Incredibly, this technically starts tomorrow!
We don't enter until the 4th Round (which is now in 'back' in its traditional January slot), but the draw for the opening stages is being held tomorrow at Hampden. Davie Moyes drawing out teams he'll never have heard of!

Interestingly, no 'first time' winner has retained the trophy since the 1870s.

To my knowledge, this seasons competition will have the most ever clubs with 92. And with 2 preliminary rounds scheduled, there are effectively 10 rounds of competition - again a record.
In the old North of Scotland Qualifying Cup, if I remember, the 16 Highland League teams had to win two games to reach the semi-finals, and qualification to the Scottish Cup.
Then (the Scottish Cup) had 4 rounds before the quarter-finals...so a total of 9 matches to win the whole thing! (sometimes even a bye in Round 1 was a possibility).

But this season's marathon means that when we enter, 5 of the 10 rounds will already have been played, and 60 of the 92 clubs will have been eliminated!

The 2 preliminary rounds are drawn tomorrow with the Scottish Amateur Cup winners involved for the first time - apparently a team called Harestanes from Kirkintilloch who play on a public park!

2nd Round draw (ties on 24th October)

Formartine United v Clyde

Brora Rangers v Arbroath

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale v Montrose

Elgin City v Spartans

Huntly v East Stirlingshire

Fort William v Cove Rangers

Stirling University v Queen’s Park

Nairn County v Wick Academy or Whitehill Welfare

East Kilbride v Forres Mechanics

Clachnacuddin v Linlithgow Rose

Turriff United v Fraserburgh

East Fife v Stirling Albion

Annan Athletic v Berwick Rangers

Edinburgh City v Buckie Thistle

Cumbernauld Colts v BSC Glasgow or Auchinleck Talbot

Inverurie Loco Works v Edinburgh University

Winnable home tie for Clach. Pity it clashes with our home league game against the Perth Saints.

 

Clyde

Arbroath

Montrose

Spartans

East Stirlingshire

Cove Rangers

Queen’s Park

Nairn County

Forres Mechanics

Linlithgow Rose

Turriff United

East Fife

Annan Athletic

Edinburgh City

Auchinleck Talbot

Inverurie Loco Works my picks for the next round, I can't see too many upsets happening.

 

Formartine

Arbroath

Montrose

Elgin

East Stirlingshire

Cove Rangers

Queen’s Park

Wick

East Kilbride

Linlithgow Rose

Turriff United

East Fife

Annan Athletic

Edinburgh City

Auchinleck Talbot

Inverurie Loco Works my picks for the next round, I can't see too many upsets happening.

My tuppence worth

Revised draw, after replays: Formartine United v Clyde

Brora Rangers v Arbroath

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale  v Montrose

Elgin City v Spartans

Huntly v East Stirlingshire

Fort William v Cove Rangers

Stirling University v Queen’s Park

Nairn County v Wick Academy

East Kilbride v Forres Mechanics

Clachnacuddin v Linlithgow Rose

Turriff United v Fraserburgh

East Fife v Stirling Albion

Annan Athletic v Berwick Rangers

Edinburgh City v Buckie Thistle

Cumbernauld Colts v Auchinleck Talbot

Inverurie Loco Works v Edinburgh University

This resumes on Saturday. Some interesting 'inter-league' match-ups... Formartine United v Clyde

Brora Rangers v Arbroath

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale  v Montrose

Elgin City v Spartans

Huntly v East Stirlingshire

Fort William v Cove Rangers

Stirling University v Queen’s Park

Nairn County v Wick Academy

East Kilbride v Forres Mechanics

Clachnacuddin v Linlithgow Rose

Turriff United v Fraserburgh

East Fife v Stirling Albion

Annan Athletic v Berwick Rangers

Edinburgh City v Buckie Thistle

Cumbernauld Colts v Auchinleck Talbot

Inverurie Loco Works v Edinburgh University

 

Formartine

Arbroath

Montrose

Elgin

East Stirlingshire

Cove Rangers

Queen’s Park

Wick

East Kilbride

Linlithgow Rose

Turriff United

East Fife

Annan Athletic

Edinburgh City

Auchinleck Talbot

Inverurie Loco Works my picks for the next round, I can't see too many upsets happening.

