Cup hero Irvine hopes a new Dons legend will be crowned

But the former Scotland international is hoping whoever earns that legendary status is spared the nerve-shredding drama of a penalty shoot-out.

Irvine hit the decisive spot kick in a 9-8 win against Celtic in the 1990 final and has been hailed a hero by the Dons fans ever since. However, Big Brian insists that couldn’t be further from the truth as he was running scared of playing his part in the sudden death decider.

He was the last remaining outfield player to step forward and, amazingly, that cup- winning penalty was the only one he took in his entire career.

It remains the most famous spot-kick in Aberdeen’s history, and Irvine will be happy for it to remain so as he wants the Dons to win in a less stressful manner.

He said: “It was brilliant to score such an important goal for the club I love and I’m sure there will be players wearing those red shirts on Saturday who will be dreaming of doing the same. It was great for someone like me who has hit the winning penalty in a big cup final, but it’s not the best way to win a game.

“There’s so much pressure in that situation and I wasn’t exactly first in the queue to take one in the shoot-out. I think you could call me the reluctant hero as I was kind of hiding away when they were looking for takers and there was only the goalkeepers left if I had missed.

“Pat Bonner and Theo Snelders were lined up next and even 17-year-old Graham Watson with just a couple of top team appearances by then volunteered to go before me. I wasn’t brave at all and I was just in the right place at the right time and of course very relieved as well as absolutely thrilled when it hit the back of the net. Penalties are dramatic, but it is a bit of a lottery as I came out of it the hero, but I was in a fortunate position compared to the other boys.

“Celtic went first and real pressure was on the likes of Charlie Nicholas who had to score with his one or we had lost the game.

“It was sudden death for them, but Anton Rogan missed which meant that even if I failed with my one we were still alive in the shoot-out. That was also the one and only penalty that I took in my entire career and I was happy to give up with a 100 per cent record

“It would be great if an Aberdeen player can go on to score the winner in the final and be remembered for that the way I have been. Looking back on it now, it has been really good because of what it has meant for the Dons supporters down the years.”

It was Sir Alex Ferguson who signed Irvine from Falkirk, but Alex Smith and Jocky Scott were in charge by the time he had his best moment in a red jersey. That completed a cup double for the Dons defender as they had beaten Rangers 2-1 in the League Cup Final earlier the same season.