Scottish FA Youth Cup 2015/16

[Hughsie]

Draw made today.

Celtic the holders after a 5-2 win v Rangers in the Final last season.

[HibeeJibee]

FIRST ROUND

North Section

1. Montrose v Formartine United
2. Inverurie Loco Works v Fraserburgh

South Section

1. Stranraer v Berwick Rangers

Central Section

1. Preston Athletic v East Kilbride
2. Edusport Academy v Dumbarton
3. Edinburgh City v Cumbernauld Colts


SECOND ROUND

North Section

1. Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Montrose or Formartine United
2. Banks O' Dee v Clachnacuddin
3. Aberdeen v Inverurie Loco Works or Fraserburgh
4. Forfar Athletic v Turriff United
5. Deveronvale v Huntly
6. Ross County v Lossiemouth

South Section

1. Dalbeattie Star v Stranraer or Berwick Rangers

Central Section

1. Preston Athletic or East Kilbride v Civil Service Strollers
2. Stenhousemuir v BSC Glasgow
3. Falkirk v East Stirlingshire
4. Airdrieonians v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
5. Stirling Albion v Edinburgh City or Cumbernauld Colts
6. Motherwell v Partick Thistle
7. Whitehill Welfare v Dundee
8. Edusport Academy or Dumbarton v Spartans
9. Heriot Watt University v Alloa Athletic

Ties in the first round are scheduled to be played on or before Sunday 23 August 2015, and the second round ties are scheduled to be played on or before Sunday 20 September 2015.

Few interesting observations to make...

Firstly, it appeared a slight puzzler as to some of the non-league clubs featuring for the first time (e.g. Edusport Academy and Heriot-Watt University). Apparently they have opened-up the competition to all clubs playing in Under 20 Development Leagues and not just SFA members which is why the likes of they and Lothian THV have appeared.

Secondly, the usual slightly odd breakdown of clubs which haven't got U20 teams but are putting them together specially for the competition, or which have got U20 teams but haven't bothered to enter.

Have U20/Development teams, not entered

(SPFL U20s) - Clyde, Raith Rovers

(HL U20s) - Aberdeen Uni, Buckie Thistle, Cove Rangers, Keith

(LL & EOSL U20s) - Edinburgh Uni

Haven't got U20/Development teams, have entered

(HL) - Clachnacuddin, Lossiemouth

(LL) - Dalbeattie Star, Selkirk

Banks o'Dee are the only entrants from outside the pyramid, but they're SFA members and HL U20s participants.

Thirdly, a very minor point but credit to Heriot-Watt Uni for taking-up their option to participate - whereas the old institutions like Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow all stuck to their traditional policy of not doing so.

[HibeeJibee]

Details for some upcoming R1 ties confirmed, all Sunday 23rd August:

Inverurie Loco Works v Fraserburgh - 2pm at Harlaw Park (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1066185003399635&id=291117070906436)

Preston Athletic v East Kilbride - 3pm at Pennypit Park (http://www.prestonathletic.co.uk/the-match/u20s-team-fixtures-and-results/)

Edinburgh City v BSC Glasgow - 2pm, presumably at Meadowbank Stadium (http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/edinburghcityfcu19s/87191/Matches/report/5954393)

[HibeeJibee]

Cowdenbeath have now joined the SPFL East U20s but too late to enter the Youth Cup.

[Hughsie]

Details for some upcoming R1 ties confirmed, all Sunday 23rd August:

Inverurie Loco Works v Fraserburgh - 2pm at Harlaw Park (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1066185003399635&id=291117070906436)

Preston Athletic v East Kilbride - 3pm at Pennypit Park (http://www.prestonathletic.co.uk/the-match/u20s-team-fixtures-and-results/)

Edinburgh City v BSC Glasgow - 2pm, presumably at Meadowbank Stadium (http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/edinburghcityfcu19s/87191/Matches/report/5954393)

Think the Edinburgh City match might be an error on the website.

They were drawn against Cumbernauld Colts?

[HibeeJibee]

Confirmation of R1 ties this coming weekend. Edinburgh City have a home game in the Lowland League the following day - so it appears their SYC tie has been moved over to neighbouring Meadowbank 3G, home of Leith Athletic. It would seem the Edusport v Dumbarton tie has been delayed.

http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/RefereeAppointments/SFAYouthCup/01.First%20Round%20Friday%2021st-Sunday%2023rd%20August%202015.pdf

Friday 21st August

Edinburgh City v Cumbernauld Colts - 7:30pm at Leith Athletic

Sunday 23rd August

Stranraer v Berwick Rangers - 1pm

Inverurie Loco Works v Fraserburgh - 2pm

Montrose v Fortmartine Utd - 2pm

Preston Athletic v East Kilbride - 3pm

[weeredbook]

How much do you get for entering ,does anyone know ? .

[HibeeJibee]

No prizemoney, AFAIA.

SFA pays upto £300 travel expenses per tie.

[cowdenbeath]

Cowdenbeath have now joined the SPFL East U20s but too late to enter the Youth Cup.

First time we will not be in it since 1992 been at most of our ties as well over the years, will miss not being in it this year.

[HibeeJibee]

It would seem the Edusport v Dumbarton tie has been delayed.