UThe 

My tuppence worth

3 wrong so far but delighted that Talbot were one of them...... :lol:

Yeah I was quite surprised at the score tbh. Maybe it'll show the junior fans they may be getting left behind by the lowland league. 

Yesterday's results:

Annan Athletic 4-1 Berwick Rangers
Brora Rangers 1-2 Arbroath
Clachnacuddin 1-3 Linlithgow Rose
Cumbernauld Colts 2-0 Auchinleck Talbot
East Fife 0-0 Stirling Albion
East Kilbride 1-1 Forres Mechanics
Edinburgh City 1-2 Buckie Thistle
Elgin City 1-0 Spartans
Formartine United 2-0 Clyde
Fort William P-P Cove Rangers
Huntly 2-1 East Stirlingshire
Inverurie Loco Works 2-1 Edinburgh University
Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 1-1 Montrose
Nairn County 2-2 Wick Academy
Stirling University 0-2 Queen's Park
Turriff United P-P Fraserburgh

Very good day for the Highland League teams, ensuring a good representation in the 3rd round. The SFA will announce tomorrow when the draw will take place. Thursday lunchtime is likely. This is the round before we enter, so theoretically, unless we're unlucky and are paired with one of our Premiership rivals, we will be playing one of these clubs.
In the hat for the 3rd round:

Championship
Falkirk
Greenock Morton
Livingston
Raith Rovers
Alloa Athletic
Dumbarton

League One
Peterhead
Ayr United
Cowdenbeath
Airdrieonians
Brechin City
Dunfermline Athletic
Stranraer
Stenhousemuir
Albion Rovers
Forfar Athletic

League Two
Queen's Park
Elgin City
Annan Athletic
Stirling Albion or East Fife
Arbroath

Highland League
Wick Academy or Nairn County
Buckie Thistle
Fort William or Cove Rangers
Turriff United or Fraserburgh
Huntly
Formartine United
Inverurie Loco Works

Lowland League
Cumbernauld Colts

Juniors
Linlithgow Rose

Unresolved
Montrose or Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
Forres Mechanics or East Kilbride

I have never been to Annan, the new Rock or Fortamine - I would take one of those. A trip to Fort William or Ayr otherwise 

Only Formartine, Turriff, Buckie or Peterhead would be new ones for me. Otherwise a wee trip to Elgin. Or Cliftonhill or Forfar or Bayview, something like that. Last time we played in Coatbridge was 9/11.

Airdrieonians v Brechin City

Albion Rovers v Greenock Morton

Ayr United v Dunfermline Athletic

Cowdenbeath v Arbroath

Dumbarton v Alloa Athletic

Elgin City v Raith Rovers

Falkirk v Turriff United or Fraserburgh

Formartine United v Fort William or Cove Rangers

Huntly v Montrose or Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

Inverurie Loco Works v Annan Athletic

Peterhead v Livingston

Queen's Park v Forfar Athletic

Stenhousemuir v Forres Mechanics or East Kilbride

Stirling Albion or East Fife v Cumbernauld Colts

Stranraer v Buckie Thistle Wick Academy or Nairn County v Linlithgow Rose

A mixed bag for the Highland League teams.
But 2 non-league teams certain to make the 'big' last-32 round when the 12 Premiership clubs enter (+ Hibs, Queen of the South, Rangers and St Mirren).

Ties are due on 28th November.
N.B. William Hill announced today they'll continue sponsoring the cup for at least 4 more years after this season.

A few teams from there I'd fancy us being paired against - to begin our defence of the cup.

