Why Raith Rovers won’t be at Rugby Park for Kilmarnock Premier Sports Cup tie
Despite facing Kilmarnock away in Group H of the Premier Sports Cup, Raith Rovers will not be playing this tie at BBSP Stadium Rugby Park on Tuesday, July 14.
Ongoing redevelopment work at the Ayrshire stadium – including installing a new hybrid grass pitch in place of the artificial surface which had been in place there since 2019 – means Killie’s home clash against Dougie Imrie’s men will instead be played at Beechwood Park, home of Lowland League West outfit Auchinleck Talbot.
Neil McCann’s Kilmarnock are having the new Rugby Park pitch installed to comply with a 2024 vote by SPFL Premiership clubs to completely ban plastic pitches from the top tier starting in the 2026/27 season.
So next month will see Raith denied the chance for more glory at Rugby Park, having won 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw in their last league cup visit on July 26, 2023.
Goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski was Rovers’ hero as he saved two spot kicks, with the Kirkcaldy side having earned a draw at their top flight hosts thanks to goals by Dylan Easton and Liam Dick.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that an extra 25 group stage matches – including the Killie Raith game - from the Premier Sports Cup will again be streamed live this term.
The additional matches will be streamed live on the Premier Sports streaming service, available in the UK from £12.99 per month.
These are in addition to the previously published five TV broadcasts from the group stage, bringing the total number of group stage live games up to 30.