Team buses set out on the road and the miles to Hampden

By The Newsroom
Published 24th Sep 2010, 17:00 BST
Updated 25th Sep 2010, 04:19 BST
THE long-distance ties that are a feature of tomorrow's Scottish Cup first round will see clubs travel 500 miles more in total than the distance the Scottish team will go to take part in the Commonwealth games in Delhi.

In 17 ties, the honour of the senior leagues in the Highlands, East and South, as well as that of the Juniors, is at stake just 19 weeks after Dundee United lifted the Cup with a 3-0 win over Ross County.

Almost 4,800 miles are being covered by team buses with the longest journey seeing South of Scotland League side St Cuthbert's Wanderers make a 570-mile round trip from Kirkcudbright to face Fraserburgh. Girvan have a 500-mile trip to face Huntly.

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St Cuthbert's boss Jim McCrossan said: "We are travelling with an injury-hit squad. We are not, however, travelling up there to make up the numbers."

Girvan Committee member Ronnie Hutchison added: "It is a bit of a trek from the Ayrshire coast to beyond Aberdeen but we are delighted to be in the competition."

Three other ties will see more than 400 miles covered with ten games involving trips of between 100 and 400 miles.

Deveronvale versus Inverurie is a local derby in comparison with a 66-mile round trip involved and the shortest journey is for Nairn County, who travel 64 miles there and back to face Rothes.

Highlanders Forres make the trek to Coldstream in the Borders and their manager, Charlie Rowley, said: "In previous seasons we have travelled to Dalbeattie Star, Wigton and Girvan so we are getting used to it."

At least one Junior side will progress as West Region champions Beith face Emirates Junior Cup holders Linlithgow Rose.

With all the miles already being covered, it is probably just as well that Wick Academy received a bye.

Fixtures for Scottish cup first round:

Golspie Sutherland v Fort William

Rothes v Nairn County

Civil Service Strollers v Wigtown & Bladnoch

Edinburgh City v Clachnacuddin

Glasgow University v Burntisland Shipyard

Beith v Linlithgow Rose

Coldstream v Forres Mechanics

Fraserburgh v St Cuthbert Wanderers

Newton Stewart v Preston Athletic

Hawick Royal Albert v Dalbeattie Star

Edinburgh University v Brora Rangers

Deveronvale v Inverurie Loco Works

Lossiemouth v Whitehill Welfare

Vale of Leithen v Keith

Huntly v Girvan

Selkirk v Bo'ness United

Gala Fairydean v Sunnybank