Hibs: Irvine fans in ticket rush for Easter Road cup tie

HIBS have supplied Irvine Meadow with hundreds more tickets for the Scottish Cup clash at Easter Road next month after the Junior side sold more than three-quarters of their initial allocation.

The Ayrshire outfit were given 2100 tickets – the whole of the lower tier of the South Stand – for the 9 January tie, but 1600 of those have already gone. And with "The Medda" having been promised the remaining 1700 seats in the upper tier of that stand should their initial allocation go, Hibs have taken the precaution of delivering the rest to ensure they don't run out over the festive period.

Iain McQueen, Irvine's secretary, said today: "The tie has created huge excitement as it is a truly historic occasion for an SPL side to play a Junior team. It's the sort of match that only comes along once in a lifetime, it's a great achievement for the club and a tremendous thought that in a couple of weeks' time we'll be playing Hibs at Easter Road.

"We sold 1000 tickets on the very first day they went on sale and they've been selling pretty steadily ever since. We've now got around 1600 away and I'd imagine that once the Christmas and New Year holidays are over we'll have another rush as minds begin to focus on the game.

"I know of quite a few pubs and the likes who are running buses to Easter Road but have yet to buy their tickets so no doubt sales will pick up strongly nearer the time.

"Hibs promised us we'd get the further 1700 tickets if we looked like selling out our initial allocation and they've already sent them through as a precaution to ensure we don't run out."

Easter Road season ticket holders were today reminded that they have until 3pm on Sunday to buy their own seats for the Cup tie before they are released for general sale. Ticket prices are 15 (adults), 8 (concessions).