HibeeJibee Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Preliminary will be drawn week commencing Monday 9th August - date tbc - with 11 ties & 15 byes. Preliminary ties are Saturday 28th August. East of Scotland predominates: East of Scotland League (24) Premier Division (16) Blackburn United, Broxburn Athletic, Camelon, Dunbar United, Dundonald Bluebell, Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Jeanfield Swifts, Linlithgow Rose, Lothian Thistle HV, Musselburgh Athletic, Newtongrange Star, Penicuik Athletic, Sauchie, Tranent, Tynecastle, Whitehill Welfare First Division (8) Burntisland Shipyard, Coldstream, Dalkeith Thistle, Dunipace, Easthouses Lily, Haddington Athletic, Hawick RAU, Preston Athletic West of Scotland League (7) Premier Division (5) Auchinleck Talbot, Clydebank, Cumnock, Darvel, Irvine Meadow First Division (2) Girvan, Glasgow University South of Scotland League (4) Newton Stewart, St Cuthbert Wanderers, Threave Rovers, Wigtown & Bladnoch North Caledonian League (1) Golspie Sutherland North Juniors (1) Banks o'Dee 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 It seems an unfortunate by-product of the cup expanding to more entrants (overall: progress) that some of the true dream ties seem Golspie or Saint Cuthbert's or Wigtown are more likely than ever to get papped out long before the SPFL sides enter. Hopefully at least one of them can make a run, but a Scottish Cup that is stacked with Central Belt non-league diddies is not the box-office event Scottish football deserves. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bankies Alive Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 1 hour ago, virginton said: It seems an unfortunate by-product of the cup expanding to more entrants (overall: progress) that some of the true dream ties seem Golspie or Saint Cuthbert's or Wigtown are more likely than ever to get papped out long before the SPFL sides enter. Hopefully at least one of them can make a run, but a Scottish Cup that is stacked with Central Belt non-league diddies is not the box-office event Scottish football deserves. Central belt SPFL diddies like Morton are hardly box office. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Bankies Alive said: Central belt SPFL diddies like Morton are hardly box office. Compared to a defunct SFL tribute act like 'Clydebank' we're Paramount champ. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 4 hours ago, virginton said: It seems an unfortunate by-product of the cup expanding to more entrants (overall: progress) that some of the true dream ties seem Golspie or Saint Cuthbert's or Wigtown are more likely than ever to get papped out long before the SPFL sides enter. Hopefully at least one of them can make a run, but a Scottish Cup that is stacked with Central Belt non-league diddies is not the box-office event Scottish football deserves. On the flip side of that, there are now more opportunities for non-league sides to reach those rounds in general - there are 30 non-league teams now entering Round 2 along with League 2 teams in Round 2 compared with 22 previously, and likewise there are now 20 ties in Round 3 compared to 16 previously, which again means slightly more chance of getting through to face Premiership opposition. Obviously for now, you are right in saying that unfortunately many of these spots will be taken up by the soulless non-league sides like East Kilbride, Spartans and the Shire, but there is still some hope of a lucky draw leading to some of the more interesting sides squeezing through. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bankies Alive Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 7 hours ago, virginton said: Compared to a defunct SFL tribute act like 'Clydebank' we're Paramount champ. Nope you’re still just diddies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 8 hours ago, craigkillie said: On the flip side of that, there are now more opportunities for non-league sides to reach those rounds in general - there are 30 non-league teams now entering Round 2 along with League 2 teams in Round 2 compared with 22 previously, and likewise there are now 20 ties in Round 3 compared to 16 previously, which again means slightly more chance of getting through to face Premiership opposition. Obviously for now, you are right in saying that unfortunately many of these spots will be taken up by the soulless non-league sides like East Kilbride, Spartans and the Shire, but there is still some hope of a lucky draw leading to some of the more interesting sides squeezing through. I'm not so concerned about the dung Lowland franchises already baked into the competition as much as having just one NCL representative but fully 24 from the East of Scotland - the West will presumably catch up or even surpass that number in the years to come. I've got nothing against the Central Belt clubs who have work hard to meet the licensing criteria, but the tournament would simply be much more intriguing by maintaining a more balanced geography of non-league entrants, which it risks losing. You could limit preliminary qualification spots by region in the near future (hugely and understandably unpopular among the East/West clubs I'd expect) or alternatively do as much as possible to get more North and South clubs in the fray, so that if they draw each other then one or two will get through to the rounds that trigger media attention. As I said, the changes on the whole are progress and the potential to have up to 180 teams in the not too distant future is very encouraging. The 256 team, all-in bracket from 2035 will solve all of this. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigkillie Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 The new Tier 6 leagues in the Highland region should help with that long-term, though for now it's most likely going to be Dundee and Aberdeen based clubs who get licensed. