ONE of Dunfermline Athletic's heroes from the past is looking forward to reuniting with former team-mates to remember a "special occasion" on Friday evening.
Barry Nicholson is just one of the star names who will be appearing at the Carnegie Hall for the 'Celebrating 20 years of the PST - The Road to Hampden 2004' event.
Organised by The Pars Supporters Trust (PST) to mark two decades since they were formed, they are bringing many of the iconic faces who took the Pars on a memorable run to the Scottish Cup final back together.
Nicholson, who skippered the team throughout their run to the national stadium, is amongst those who will attend, alongside the likes of long-serving club captain, Scott Thomson, forwards Stevie Crawford and Craig Brewster, Derek and Darren Young, Gary Dempsey, Richie Byrne, Lee Bullen, Derek Stillie, and the team's assistant manager, Jimmy Nicholl.
Appearing in their first Scottish Cup final since 1968, Dunfermline took the lead through Andrius Skerla in the 2004 showpiece, but a brace from Henrik Larsson, and a late strike from Stiliyan Petrov, handed Celtic a 3-1 victory.
Despite the final outcome, it remains a memorable match in the club's history, and, speaking exclusively to Press Sport, Nicholson said: "It will be really good to catch up with some of them.
"It was a special occasion, 2004, so I'm looking forward to it and looking back at some of the highlights.
"It's scary that it's 20 years that have gone past. Everybody has kept in touch, because there's a WhatsApp group with the Dunfermline lads on it, so we still keep in touch that way, but we've not managed to get together for a long, long time, so it's going to be a really good evening.
"I've got fond memories of the place, so it's quite a shame that I've not been back more regularly, but work commitments have stopped that.
"I'm looking forward to going back to Dunfermline."
Nicholson found the net in both fourth round ties with Clyde - they had to play again after the first game was abandoned - and in the quarter-final against Partick Thistle.
He then netted one of the most iconic goals in the club's modern history in the semi-final replay against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he skipped past one opponent, nutmegged another, then stepped inside a third, before passing the ball into the net.
It sealed Dunfermline's place in the final, and he commented: "If anybody asks me, I just show them all the time!
"I don't know how many times I've shown people, and I especially show my kids!
"When that goal gets asked about, and I get the chance to show it, that definitely gets shown on numerous occasions!
"That was probably the best goal I've ever scored in my career, and such an important goal as well, so I like showing that one."
Hosted by Rob Maclean, who was the BBC's lead football commentator back in 2004, the show kicks off at 7.45pm and will feature archive footage of every round, as well as giving supporters the chance to hear tales from the players.
You can buy your seat for the event from the Carnegie Hall box office between 10am-12.30pm, and 1.30-4pm, on Thursday or Friday, or online at https://www.onfife.com/event/celebrating-20-years-of-the-pst-the-road-to-hampden-2004-cb41/.
To mark the occasion, a limited run of replica kits from the final, produced by Athletic's current kit manufacturer, Errea, have been produced.
Ticket holders will have exclusive access to buy online before the general public, and a signed version of the kit will be auctioned on the night for the PST.
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