How the new Scottish Cup will work

[Purple & Green]

FIRST ROUND (36 clubs)
14 clubs who formerly participated in the Qualifying Cup North (excluding top two in Highland League from previous season)
18 clubs who formerly participated in the Qualifying Cup South (excluding East of Scotland League and South of Scotland League champions from previous season)
4 Scottish Junior FA clubs - winners of the North/West/East Super Leagues and the Scottish Junior Cup

SECOND ROUND (32 clubs)
18 first round winners
Top two in Highland League from previous season
East of Scotland League champions from previous season
South of Scotland League champions from previous season
Ten SFL third division clubs

THIRD ROUND (32 clubs)
16 second-round winners
Ten SFL Second Division clubs
Six SFL First Division clubs (those finishing in bottom six positions previous season)

FOURTH ROUND (32 clubs)
16 third round winners
Four SFL First Division clubs (those finishing in top four positions previous season)
12 SPL clubs

FIFTH ROUND (16 clubs)
16 fourth-round winners

QUARTER-FINALS
Eight fifth-round winners

SEMI-FINALS
Four quarter-final winners - no replays. Matches to be decided after extra-time and penalties if required.

FINAL
Two semi-final winners.

[Postiga]

Burtisland shipyard are also in the first round im sure.

[Purple & Green]

Originally Posted by Postiga

Burtisland shipyard are also in the first round im sure.

18 clubs who formerly participated in the Qualifying Cup South

[cavalier]

Bobby where do the club relegated from the espeehell fit in, 3rd or 4th round?

[Postiga]

Originally Posted by Postiga

Burtisland shipyard are also in the first round im sure.

[Purple & Green]

I'd guess the 3rd round Paul.

Also, what I've been told is that there will only be 3 junior teams this year, so presumably there will be a bye for someone in the first round. It's a bit of a pisser for Bonnyrigg who only finished a point behind Lithgae in the league.

[cavalier]

Originally Posted by Bobby S

I'd guess the 3rd round Paul.

Also, what I've been told is that there will only be 3 junior teams this year, so presumably there will be a bye for someone in the first round. It's a bit of a pisser for Bonnyrigg who only finished a point behind Lithgae in the league.

Life is a bitch eh?

Skipper will gloat ye know!!??

[Banff]

Up the mighty Vale!!

[HibeeJibee]

Since no mechanism exists for when a Junior club does the double, only 3 (Culter, Linlithgow, Pollok) enter this season. Although Girvan, who play in the Juniors, will also enter every year as they are full members of the SFA. Thus a random bye was drawn, which went to Edinburgh University (East Scot).

For league teams, it based on what league you are in THIS season. Thus the 10 Third Division enter in Round 2, the 10 Second Division and the bottom 6 of last years First Division enter in Round 3, and the 12 SPL and the 12th in last years SPL and 2nd-4th in last years First Division enter in Round 4.

The system is based on the '32-repeater model' i.e.:
32-32-32-32-16-8-4-2
however due to the seperate decision to include Junior clubs, Round 1 now has 36 clubs in it, not 32.

At the same time, it was decided that should a non-member of the SFA win the South of Scotland or East of Scotland (there aren't any non-members in the Highland), they will be allowed to enter in the same way as the Juniors (but in Round 2). In those circumstances a preliminary tie or ties will be held.

[SteveIrwin]

basically another round, making it even tougher to win

[HibeeJibee]

Originally Posted by SteveIrwin

basically another round, making it even tougher to win

Not really. The competition still has the same format after Christmas as it always had.

Under the old system:
R1&R2 - Div 2, Div 3, 8 non-league qualifiers
R3 - SPL, Div 1

Now (I've changed round names to make same as before):
Pre - all non-leaguers
R1 - Div 3
R2 - Div 2, some Div 1
R3 - SPL, some Div 1

The only 'losers' are the lower placed Div 1 sides, who have to enter a round earlier - and the Div 3 sides, who under the old system might have got lucky and been one of the byes straight into R2.

If you ask me, we should make the competition ever more 'all-in':
Pre - 44 = 38 non-league SFA members, 4 SJFA (3 x league winners, 1 x cup winner), 1 winner of competition for senior non-SFA clubs, 1 SAFA (1 x Amateur cup winner)
R1 - 64 = 12 SPL, 30 SFL, 22 winners of previous round
R2 - 32
R3 - 16
R4 - 8
SF - 4
FINAL - 2

[GalegoHibs]

A good idea rather than just a gimmick from the SFA for once. Awa the Can Cans!

[Hampden_Hibby]

I've spent most of my life wanting Pollok to get humped off everyone. Now however with them in the Scottish Cup I kinda (whisper it) want them to do okay for the reputation of the junior game. What a dilemma. If they get by St Cuthbert's, which is now not so certain given their recent form, I'd love to see them hammer a 3rd division side. However I'll draw the line at wanting them to go all the way.

