Football: Campbell bids to see off old Spartans pals

Published on Thursday 29 October 2009 09:32

FORMER Spartans player and Forfar Athletic's current top scorer, Ross Campbell, is looking forward to the Active Nation Scottish Cup third-round tie which has paired his previous team with his new club at Ainslie Park.

"I have a lot of friends at Spartans from my two years there and the club is still very close to me," said Campbell, who has scored 13 goals for the Loons so far this season. "I work closely in my professional job at Heriot-Watt University with the Spartans captain Stewart Fowlie and, when I was a student, I played alongside three other Spartans players – Chris Flockhart, Robbie Manson and Omar Kader."

Campbell's father, Dick, is the manager of Forfar and a regular at the Spartans annual dinners, so he too is familiar with the Capital club. "My dad, brother and uncle are all involved at Forfar and the build-up to the cup tie will be in good spirit although obviously both clubs want to get through to the next round."

Edinburgh City manager Shaun Steven, meanwhile, is also looking forward to his club's third-round game after the Meadowbank-based team were drawn at home against Highland League side Keith. Steven said: "That's a good draw and a winnable game. Keith have just beaten Vale of Leithen 3-1 in the last round so I will get some information about them from the Vale boss, Rab Paget. I will also go to watch them.

"I would like to progress because, personally, I would like to beat my brother Tom's record of having reached the third round with City when they lost away to Ayr United a few years ago."

Whitehill Welfare will play Inverurie Loco Works if they can overcome Threave Rovers in their second-round replay on Saturday. Gary Aitchison, the Whitehill manager, said: "It's a tie we would be looking forward to but we have a job to do against Threave before we think about anything else."

ACTIVE NATION SCOTTISH CUP Third round draw

Ties due to be played on Saturday, 28 November

Airdrie United v Queen of the South

Ross County v Berwick Rangers

Whitehill Welfare or Threave Rovers v Inverurie Loco Works

Deveronvale or Buckie Thistle v Ayr Utd

Cowdenbeath v Alloa Athletic

Albion Rovers v Elgin City

Stirling Albion v Huntly or Auchinleck Talbot

Clyde v Livingston

Irvine Meadow v Arbroath

Edinburgh City v Keith

Wick Academy v Brechin City

Stenhousemuir v Cove Rangers

Greenock Morton v Dumbarton

Montrose v East Fife

Raith Rovers v Peterhead

Spartans v Forfar Athletic