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanley Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 (edited) 15 hours ago, virginton said: It seems an unfortunate by-product of the cup expanding to more entrants (overall: progress) that some of the true dream ties seem Golspie or Saint Cuthbert's or Wigtown are more likely than ever to get papped out long before the SPFL sides enter. Hopefully at least one of them can make a run, but a Scottish Cup that is stacked with Central Belt non-league diddies is not the box-office event Scottish football deserves. Isn't it far better that the best non-league sides face the SPFL sides rather than minnows who haven't got a hope of beating them? The only reason clubs like Golspie had any chance of playing an SPFL side is because of the senior/junior divide. A quick look at their record (I might have missed some results) doesn't exactly make good reading. Golspie - never played a league side as far as I can tell St. Cuthbert Wanderers - 1-3 v Elgin in 2012/13, 0-9 v Stranraer in 2010/11 then you've got to go back to the 70s when they last played a league side. Wigtown & Bladnoch - 0-9 to Stranraer in 2011/12, 0-9 v Dunfermline in 1961/62 plus some matches in the 50s when there was no qualifying. Edited July 31, 2021 by stanley 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginaro Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 2 hours ago, virginton said: but the tournament would simply be much more intriguing by maintaining a more balanced geography of non-league entrants, which it risks losing. Not sure what you expect to happen, there's only 7 eligible SOS clubs who are not licensed (3 of which don't yet have floodlights). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 (edited) 14 hours ago, stanley said: Isn't it far better that the best non-league sides face the SPFL sides rather than minnows who haven't got a hope of beating them? The only reason clubs like Golspie had any chance of playing an SPFL side is because of the senior/junior divide. Better for the number of non-league clubs progressing? Absolutely. Better for the intrigue of the Scottish Cup as a competition? Not IMO. 14 hours ago, Ginaro said: Not sure what you expect to happen, there's only 7 eligible SOS clubs who are not licensed (3 of which don't yet have floodlights). Floodlights weren't needed to allow Junior entrants in the past, so let's ditch these requirements and get as many teams representing each region as possible. The alternative is to regionalise qualifiers so that we don't have 24-1 representation between two different regions in the same round and three full feeders possibly turfed out altogether at that stage. Unpopular among Central Belt clubs for obvious reasons, but doable. Edited August 1, 2021 by vikingTON 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 (edited) They have to reach R2 to meet SPFL2 and R3 for anyone above. No chance they would artificially rig the draw to let some or all of Golspie/Coldstream/Hawick/Newton Stewart/St Cuthbert/Threave/Wigtown past several rounds, at expense of non-league clubs alongside or above who would thrash them. 1 hour ago, stanley said: Golspie - never played a league side as far as I can tell St. Cuthbert Wanderers - 1-3 v Elgin in 2012/13, 0-9 v Stranraer in 2010/11 then you've got to go back to the 70s when they last played a league side. Wigtown & Bladnoch - 0-9 to Stranraer in 2011/12, 0-9 v Dunfermline in 1961/62 plus some matches in the 50s when there was no qualifying. Tbh they rarely win a tie. 1 hour ago, Ginaro said: Not sure what you expect to happen, there's only 7 eligible SOS clubs who are not licensed (3 of which don't yet have floodlights). Similarly the SOSL has qualifying slot but only once has anyone actually won the league and used it (2008-09: Crichton). They immediately lost at Clachnacuddin. Edited July 31, 2021 by HibeeJibee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted July 31, 2021 Author Share Posted July 31, 2021 Seems like more of a fantasy groundhop discussion than organising the Scottish Cup Have the 32 Council Areas whittle down to one representative and the Scottish Cup can start properly at the Round of 32. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 (edited) 11 hours ago, FairWeatherFan said: Seems like more of a fantasy groundhop discussion than organising the Scottish Cup Have the 32 Council Areas whittle down to one representative and the Scottish Cup can start properly at the Round of 32. Superb idea, I'll take Inverclyde at Shetland in the round of 32, to play at the winner of Orkney v Eilean Siar in the last 16 then. This is about 100x better than either the tedious League Cup or the beyond ridiculous, 'Colt team'-riddled disgrace that is the Challenge Cup. Edited August 1, 2021 by vikingTON 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cardle is Magic Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 I hope we get Kelty vs Pars this year because that would be a big occasion locally. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 (edited) 13 hours ago, HibeeJibee said: They have to reach R2 to meet SPFL2 and R3 for anyone above. No chance they would artificially rig the draw to let some or all of Golspie/Coldstream/Hawick/Newton Stewart/St Cuthbert/Threave/Wigtown past several rounds, at expense of non-league clubs alongside or above who would thrash them. You use the term 'rig' without knowing what it means. If the League and Challenge Cups can already be segregated between superior and inferior parts of the country, why shouldn't the flagship cup for Scotland be structured regionally to fairly represent the whole of Scotland? There's no inherent reason why 24 clubs from the East of Scotland region should be placed in a free for all with, err, 1 NCL entrant. You can regionalise qualification and get an equal number of merit-based participants entering the national round from each feeder division instead. With fully one-third coming from the NCL and SoS - not to mention the old North Junior setup as well - then there would be every chance that some clubs from those regions would progress to a big boy round. A better outcome for a proper Scottish Cup. Edited August 1, 2021 by vikingTON 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hossy87 Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 The draw is tomorrow. Hoping for a PR1 bye and hopefully a winnable home tie. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonS Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Hossy87 said: The draw is tomorrow. Hoping for a PR1 bye and hopefully a winnable home tie. Where did you see/hear the date? I've only seen that it's sometime this week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hossy87 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 9 hours ago, GordonS said: Where did you see/hear the date? I've only seen that it's sometime this week. Yeah, it would appear I've made an arse of that Gordon - w/c 9th August 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonS Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Hossy87 said: Yeah, it would appear I've made an arse of that Gordon - w/c 9th August Ah, ta. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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