Hughes tasted success in this competition a decade ago, when his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side defeated Falkirk 2-1 in the 2015 Scottish Cup Final.

Howat, meanwhile, has lifted the trophy on three occasions - with Glasgow City in 2019 and with her current side Rangers, in both 2024 and 2025.

The pair joined host Gordon Duncan for a mammoth double draw as the First and Second Preliminary Rounds were decided for both the men's and women's competitions.

The full results of the draw are listed at the bottom of this page.

The Preliminary Rounds in the men's competition will be played on the weekend of Saturday, 9 August and the weekend of Saturday, 30 August.

The Preliminary Rounds in the women's competition will be played on the weekend of Sunday, 17 August and weekend of Sunday, 7 September 2025.

Following the draw, John Hughes reflected on his memories of the Scottish Cup. He said: "As a player, one stand-out memory was when Falkirk beat Hearts 4-0 at Brockville, with Colin Samuel scoring a hat-trick. It was a great game because Hearts were flying under Craig Levein, and with me being from the other side of Edinburgh, it was fantastic to get that result.

"At Hibs, it was disappointing with the club's history not to win the Scottish Cup. Alex McLeish was the manager and I remember we got to the Semi-Final but Aberdeen beat us and that was a disappointment.

"Then as a manager, getting to the Scottish Cup Final with Falkirk in 2009 was amazing, and beating our rivals in Dunfermline in the Semis. We got to the final and lost to Rangers through a wondergoal from Nacho Novo. We were the better football team that day, our tactics were spot on and we hit the post but Walter Smith and Alex McCoist knew how to get over the line. I was so proud to have six academy players in that team as well."

After coming close in 2009, Hughes' crowning moment in the competition would come six years later, when he lifted the Scottish Cup with Inverness. He added: "I remember in the Semi-Final against Celtic we had nothing to lose. We'd already beaten Celtic that season and we were a really good football team.

"Lady luck went our way that day as Josh Meakings should have been sent off for the handball, and then they were down to 10-men. But the goal was everything we worked on - one full-back Graeme Shinnie crossing it and David Raven, the other full-back, getting the winner.

"Then in the final against Falkirk we were favourites which was difficult but it was just about embracing the day and making history. James Vincent had to come on at right back - where he never played - because David Raven was injured, then came on and scored the winner.

"I remember the following day, going in with all the families and going on the open-top bus. You could just see what it meant to everyone. We then kept the trophy for the whole season at the reception in Inverness and it was an amazing thing for the community.

"I can't believe it's ten years but sometimes you come across the photos on your phone and the memories are amazing."

The former Falkirk, Hibernian and Ross County manager has been out of work since leaving Dunfermline three years ago, but he insisted he's ready to step back into management if the opportunity arises.

"I felt out of love with football for a bit after leaving Dunfermline, if I'm being honest", he said. "I had to take a break and I've enjoyed the ambassadorial things I've done with Hibs and the media work and spending time with the family. There's a lot of sacrifice when you're a football manager and I've had a young family so it's been nice to spend time with my girls and even granddaughters now.

"But football never leaves you. The batteries are really recharged and I'm ready to go. I don't lose sleep over it but I still feel my CV is good so we'll see what happens."

Kirsty Howat has been fortunate enough to lift the trophy on three occasions, with the stand-out being her recent two-goal appearance in the final in May where Rangers defeated Glasgow City 3-0. Looking back on her Scottish Cup memories, she said: "This season we'd obviously had a bad result a week before in losing the league to Hibs on the last day, so we had a point to prove and it felt like a dominant performance which we probably didn't expect.

"Great memories and it was an amazing overall performance. If we'd finished our whole season on the league disappointment then it would've been tough so having the cup final the week after was definitely a good thing for us to put it right. That defeat to Hibs in the league on the final day gave us all the motivation we needed to go and do it on the day.

"It's definitely up there with one of the proudest moments of my career, scoring two in the final with all my family there. It doesn't get much better.

"I've had two good years in the cup now, winning two years in a row at Hampden. The experience of playing here is a dream come true. It's a brilliant stadium and hopefully we can keep building on the crowds."

