Mark Ridgers already has a Scottish Cup winner’s medal to his name, but the Caley Thistle goalkeeper believes he can experience more glory days with his hometown club in the years to come.
Ridgers was an unused substitute in Hearts’ famous 5-1 final victory over Edinburgh rivals Hibernian in 2012, earning him the adulation of the Maroon half of the city despite his lack of involvement.
The 27-year-old accepts it may be some time before Caley Jags can make a serious challenge for the trophy lifted in 2015, following their relegation to the Championship last season.
Ridgers, who joined Inverness from Partick Thistle in the summer, says his experience with the Jambos has only whetted his appetite for future success with the Highlanders.#
Inverness face Premiership side Dundee in the fourth round at Dens Park today, and Ridgers said: “Having been involved in a squad that won the Scottish Cup, while I was at Hearts, I’ve experienced a bit of that. I found my winner’s medal in a box when I moved house.
“It was one of the greatest days I’ve had in football, an unbelievable occasion.
“Yes, I never played but I loved the whole aftermath of walking up the steps, collecting the medal and lifting the trophy – and then the huge party down in Gorgie afterwards.
“Years on, the fans still bring it up. The way we beat Hibs was fantastic. It’s one of those moments that will stick with me forever.
“Fingers crossed there are more that come for Inverness.
“Plenty haven’t experienced winning anything in football. They are occasions that don’t happen often, especially for clubs like this.
“So it is an unbelievable competition, but to look that far ahead now is crazy. The main thing for us is to focus on getting to the play-offs and then, hopefully, in the next few years the club can get back to reaching cup finals.”
Ridgers feels John Robertson’s men have nothing to lose in today’s tie against the Dark Blues, but reckons it will offer the improved Caley Jags a measure of how much progress they have made in recent months.
He added: “It is one of those games where I think we can relax a wee bit in contrast to the last couple of league games.
“They have been quite high-profile results for us, getting us right back in contention, but this is one where we’re not really expected to go down and get a result.
“If we get a result, everyone will look at it as an unbelievable one because we’re in the Championship.
“But if we go there and give a good account, but the result doesn’t go our way, people won’t be surprised.
“That’s just where we are at now. We can gauge where we are and, if it doesn’t go our way, where we want to be.”
