Douglas Dalgleish has experienced a lot across his near 50 years in football.

However, the Tynecastle Football Club chairman admitted it will be hard to top the sense of pride he felt at watching his club take part in the William Hill Scottish Cup draw for the first time.

Dalgleish was in attendance at Hampden as Scotland National Team Head Coaches Alex McLeish and Shelley Kerr did the honours for the First and Second Preliminary Rounds.

The Edinburgh outfit – who qualified on the back of success in the South & East Cup Winners Shield – were paired with fellow newcomers Shortlees AFC.

The man who has served with distinction as coach, manager, chief executive and chairman can barely wait.

Douglas Dalgleish

He said: “Monday really was a momentous day for Tynecastle Football Club and I was an extremely proud man to be sitting there at Hampden watching the draw first-hand.

“It made it all the more special that it was carried out by two people of the calibre of Alex McLeish and Shelley Kerr.

“To be involved in the Scottish Cup for the first time, it was a touching moment for all of us concerned.

“I started out at Tynecastle back in 1969. I moved to Heart of Midlothian from 1989 until 2002 to perform a number of roles before returning and the club has really pushed on.

“I think back to all the different people who have been involved over the years, who have given up their time and dedicated so much to the running of things.

“To think that we’re now in the Scottish Cup. They would all have been over the moon.

“It’s a good draw for us, a challenge. There will be a lot of excitement in the build-up and you never know what can happen on the day.”