As well as her cup final double, Howat also ended the season on a high with a recall to the national team under new head coach Melissa Andreatta and she is aiming to maintain her place in the national side for their next camp in October.

"Last season I started a bit slowly but I got a lot of minutes in the second half and scored some big goals when it mattered", she said. "Getting the call-up to the national team just before the summer was really pleasing. It's a fresh start for everyone and i was delighted to get minutes.

"My last camp before June had been a year ago so it was great to feature in both games and help us to a positive result in the Netherlands. Hopefully there's many more to come."

Rangers Women have recently seen manager Jo Potter leave her position, but Howat remains optimistic for another big season ahead. She added: "We're looking ahead. It's a lot of change, with a new manager to come and new players coming in and after the disappointment in the league, winning that has to be our aim.

"It's been a few years now that we've not managed to do that. Our standards are high and we're at Rangers to win trophies. We'll be looking to put that right this season."

Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Preliminary Round One

Dundee North End v Culter Invergordon v Lochar Thistle Irvine Meadow XI v Johnstone Burgh Whitburn Juniors v Steins Thistle

Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Preliminary Round Two

Sauchie Juniors v Hutchison Vale St Cadocs v Pollok Hawick Royal Albert v Threave Rovers Invergordon or Lochar Thistle v Dunipace Benburb v Easthouses Lily MWFC Auchinleck Talbot v Haddington Athletic Glasgow University v Newton Stewart Hill of Beath Hawthorn v St Andrews United Whitburn Juniors or Steins Thistle v Irvine Meadow XI or Johnstone Burgh Tayport v Dalbeattie Star Glenafton Athletic v Dalkeith Thistle Rutherglen Glencairn v Newtongrange Star Dundee North End or Culter v Whitehill Welfare Golspie Sutherland v Coldstream Vale of Leithen v Musselburgh Athletic Tynecastle v Carluke Rovers Blackburn United v Darvel Jeanfield Swifts v Preston Athletic Wigtown & Bladnoch v Camelon Juniors Dunbar United v Cumnock Juniors Penicuik Athletic v Kilwinning Rangers Dundonald Bluebell v Edinburgh University Bonnyton Thistle v Girvan Bo’ness Athletic v Creetown St Cuthbert Wanderers v Burntisland Shipyard Tweedmouth Rangers v Lochee United

Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup Preliminary Round One

Arbroath Women v Giffnock Central Ladies v Musselburgh Windsor Cumbernauld Colts v Penicuik Athletic Cumnock Juniors Ladies v Benburb Danderhall Miners v Nairn St Ninian Drumchapel United v Aberdeen City Ladies Dundee West v Bishopton Ladies Edinburgh South v Cumbernauld United Ladies Grampian Ladies v Bayside Ladies Muirieston United Ladies v Stewarton Annick Ladies Thornton Hibs Ladies v Ardrossan Winton Rovers

Receiving Byes into the Second Preliminary Round:

Alloa Athletic Annan Athletic Ladies Blairgowrie WFC Buckie Ladies Edinburgh Uni Thistle Gretna FC Ladies Harmony Row Huntly Jeanfield Swifts Ross County St Anthony’s Ladies Stonehaven Ladies West Park United FC

Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup Preliminary Round

Arbroath Women or Giffnock v Ross County Danderhall Miners or Nairn St Ninian v Central Ladies or Musselburgh Windsor Drumchapel United or Aberdeen City Ladies v Edinburgh Uni Thistle Dundee West or Bishopton Ladies v Alloa Athletic Edinburgh South or Cumbernauld United Ladies v Muirieston United Ladies or Stewarton Annick Ladies Gretna FC v Grampian Ladies or Bayside Ladies Huntly Women v Annan Athletic Ladies Jeanfield Swifts v Cumbernauld Colts or Penicuik Athletic St Anthony’s Ladies v Blairgowrie Stonehaven Ladies v Buckie Ladies Thornton Hibs Ladies or Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Cumnock Juniors Ladies or Benburb West Park United v Harmony Row