Troon v Raith Rovers: Why Stark's Park gaffer Dougie Imrie can't wait for Scottish Cup away trip
Having come from a background of playing junior football – most notably for Lanark United – Raith Rovers gaffer Dougie Imrie has particular excitement for the Kirkcaldy side having been drawn away to Troon, currently 10th in the Scottish Lowland Football League West, in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup third round.
The Stark’s Park outfit – third in the William Hill Championship – will travel to the West coast on the weekend of Saturday, November 28 to take on the minnows from three tiers below in the Scottish football pyramid and Imrie can’t wait for his men to take the field at Portland Park.
“When I saw the draw I had a wee smile on my face because it takes me back to my own career,” Imrie – whose brilliant displays for Lanark earned him a transfer to SPFL outfit Clyde in 2006 – told the Fife Free Press.
"I played in the juniors for six years, including playing down at Troon and against many of the West teams for Lanark United.
"I’m 100% certain I played against Troon but I can’t remember whether it was at home or away as I played that many and I played against nearly every junior team in the west.
"I remember once with Lanark United having to play four games in seven days in the Evening Times Cup (in the 2004-2005 season). We played Arthurlie away, then we played Maryhill, then Auchinleck and then we beat Beith in the final at Petershill.
"People moan now about being tired. In that cup I think we had to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday!
"There were another two years in a row where Lanark reached the Scottish Junior Cup quarter-finals and lost both those ties to Lochee, both in extra-time.
"Our game at Troon is a tasty tie, I'm not going to lie. It's a proper banana skin.
"Troon have nothing to lose, everything's on us. It won’t just be them who’ll be eyeing a big scalp in the third round, it will be all of the smaller clubs who are involved.
"At Troon it’s a tidy little ground, quite a good surface, quite tight, compact, it's not the biggest.
"I think there were a lot of good, mouthwatering ties brought up, Clydebank v Livingston, Largs v Ayr.
"I don’t think any of the Championship teams were drawn against each other so there will be a lot of eyes on the game when they come around.
The full draw for the Scottish Cup third round reads: Troon v Raith Rovers, Montrose v Hamilton Academical, Queen of the South v Dunfermline Athletic, East Kilbride v Penicuik Athletic or Clyde, Bo'ness United v Brechin City, Annan Athletic v Greenock Morton, Cumnock Juniors v Arbroath, Elgin City v Partick Thistle, Dumbarton v Johnstone Burgh or Formartine United, Stranraer v Clachnacuddin, Peterhead v Edinburgh City, Threave Rovers or Pollok v Alloa Athletic, Queen's Park v The Spartans, Ross County v Brora Rangers, Hill of Beath Hawthorn or Musselburgh Athletic v Airdrieonians, Clydebank v Livingston, Renfrew v Cumbernauld Colts or Banks O'Dee, Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Cove Rangers, Stenhousemuir v East Fife, Largs Thistle v Ayr United.