STEVEN DUNN has no fears about making Scottish football history this weekend.
Dunn, 51, will become the SPFL’s oldest player ever if he comes off the bench for Elgin.
Goalie coach and former Highland League star Dunn was a sub for Saturday’s Scottish Cup defeat at Ayr.
Elgin gaffer Gavin Price had to turn to him as his reserve keeper Daniel Hoban is still not 100 per cent after surgery.
And Dunn — by day a full-time greenkeeper at Hopeman Golf Club — is on standby again to be a sub for Saturday’s League Two home game against Stranraer.
He’s registered for the rest of the season — with his 52nd birthday falling in April.
Any game time for Dunn this season would take him beyond Dundee’s legendary keeper Bobby Geddes.
Back in 2010, Geddes starred for the Dens outfit in the Championship at 49.
Dunn — who will be backing up Elgin No 1 Tom McHale — told SunSport: “I’ve been on the bench quite a few times this season. I think my fitness, my agility isn’t too bad for 51.
“Daniel Hoban’s not long back from an operation and he still wasn’t 100 per cent for the Cup tie at Ayr United.
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“He’s been out injured since the start of December, so I’ve been on the bench a couple of times. I’m the goalkeeping coach but I’m registered for emergencies.
“Gavin asked me the question at training last Thursday, ‘How would you feel if you had to come on?’.
“I said to him, ‘I don’t have a problem with it — as long as the back four realise they’d have to do a lot more work to cover me’.
“They’d have to come for cross balls more often.
“I probably would find my timing out just because I haven’t been playing.
“So they’d need to cover me more than they would for a normal goalkeeper.
“My greatest strength is talking. I’m a good communicator.
“If I was to ever get the chance it would be incredible, although I genuinely haven’t really thought about it.
“The biggest achievement of my football career — when I played in the Highland League — was when I played with my two sons in the same team. I’ve also played against them.
“A lot of people would love to be able to say that.
“I played alongside my oldest son Michael in 2010 for Elgin City against Caley in a pre- season friendly. He’s 33 now.
“My youngest son Scott, who is 30 in April, also played with me and Michael for Rothes in the Highland League. It’s great memories for us all.
“My boys haven’t really said much to me about the possibility of me playing at 51.
“Scott said it was a pity I didn’t get on at Ayr because he reckoned that would have made the oldest player ever in the Scottish Cup. But it was still a privilege for me to be involved with the matchday squad — and the lads were so unlucky not to win.
“Tom McHale might retire if I was to ever replace him!”
Meanwhile, it looks like being this season or never for Dunn to guarantee a place in the history books.
Asked if he’ll register also for the 2023-24 season, he responded:
“Hopefully not — I’ll be 52 then!
“Obviously, if you do get called up to go in goals then you never know what might happen. You could get a bad injury. In all my career, I was blessed that I never had a major injury. It’s been needs must this season me going on the bench. You do your bit for the team.
“But, you’re hoping that you don’t have to go on.”
Dunn’s been part of the Elgin backroom staff for eight years but has a 34 year association with the club.
He added: “I played for the club in 1989 when Steve ‘Pele’ Paterson was manager.
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“Since then Elgin City has been a special club for me over several spells. It’s my hometown club. It’s great to be still involved in football and give something back as well with the coaching.”
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