Scottish Cup tie at Cove on the Horizon

While all the talk around the Club in recent weeks has centred on our William Hill League2 campaign, another very important fixture is only a matter of nine days away. Following our dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Stirling Albion, for the second season in succession the ‘Loons’ will participate in the fourth round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, one of only two clubs from the fourth tier of the pyramid to have made it through to this stage of the competition.

Sadly this time round there is no glamour tie following on from the visit of Hibernian to the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park twelve months back, this time round a wee trip north on the A92 to face up to Paul Hartley’s Cove Rangers.

Some financial reward has already been secured for both sides by reaching the last 32 of the tournament, but a potential big name could well await the winner of what is an intriguing clash at the Balmoral Stadium on Saturday week, the 18th of January.

It is also a historic fixture for two reasons for both clubs. The tie will be the first ever in what is the second oldest competition in association football history between Cove Rangers and Forfar Athletic. Secondly it will be the first fixture that the two clubs have played at the Balmoral Stadium where supporters will be present.

The only previous fixture between the sides at the ground opened in the summer of 2018 was a League1 clash in the truncated 2020/21 season when only 22 league games were completed due to covid restrictions and of course more importantly and very sadly no spectators were admitted to matches. For the record the game took place on Saturday November 7th, 2020, the home side recording a comfortable 3-0 success.

Of course the clubs have played many a pre-season friendly over the years and in fact ‘crossed swords’ in the early stages of this season at Station Park in a Premier Sports tie.

Station Park also played host to a few of the Aberdeenshire side’s league and challenge cup ties when they were in the transition stage of their move from Allan Park to their new home.

Back to Saturday week and one cannot emphasise enough how important the fixture is to both sides.

‘Loons’ officials certainly hope that quite a number of their fans will make the relatively short journey which is only around a 45 minute drive to lend their support. The ground itself is situated just off the Wellington Circle Roundabout just on the Granite City boundary coming from the south on the A92 road which heads on in the direction of Torry and Aberdeen Harbour.

Admission prices for the fixture have been agreed by the clubs as follows;-

Stand – Adults £17
Concessions (over 65’s and full time students) £10
Under 16’s £7

Ground – Adults £15
Concessions as above £9
Under 16’s £6

Under 12’s will be admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult or concession.

The Forfar Athletic Supporters Club are keen to run a supporters coach to the tie, see Supporters Club social media channels for further detail or contact any official at this Saturday’s home fixture against Elgin City.