The Draw

On Monday 22nd July, Jonny Hayes drew the balls (steady) for the opening two rounds of the competition. Seems to have been quite an occasion.

It is clear that the preliminary round one is very much about making the numbers work – they clearly need to lose two teams. Of the six teams in the hat for round one, two get a bye and the other four are playing in the two ties that complete the round. So my choice is limited to:

Culter v Invergordon
Bo’ness Athletic v Beith Juniors

OK. Culter or Borrowstounness? The agony of choice. Bo’ness is close, I could get there from home easily enough on the bike and many (oh, so many) trips there when my son was a lad to travel on the excellent Bo’ness and Kinneil railway mean that I know the town well.

Culter is Peterculter, as opposed to nearby Maryculter, you understand. Is there a Paulculter, I wonder? I know it well too, after many (oh, so many) cycle trips on the old Deeside line out of Aberdeen with my girlfriend, later wife. The line goes, ultimately, to Ballater and it takes cyclists and walkers/runners quietly out of the city into deepest Aberdeenshire. It is fabulous, the station platforms are still intact, mostly, and you have a sense that the next train will be along shortly, even if there hasn’t been one in nearly sixty years, the last train to Culter was in 1967.

That seems like an easy decision, then. Culter it is. Train to within cycling range (Aberdeen or Stonehaven) and ride the rest. Solid plan. Culter also play in Stirling Albion colours, so I might even be able to get away with taking my scarf.

Given the restrictive nature of the draw, I’m allowing a rule change. Hey, it’s my ball, I make the rules. Rather than stick with the winners, slavishly, I’m going to allow myself to pick the most interesting sounding tie of the round, either from a footballing or cycling perspective. Just if suits me, you understand.

There is another important aspect to this. Steering clear of certain elements of the Scottish game that I’m keen to avoid until it’s unavoidable. And to visit grounds and towns hitherto unexplored.