The First Preliminary Round of the 2018-19 William Hill Scottish Cup will kick off tomorrow, with seven intriguing ties taking place, with the sides vying for a place in the Second Preliminary Round and, eventually, the Scottish Cup proper.
One of the stand-out ties of the weekend sees two Scottish Cup debutants go head-to-head as Tynecastle face Shortlees AFC at Meggetland in Edinburgh.
We caught up with Tynecastle Charman Douglas Dalgleish at the Preliminary Round draw – he spoke about how much being involved in the competition means to the club.
“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.”
Bonnyrigg Rose – the East Junior Super League winners – enjoyed a Cup run in the 2016-17 tournament, including a memorable win against Dumbarton and an Edinburgh Derby against Hibernian.
They will have to navigate a tricky tie against Hawick Royal Albert if they are to progress. Meanwhile, Hawick will also be hoping to replicate their form in the 2016-17 – a season in which they reached the Third Round of the competition, scoring eleven goals in the process.
Scottish Junior Cup winners Auchinleck Talbot host North Junior Super Cup League winners Banks O’Dee. Talbot will be looking to go one further than last season; despite enjoying a 4-0 win over Wigtown and Bladnoch in the First Preliminary Round, they missed out on a place in the Scottish Cup proper in a Second Preliminary Round replay to Beith Juniors.
Their opponents, Banks O’Dee, were another club for whom last season’s Scottish Cup proved to be a happy hunting ground; they reached the Third Round after wins over Linlithgow Rose, Huntly and Selkirk. The Dee will be hoping for a similar run this season.
With the draw for the Second Preliminary Round having already taken place, the winners of this weekend’s ties already know their possible opponents.
Full First Preliminary Round Draw
Auchinleck Talbot v Banks O’ Dee
Coldstream v St. Cuthbert Wanderers
Golspie Sutherland v Burntisland Shipyard
Hawick Royal Albert v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
Preston Athletic v Glasgow University
Threave Rovers v Beith Juniors
Tynecastle v Shortlees AFC
The First Preliminary Round ties will be played on Saturday, 11 August.
Second Preliminary Round Draw
Auchinleck Talbot or Banks O’ Dee v Wigtown & Bladnoch
Girvan v Golspie Sutherland or Burntisland Shipyard
Hawick Royal Albert or Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic v Tynecastle or Shortlees AFC
Newton Stewart v Coldstream or St. Cuthbert Wanderers
Preston Athletic or Glasgow University v Linlithgow Rose
Threave Rovers or Beith Juniors v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
The Second Preliminary Round ties will be played on Saturday, 1 September.