The Draw for the First Round of the IRN-BRU Cup took place this afternoon at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge. The result of the draw is as follows:
NORTH Aberdeen Colts v St. Johnstone Colts Dundee Colts v Alloa Athletic Stirling Albion v Montrose Ross County Colts v Forfar Athletic Dundee United v Cowdenbeath Formartine United v Heart of Midlothian Colts East Fife v Peterhead Stenhousemuir v Cove Rangers Raith Rovers v Brora Rangers Dunfermline Athletic v Arbroath Hibernian Colts v Elgin City Buckie Thistle v Brechin City
SOUTH Dumbarton v Rangers Colts Clyde v Stranraer Hamilton Academical Colts v Edinburgh City Albion Rovers v Spartans Motherwell Colts v Queen’s Park St. Mirren v East Kilbride Partick Thistle Colts v Stirling University Queen of the South v Airdrieonians Kilmarnock Colts v Berwick Rangers Annan Athletic v Celtic Colts East Stirlingshire v Ayr United Morton v Livingston
Ties are due to be played on Tuesday 15 or Wednesday 16 August, 2017.
Reaction |
Paul Sheerin told afc.co.uk after the draw:
“The cup last season was a great experience which I really enjoyed. It was a really good learning curve for the players and I am looking forward to the competition again.
“First and foremost I am pleased we are at home.
“I am sure St Johnstone like us would probably rather have played against a side who were not from the Development League so we could play someone different and we could test ourselves against league opposition or one of the Highland League teams.
“Although obviously St Johnstone are in our league we don’t know too much about their side this season because like ourselves they will have new players coming through so it will be going into the unknown a little bit.
“In recent seasons, I think all our games against them have been very tight and I would imagine this one will be no different.
“There will be a big incentive for both sides to get through.”
The format |
The 2017/18 IRN-BRU Cup will feature an improved format and increased prize money, in addition to two new participants, the SPFL announced ahead today’s First Round draw.
The revised format sees a reduction in the number of rounds from seven to six, with the competition kicking off in mid-August and leading up to the Final being played on Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 March, 2018.
Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers will join the 2017/18 IRN-BRU Cup along with the Northern Irish and Welsh teams (Crusaders, Linfield, The New Saints and Gap Connah’s Quay) at the Second Round stage.
Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers will join the 2017/18 IRN-BRU Cup along with the Northern Irish and Welsh teams (Crusaders, Linfield, The New Saints and Gap Connah’s Quay) at the Second Round stage.
