’t play in the final and it really hit me when I walked into the changing room afterwards.
“I knew I wasn’t part of actually winning it on the day.
“I joined in the celebrations as part of the squad and it was great for the other players.
“But I wasn’t tempted to do a John Terry and wear full kit because I had a big moonboot on.
“I never even got a medal and that was disappointing.
“I would have liked one because I played my part right up to the final.
“That is maybe something the authorities should look at.
“In the league if you play 10 games you get a medal but if you play right up to the final in a cup you don’t.”
Both United and Hibs are struggling for form going into the big game, while Sunday’s semi between Rangers and Celtic is also casting a shadow over this clash.
However, Dixon stressed: “It is a bit unusual but this is a one-off game to get into a showcase final at the end of the season.
“This is a huge game for us but in the situation we are in right now every game is massive.
“We will go for it 100%.
“It can be a relief to take a break from the league, especially if we get to the final.
“That could give us confidence and create some momentum ahead of the last five games of the season.
“How would it feel to go down and win the cup? I don’t know.
“Ask me on May 21 if we get to the final and once we have either stayed up or gone down.”