The first two draws in the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup took place at Barclays Hampden this evening with host Adam Binnie and guest, Partick Thistle manager Mark Wilson.

Due to the increased number of licensed clubs competing, there will be three Preliminary Rounds for this season’s competition, with the action getting underway on Saturday, 1 August.

Preliminary Round One will consist of five matches, with the other 35 sides entering at this stage receiving byes to Preliminary Round Two, which will see 20 ties played across the weekend of Saturday, 22 August.

The First Round will take place on Saturday, 3 October, while the Premiership sides will enter as normal in the Fourth Round, which is scheduled for Saturday, 16 January 2027.

Following the conclusion of tonight’s draw, former Celtic and Dundee United defender Mark Wilson reflected on his experiences of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup and what it means to be involved in the competition, from the heartache of early exits to holding the trophy aloft on the Hampden steps.

"It’s such a prestigious tournament," Wilson reflected. "The longevity of the competition and the prestige it comes with is very special. I think the final itself is an amazing occasion and an unmissable moment in the Scottish football calendar. I know when I was growing up, watching the final was such a huge day for me. But when I moved on to be a player, having that focus and knowing that could be the last game of the season, it was huge. Particularly when I went to Celtic, it was a real focus."

The Partick Thistle manager looked back on his own professional journey and recalled his own senior debut as an eager teenager.

"The Scottish Cup holds a special place for me," Wilson said. "I made my debut in the Scottish Cup against Forres Mechanics for Dundee United. I was on the bench as a young 17-year-old, and when I got the shout to go on with 10 minutes to go, I was over the moon. I’ve experienced probably either being knocked out at every round or getting to the final and winning it. It’s been incredibly important in my career."

Fast-forward ten years to the trophy winning triumph with Celtic in 2011, which is a day that remains etched in his memory.

"Nothing beats being part of the full journey," he recalled. "The final is just special, and there's so much tension. We were up against Motherwell and you’re just never quite sure what can happen. There’s that nervous energy in your squad, even though you should win it. Until we got the first goal, that’s when we really settled.

"I was lucky enough to contribute to the second goal, even though it was an own goal from Stephen Craigan, I’m still claiming that! It was a cross-come-shot and diverted into the net. Charlie Mulgrew then scored a free-kick, so it turned out a comfortable day. We walked up the steps and got the trophy, and that’s a memory that will stay with me forever."

Member Clubs drawn into Preliminary Round One

Glenafton Athletic Hawick Royal Albert Jeanfield Swifts Penicuik Athletic Sauchie Juniors St Andrews United Whitletts Victoria

Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup Preliminary Round One

Glenafton Athletic v Stonehaven Hawick Royal Albert v Penicuik Athletic Shortlees Amateurs v Dundee North End St Andrews United v Jeanfield Swifts Whitletts Victoria v Sauchie Juniors

Matches to be played across the weekend of Saturday, 1 August.

Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup Preliminary Round Two

Benburb v Newtongrange Star Blackburn United v St Cuthbert Wanderers Bonnyton Thistle v Tweedmouth Rangers Broughty Athletic v Threave Rovers Camelon Juniors v Whitletts Victoria or Sauchie Juniors Coldstream v Dunbar United Creetown v Glenafton Athletic or Stonehaven Dalkeith Thistle v Haddington Athletic Easthouses Lily MWFC v Preston Athletic Edinburgh University v Irvine Meadow XI Glasgow University v Darvel Hawick Royal Albert or Penicuik Athletic v Golspie Sutherland Kirkintilloch Rob Roy v Tynecastle Rutherglen Glencairn v Dundonald Bluebell Shortlees Amateurs or Dundee North End v Wigtown & Bladnoch St Andrews United or Jeanfield Swifts v Hutchison Vale St Cadocs v Burntisland Shipyard Tayport v Carluke Rovers Vale of Leithen v Drumchapel United Whitehill Welfare v Girvan

Matches to be played across the weekend of Saturday, 22 August.