Meadow in clover after drawing Hibs

Published on Tuesday 1 December 2009 08:50

IRVINE MEADOW got all they hoped for in the Active Nation Scottish Cup fourth-round draw when the junior side were handed a trip to Easter Road to face Hibernian.

General manager Iain McQueen admitted an away trip to an SPL side was their wish before the draw was made at Hampden. Meadow are the only junior club left in the tournament following their 1-0 victory over Second Division Arbroath on Saturday.

The Ayrshire side, who are in a mid-table position in the Stagecoach West of Scotland Super League Premier Division, will play Hibs on Saturday, 9 January..

"It couldn't have worked out much better for us," said McQueen, whose team have also knocked out Selkirk and Brora Rangers and stand to earn up to 100,000 from the tie.

"To go to a Premier League club, especially one of Hibs' calibre, is a tremendous feat for our club.

"I think if you're playing an SPL club, you really want to be playing them away from home. Realistically, the chances of us progressing are small so I think the best thing for us is to draw a team like Hibs away from home.

"Had we drawn a team from nearer our level, then we would have wanted them at home. It will help sustain the club over the next couple of seasons, which is very important because it's hard work raising funds for a junior. So this will be a massive, massive financial boost."