The last man to score a winning goal for Raith against Rangers in a competitive fixture is none other than Kirkcaldy Ramsdens branch manager Brian Cooper.
It was way back in 1970 at Ibrox when the then 19-year-old midfielder netted the counter to secure a victory that stunned Scottish football.
It is a feat that has never been forgotten by the club’s fans but Cooper is hoping the present-day Raith squad can play their way into the record books with a victory against Ally McCoist’s side on Sunday at Easter Road in the final of the competition his company sponsors.
He said: “I was only 19 at the time and to be honest, I don’t actually remember a great deal about the game. It was March 1970 and the match was played in midweek as Ibrox was frozen on the Saturday.
“Although I eventually became a defender, at that time I was playing in the centre of midfield and I was told to mark John Greig.
“We were 1-1 when the ball broke to him, I won it, took a couple of steps and hit a shot over the Rangers keeper Gerry Neef.
“After taking the lead, it was real backs-to-the-wall Alamo stuff but we held on to secure what was a great win as we were fighting relegation.
“Celtic were the big team in Scotland at that time, the nine in a row side, but Rangers were also a good side with the likes of Greig, Sandy Jardine, Willie Johnston and Colin Stein in their ranks so it was still a shock result.”
Cooper added: “It is difficult to believe that it was all of 44 years ago but the achievement probably didn’t sink in for me at the time.
“When you are 19, you think it will last forever but obviously it doesn’t. It still matters a lot to the fans and my goal is something they always ask me about.
“Hopefully now, the present Rovers players can make their own bit of history against Rangers on Sunday.
“The bookies seem to have installed Ally McCoist’s side as overwhelming favourites but I don’t think that is justified at the present time. They have a lot of so-called Premier League players but they have to step up and prove that.
“I saw them at Bayview against East Fife and it was a close game but the Championship is a step up from that standard.”
The inclusion of Rangers in the final has sparked something of a media frenzy, with Cooper admitting Ramsdens are delighted to be associated with the competition.
He said: “The top people at the company are thrilled to bits.”
Picture by George McLuskie