Tuesday 1st September, 8pm at Edinburgh University's 3G backpitch?

http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/RefereeAppointments/SFAYouthCup/01.First%20Round%20Friday%2021st-Tuesday%201st%20September%202015.pdf

[HibeeJibee]

FT Edinburgh City 1-3 Cumbernauld Colts

[HibeeJibee]

Today's results:

FT Inverurie Loco Works 2-5 Fraserburgh

Montrose ?-? Formartine United

FT Preston Athletic 3-1 East Kilbride

FT Stranraer 3-2 Berwick Rangers

Incidentally - I find it hilarious that the SFA regionalise the initial ties, but on the basis of 'North', 'Central' and 'South'', meaning Berwick had to get over to Stranraer for 1pm on a Sunday afternoon and then have to go to Dalbeattie if we win. Surely should be 'North', 'East' and 'West'.

EDIT: We lost 3-2 so a second trek to deepest D&G not required.

[cowdenbeath]

Today's results:

FT Inverurie Loco Works 2-5 Fraserburgh

Montrose ?-? Formartine United

FT Preston Athletic 3-1 East Kilbride

FT Stranraer 3-2 Berwick Rangers

Incidentally - I find it hilarious that the SFA regionalise the initial ties, but on the basis of 'North', 'Central' and 'South'', meaning Berwick had to get over to Stranraer for 1pm on a Sunday afternoon and then have to go to Dalbeattie if we win. Surely should be 'North', 'East' and 'West'.

EDIT: We lost 3-2 so a second trek to deepest D&G not required.

I would say its a bit better than the SPFL's regionalisation of the Petrofac Cup HJ. Berwick to Stranraer is better than Alloa to Brora.

[Clayhole Blue]

I would say its a bit better than the SPFL's regionalisation of the Petrofac Cup HJ. Berwick to Stranraer is better than Alloa to Brora.

I'd say it's the same as the Petrofac Cup - Berwick and Stranraer in same regional draw in that too.

[HibeeJibee]

Sorry folks: if you look beyond the headline fact of there being 3 regions compared with 2 in the Petrofac there's no way (IMO) you can consider it sensible.

Yes, there are 3 regions, but they're arranged on a basis of 3 horizontal bands North / Central / South. Then having decided upon a South section there are only 3 clubs put in from an entry of over 50 clubs. And then the 3 are Berwick + Stranraer + Dalbeattie, which actually guarantees 1 or 2 sizeable trips from one side of Scotland to the other without decent roads.

It'd actually be far better to only have 2 regions, like the Petrofac, as that way there is a high chance of drawing a central belt side. Or if having 3 regions they should surely divide North / East / West, or at least be of similar size entry-wise. Current model seems oblivious of club locations and major roads.

You wouldn't form a third region in the Petrofac, then only put Berwick and Stranraer in it.

[Hughsie]

In mitigation HJ, the south section usually contains more teams but due to Annan, Ayr, Kilmarnock, Queen of the South and Selkirk all reaching the fourth round last season, it's led to a bit of an unusual situation of there only being three teams entering from the South region at the first round stage.

The point on Berwick is a valid one I think though, and geographically there's an argument to say that they would almost fit more naturally into the Central section.

I think the North, East and West idea is a good one too.

Montrose beat Formartine United 1-0 in the other tie. Just the Edusport - Dumbarton tie to be played, winner of which plays Spartans at home.

[cowdenbeath]

As Hughsie says its a bit of a one off only having 3 south clubs playing in the 1st round due to the other clubs doing well last season and being seeded.

Perhaps it would have been better putting Berwick in the central section this season. I think most of their young players are based in the Edinburgh/Fife area anyway.

The way Scotland is laid out football wise your never going to have a happy balance when things are regionalised.

[Clayhole Blue]

Sorry folks: if you look beyond the headline fact of there being 3 regions compared with 2 in the Petrofac there's no way (IMO) you can consider it sensible.

Yes, there are 3 regions, but they're arranged on a basis of 3 horizontal bands North / Central / South. Then having decided upon a South section there are only 3 clubs put in from an entry of over 50 clubs. And then the 3 are Berwick + Stranraer + Dalbeattie, which actually guarantees 1 or 2 sizeable trips from one side of Scotland to the other without decent roads.

It'd actually be far better to only have 2 regions, like the Petrofac, as that way there is a high chance of drawing a central belt side. Or if having 3 regions they should surely divide North / East / West, or at least be of similar size entry-wise. Current model seems oblivious of club locations and major roads.

You wouldn't form a third region in the Petrofac, then only put Berwick and Stranraer in it.

Agree!

[HibeeJibee]

We've a number of local and Borders-based players in the squad this season, apparently, although I'm sure there will still be Lothians-based lads too. I see we went 3-0 down before coming back to 3-2 but failing to find the equaliser. I'm blaming the epic trip, clearly took them a while to get going .

Will be interesting to see how Edusport get on. They are of course a team of full-time Frenchmen who come to Scotland to learn football and English.

Their senior team currently tops the South of Scotland League. Not sure how many will be eligible under U20 conditions, but probably a good number. Their U20s play their first-ever game v Spartans on Friday in the (long-named) Lowland & EOS Under 20s Development Qualifying League Section B.

Apparently they're playing at Spartans, which is where their Edinburgh campus trains, albeit not v Dumbarton.

[HibeeJibee]

Seems the mass wipe-out of posts last week deleted my post about the shock of the First Round which was Edusport beating Dumbarton on penalties having drawn 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time.

Bulk of R2 ties will be this coming weekend - although Whitehill Welfare 0-8 Dundee was on Sunday - but no details anywhere.

As a footnote it seems a North of Scotland U20s League has been established involving at least Clachnacuddin, Lossiemouth (who have both entered the Youth Cup), Nairn, Forres and Alness United of the North Caledonian League (who all haven't or were too late). So it is only Dalbeattie and Selkirk who are forming-up teams especially.