Scottish Cup: Biggest tie in club history awaits Talbot at Tynecastle

While the real thing in front of the Sky Sports News cameras did not repeat the Old Firm pairing, it provided plenty of ties to capture the imagination elsewhere.

Holders Celtic will travel to Third Division strugglers Peterhead, with SPL champions Rangers also heading north to take on Second Division title contenders Arbroath, both archetypal David v Goliath clashes.

But perhaps the most intriguing of the 16 ties, scheduled for the weekend of 7 and 8 January, is Auchinleck Talbot’s assignment at Tynecastle. The committee members of Scotland’s most successful Junior club punched the air in delight when their team’s name was bracketed with Hearts.

The reigning Scottish Junior Cup holders, having won the trophy for the ninth time last season with an extra-time victory over Musselburgh Athletic at Rugby Park, Auchinleck believe their meeting with SPL opposition will eclipse anything else in their 102-year existence.

“There is no doubt this is the biggest game in the club’s history,” said Auchinleck commercial manager Colin Chisholm. “We have been in ten Junior Cup finals down the years, winning nine of them, but this is a huge occasion for the club.

“Even to be in the Scottish Cup is fantastic for a Junior club. So I just hope we can go to Tynecastle and put on a good performance which is a credit to the club, supporters and Junior football.

“Not everyone has been in favour of Junior clubs being admitted to the Scottish Cup, but I think over the past few years the Junior clubs have enhanced the competition.”

One of Auchinleck’s local rivals, Irvine Meadow, made the journey along the M8 two seasons ago to take on Hibs at Easter Road in the same stage of the Scottish Cup. In the first-ever tie between SPL and Junior clubs, Meadow were far from embarrassed in losing 3-0.

“Meadow did well that day,” added Chisholm, “and, if our players go to Tynecastle and play to their capabilities, then we know that strange things can happen in football. We have all seen that over the years. It depends who takes their chances and who is on form on the day.”

Chisholm says Hearts can expect a big demand for tickets from travelling supporters for the tie. “We would expect a tremendous turn-out on the day,” he said. “The fans will want to go and be part of the history of the club. Our crowds have varied this season but I would say the average is around 700. When we have gone to Scottish Junior Cup finals in the past, we have been taking 6,000 or 7,000.

“When you consider we have a population of between 3,500 and 4,000 in Auchinleck, that is a tremendous support. We do carry fans from all around the area to these games.

“There will be a tremendous atmosphere around the town from now until January 7. The only slight problem is that Junior football in the west of Scotland decided there wouldn’t be any games on Christmas and New Year weekends. So our secretary will be looking to play one or two friendlies over the festive period.

“Everyone has read about the problems Hearts have from a financial point of view and their owner wanting to sell off the club. He has already stated publicly that they might look to sell players so there’s no way of telling who might play against us. It doesn’t matter who they field, they will be top-class players.”

Should Auchinleck force a replay, Chisholm admits their 4000-capacity Beechwood Park ground would be unlikely to stage the game.

“It would probably have to be moved,” he said, “but we would happily deal with that problem. Our manager, Tommy Sloan, would have preferred us to draw a lower-league club at home for a better opportunity to go further in the competition. But, from a financial point of view, this is great for us. We can look at improving the facilities at Beechwood Park.”

Culter, the other Junior club left in the tournament after their surprise 1-1 draw against Partick Thistle on Saturday, have a home tie against Queen of the South as their incentive if they can pull off a shock in the replay at Firhill this weekend.

Hibs will begin their latest bid for the silverware which has eluded them since 1902 with a potentially-hazardous trip to Second Division leaders Cowdenbeath. Former Hearts and Scotland midfielder Colin Cameron, player-manager of the Blue Brazil, is relishing the tie at Central Park. “I expect to get a bit of stick from the Hibs fans,” he smiled. “But I don’t think Hibs will look forward to coming to our place. We are playing well at the moment, scoring lots of goals and not conceding many. We have to play at our best and hope Hibs have an off day but I’m quietly confident.”

Sky Sports will select one tie for live coverage, with Celtic’s first-ever appearance at Peterhead’s Balmoor Stadium a likely candidate. Ex-Celtic player Jim McInally took over as Peterhead manager last month and his assistant, former Falkirk, Dunfermline and Gretna midfielder, Davie Nicholls, welcomed the challenge.

He said: “I was fortunate enough to be in the Gretna side which shocked everyone to reach the Scottish Cup final in 2006. We carried a lot of luck in that campaign and Peterhead will need some of that.”

4th ROUND DRAW - Ties to be played 7-8 January

Ross County v Stenhousemuir

Livngston v Ayr

Raith v Morton

Hearts v Auchinleck Talbot

Cowdenbeath v Hibernian

St Johnstone v Brechin

Stranraer/Forfar v Aberdeen

Culter/Partick v Queen of South

Inverness v Dunfermline

Falkirk v East Fife

Motherwell v Elgin/Queen’s Park

Arbroath v Rangers

Peterhead v Celtic

Airdrie Utd v Dundee Utd

Dundee v Kilmarnock

St Mirren v Hamilton