Don't want the arrogant fannies being beaten finalists and getting a UEFA Cup slot!

[GalegoHibs]

[quote=Hampden_Hibby;703306]I've spent most of my life wanting Pollok to get humped off everyone. Now however with them in the Scottish Cup I kinda (whisper it) want them to do okay for the reputation of the junior game. What a dilemma. If they get by St Cuthbert's, which is now not so certain given their recent form, I'd love to see them hammer a 3rd division side. However I'll draw the line at wanting them to go all the way.

Don't want the arrogant fannies being beaten finalists and getting a UEFA Cup slot![/QUOTE]

Rest easy HH, as I read somewhere the other day that the rule has been changed meaning Pollock would now have to win the cup to qualify for the UEFA. It will be interesting to see how the junior teams get on as people have been saying for years they are better than some of the league teams. I've no idea but the moment of truth is about to arrive.

[HibeeJibee]

The three SJFA champs got it VERY lucky in their draw. Linlithgow and Pollok both got relatively weak teams from the South of Scotland league, while Culter got Hawick (worst team in the East of Scotland league, and get double figures of goals put past them reasonably frequently). I expect all three will win (although my tip is - Pollok will win after a replay). Had the Juniors got for instance Spartans, Cove and Edinburgh City then they could all end up going out. Girvan are a Junior club too, v Forres Mechanics.

If anyone isn't going to Hibs, Civil Service Strollers are the only Edinburgh-based team at home (v Selkirk).

[HibeeJibee]

This season is the last season that the cup runner-up gets in, they've only just changed the rule for 09.

Many Juniors are better than Seniors. However, it varies by area. Up north, virtually every (senior) Highland league team could beat every (junior) North league team. In the east its quite even, with a number of big (senior) East of Scotland league teams and a number of big (junior) East league teams. The strongest junior area is the West league (no seniors here), while the weakest senior area is the South of Scotland league (no juniors here). Three amateur clubs are members of the SFA too: Glasgow Uni and Burntisland Shipyard play in 'true' amateur leagues, and Golspie Sutherland in a 'technically' senior league.

[sKipper]

Originally Posted by Purple & Green

I'd guess the 3rd round Paul.

Also, what I've been told is that there will only be 3 junior teams this year, so presumably there will be a bye for someone in the first round. It's a bit of a pisser for Bonnyrigg who only finished a point behind Lithgae in the league.

Kelty Hearts are the one's with the gripe I reckon. With 3 different junior leagues the option should have been to take the beaten cup finailsts in the event of a soooooperb team doing the double.

Seems ludicrous to give someone a bye.

Anyhoos, I am off to support my local team on Saturday down at Newton Stewart. An historic occasion !!

COME ON THE ROSEY POSEY !

[Hampden_Hibby]

Originally Posted by HibeeJibee

I expect all three will win (although my tip is - Pollok will win after a replay). Had the Juniors got for instance Spartans, Cove and Edinburgh City then they could all end up going out.

I fancy Pollok and Linlithgow Rose could handle the 3rd division no bother at all never mind the East seniors. Although Pollok have went through a mini crisis losing 9 goals in total to Beith and Neilston respectively. Their defence is a shambles right now.

I know it's pre-season friendlies but in those games the juniors do alright often against the 'first teams' of 2nd and 3rd division clubs.

Interesting one last week when Clydebank (who have been junior for several years now) travelled south to play a team in the Northern League, a few divisions below the Conferences to mark the closure of their old ground. The Bankies done the Scottish juniors proud humping them 12-0 in their own ground!

[Banff]

Originally Posted by GalegoHibs

A good idea rather than just a gimmick from the SFA for once. Awa the Can Cans!

Who? Forres are shite! The Valley Crew, we sing this song super super vale!!

[Banff]

GalegoHibs, were you at Belladrum festival last year or maybe the year before? I think i know who you are.

[Stirlinghibee]

Originally Posted by Hampden_Hibby

I fancy Pollok and Linlithgow Rose could handle the 3rd division no bother at all never mind the East seniors. Although Pollok have went through a mini crisis losing 9 goals in total to Beith and Neilston respectively. Their defence is a shambles right now.

I know it's pre-season friendlies but in those games the juniors do alright often against the 'first teams' of 2nd and 3rd division clubs.

Interesting one last week when Clydebank (who have been junior for several years now) travelled south to play a team in the Northern League, a few divisions below the Conferences to mark the closure of their old ground. The Bankies done the Scottish juniors proud humping them 12-0 in their own ground!

For many years I think we have all watched Junior teams and wondered how they would fair.

I would love to see Pollok or the Rose at ER. I always thought that Pollok could be up there with the St J's , Particks and Dundee's if they were a senior team.