HibeeJibee Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Congratulations to St Johnstone on lifting the 2013-14 Scottish Cup... Attention will soon turn to 2014-15's competition, which looks likely to be one of the most interesting in some time, in terms of variety at least. By my reckoning several clubs will be making their debut in the cup and it should have its largest-ever entry since Victorian times? There will be a variety of new entrants. During the course of the season East Kilbride and Gretna 2008 have obtained the licence, and with it membership, and will be entering for the first time. As will Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale from Edinburgh who qualify as champions of the EOS League and are also cup first-timers. Some recent entrants will also be returning. Linlithgow Rose Juniors have obtained their licence and according to their website University of Stirling will qualify courtesy their runners-up position in the Lowland League... presumably the 2 southern byes now being assigned to the LL, not the EOS and SOS champions? If so both they and Spartans, and Brora Rangers and Inverurie Loco Works, will get byes into R2. Qualifiers from the Juniors will be Bo'ness United (East Superleague) unless they are caught by Linlithgow - they're 4pts clear with 3 games to play... Auchinleck Talbot (West Superleague)... Culter (North Superleague)... plus the winner of Glenafton Athletic v Hurlford United (Junior Cup Final), either of whom will be making their debut. Under the current rules licensed clubs are exempt from Preliminary ties. So assuming that stays, and the byes are rearranged as I mooted with the apparet University of Stirling situation, I think that would mean a breakdown of entries as follows: [Note #1 - BSC Glasgow, of the Lowland League, can't enter yet which is why only 13 of the 14 LL clubs are listed]. [Note #2 - claim has been made that Banks o'Dee have got their licence and membership, but I haven't seen this substantiated anywhere. If it is true, they would enter in the First Round under "Juniors", and there would be 8 ties and only 7 byes in the Preliminary Round]. Preliminary Round (7 ties + 9 byes): Highland League (2) - Cove Rangers, Fort William Lowland League (6) - Dalbeattie Star, Edinburgh City, Edinburgh University, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Selkirk, Vale of Leithen Clubs from the Non Professional Game: EOS League (5) - Burntisland Shipyard, Civil Service Strollers, Coldstream, Hawick Royal Albert, Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale SOS League (3) - Newton Stewart, St Cuthbert Wanderers, Wigtown & Bladnoch Juniors (5) - Auchinleck Talbot, Bo'ness United*, Culter, Girvan, Glenafton Athletic/Hurlford United Amateurs (2) - Glasgow University, Golspie Sutherland Competition Proper First Round (18 ties): 16 clubs from the Preliminary Round Highland League (14) - Buckie Thistle, Clachnacuddin, Deveronvale, Formartine United, Forres Mechanics, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Keith, Lossiemouth, Nairn County, Rothes [assuming licence reinstated], Strathspey Thistle, Turriff United, Wick Academy Lowland League (5) - East Kilbride, Gretna 2008, Preston Athletic, Threave Rovers, Whitehill Welfare Club from the Non Professional Game: Juniors (1) - Linlithgow Rose Second Round (16 ties): 18 clubs from the First Round Scottish League Two (10) - Albion Rovers, Annan Athletic, Arbroath, Berwick Rangers, Clyde, East Fife, East Stirlingshire, Elgin City, Montrose, Queen's Park Highland League (2) - Brora Rangers, Inverurie Loco Works Lowland League (2) - Spartans, University of Stirling Third Round (16 ties): 16 clubs from the Second Round Scottish Championship (6) - Alloa Athletic, Cowdenbeath, Dumbarton, Livingston, Raith Rovers, Rangers Scottish League One (10) - Airdrie United, Ayr United, Brechin City, Dunfermline Athletic, Forfar Athletic, Greenock Morton, Peterhead, Stenhousemuir, Stirling Albion, Stranraer Fourth Round (16 ties): 16 clubs from the Third Round Scottish Premiership (12) - Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee, Dundee United, Hamilton Academical/Hibernian, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, Ross County, St Johnstone, St Mirren Scottish Championship (4) - Hamilton Academical/Hibernian, Heart of Midlothian, Falkirk, Queen of the South Great to see a number of new faces in the tournament, and with the pyramid going live it will be interesting to see how clubs from the SPFL fare against Highland and Lowland opposition, and how the HL and LL clubs fare against the EOS and SOS clubs (and Juniors!). One other point of note is that, under the new UEFA regulations, the cup runner-up will not qualify for Europe even if they lose to the SPFL Premiership winner. Only the cup winner themselves can now qualify for the Europa League so in the event that someone (i.e. Celtic) were to do the double, the extra slot would go to 4th in the Premiership. Scottish Cup 2013-14 will live long in the memory, from Albion Rovers giantkilling to St Johnstone winning their first major trophy... so bring on 2014-15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 The World Famous will easily defend this title IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7-2 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 What's the date of the Final HJ? We'll need to get Stevie's squad number sorted out soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnstoun Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 No one's going to want to get the defending champions in the draw, but then I only posted so I could write defending champions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 What's the date of the Final HJ? We'll need to get Stevie's squad number sorted out soon. Haven't seen the dates anywhere yet, tbh. Short of gender reassignment then embracing the Brazilian style of shirt name selection, he'll be struggling if it's in April / June... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve McQueen Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 What's the date of the Final HJ? We'll need to get Stevie's squad number sorted out soon. Well played sir, well played! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Heliums Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Well played sir, well played! On a serious note, I wonder if they will look at the date and get a little bit superstitious. Or is May going to want to keep using that number? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share Posted May 20, 2014 Tbf, if you were to get superstitious, I would like to think that you would be optimistic in doing so. For that reason, his squad number should be changed to 27? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve McQueen Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 On a serious note, I wonder if they will look at the date and get a little bit superstitious. Or is May going to want to keep using that number? Stevie May said it was all nonsense tbf I'd expect him to keep 17 next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paris Hilltoon Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 I'd have it as 5. To signify the number of millions we will be paid from a top end EPL side in June 2015. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve McQueen Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Tbf, if you were to get superstitious, I would like to think that you would be optimistic in doing so. For that reason, his squad number should be changed to 27? Europa League final? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7-2 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 He'll probably be May 17 for life now, squad numbers allowing at future moves obviously. The co-incidence of the number and date was a fun part of the magnificent cup final build up and should remain as a great memory of the win. It would just never be the same if we tried to replicate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Heliums Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 You're right, of course. If he tried to change it to suit next year's final, he'd just look daft when we get knocked out away to a first division club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Woolshed Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Anyone clarify why Cove Rangers enter in the Preliminary? Is that randomly drawn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share Posted May 21, 2014 As things stand, they'd be in the Preliminary Round draw because they don't have a licence... In the current rulebook only those clubs eligible for the First Round who do not have licences can be drawn in any Preliminary Round. Those 20 clubs I show under R1 are all currently licenced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilfredOuefio Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 This is Hibs year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Wee Villa Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Good omen: Clyde have NEVER lost a Scottish Cup tie when the year ends in "15". It's our year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeSAFC Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Stirling's year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Good omen: Clyde have NEVER lost a Scottish Cup tie when the year ends in "15". It's our year. So you'll get papped out in the early rounds in 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Saints Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Obviously we are the Scottish Cup 'big boys' now and will be expected to successfully retain the trophy. This competition provides us with a perfect opportunity to prove our champions' mentality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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