• Formartine/Fort William/Cove
• Wick/Nairn/Linlithgow
• Inverurie/Annan
• Huntly/Montrose/Lothian Thistle

Results from yesterday:
Turriff 2-3 Fraserburgh
Wick 5-1 Nairn
Forres 2-3 East Kilbride

Airdrieonians v Brechin City

Albion Rovers v Greenock Morton

Ayr United v Dunfermline Athletic

Cowdenbeath v Arbroath

Dumbarton v Alloa Athletic

Elgin City v Raith Rovers

Falkirk v Fraserburgh

Formartine United v Fort William or Cove Rangers

Huntly v Montrose or Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

Inverurie Loco Works v Annan Athletic

Peterhead v Livingston

Queen's Park v Forfar Athletic

Stenhousemuir v East Kilbride

Stirling Albion or East Fife v Cumbernauld Colts

Stranraer v Buckie Thistle Wick Academy v Linlithgow Rose

This weeks results:
Fort William 0-4 Cove Rangers
Stirling Albion 1-0 East Fife
Montrose 1-2 (aet) Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

Final revised draw:

Airdrieonians v Brechin City

Albion Rovers v Greenock Morton

Ayr United v Dunfermline Athletic

Cowdenbeath v Arbroath

Dumbarton v Alloa Athletic

Elgin City v Raith Rovers

Falkirk v Fraserburgh

Formartine United v Cove Rangers

Huntly v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

Inverurie Loco Works v Annan Athletic

Peterhead v Livingston

Queen's Park v Forfar Athletic

Stenhousemuir v East Kilbride

Stirling Albion v Cumbernauld Colts

Stranraer v Buckie Thistle Wick Academy v Linlithgow Rose

The winners of the ties between LTHV and Huntly and Wick against Linlithgow would all be great away trips IMO.

Edited November 6, 20159 yr by Renegade

The winners of the ties between LTHV and Huntly and Wick against Linlithgow would all be great away tie IMO.

Have to say only Prestonfield (Linlithgow ) would appeal to me. A ground as good as any in the HL and a massive social club.

Huntly/Wick...... Meh.

LTHV- play at Saughton enclosure which is an absolute dump. Edinburgh Council facility.

I'd take Formartine though as I've never been. Also loads of our old haunts such as Cliftonhill and Cowdenbeath and Gayfield.

probably end up at St Mirren though.

Just thought I'd put the Sneckboy hat on for a second after something that was getting discussed on Pie&Bovril about watching your team at every ground in the League.

ICT have played at every ground in a competitive fixture except Annan, Dumbarton and Elgin and all of those are still in the Cup.

Personally I've never seen ICT play at those 3 or Peterhead or Berwick (I was on holiday at the time of the Berwick 28 and I was desperately trying to get the result of the shoot-out before I drove aboard the MV Isle of Lewis where the car deck had nothing but interference).

So 5 to go for me. Still probably get St Mirren though.

I am now up to three as well. I have been to Putridheid with the Caley and played there as well. But never with ICT. But are you referring to the New Rock Stadium as we have evidently played Dumbarton before - or is my memory truly fecked ?

Very impressive stats Mantis & IHE!

I can't see any record of us having previously played Dumbarton away.

We played at Boghead in a league game against Clydebank once but we missed Dumbarton on the way up the leagues so never played at the Rock. We also missed Berwick on the way up so only ever played them once in the LC.

I've seen the Caley at Recreation Park too Johndo but talking about Balmoor.

I may be wrong, but did we not play Annan away in the cup in the Steve Paterson days?  I was sure we horsed them about 7-1 or something as well with them taking the lead.

Nah that was at home and it was 8-1.

we also beat Whitehill Welfare 3-1, Queen's Park 2-0 and drew at Tannadice in round 4 before losing the replay 3-2. Those were the days.

Edited November 13, 20159 yr by TheMantis

Soccerbase is very good (now that we're an 'established' club) for our results, but still not wholly accurate.
There are a few 'mistakes', but I would still take Soccerbase above any other database - I consider it accurate, but with the following:

Errors and omissions from Soccerbase:

Challenge Cup 1994-95.  Round of 16.  Inverness CT 1-1 Dundee (aet). Dundee 4-3 pens

Challenge Cup 1995-96. 1^st  Rnd. Inverness CT 1-2 Alloa Athletic

Challenge Cup 1996-97. 1^st  Rnd. Livingston 1-2 Inverness CT

Challenge Cup 1996-97. Round of 16.  Stirling Albion 3-1 Inverness CT

Error Scottish Cup 1996-97.  2^nd Rnd. Actual - Stranraer 1-1 Inverness CT not 0-0

Scottish Cup 1996-97.  2^nd Rnd replay.  Inverness CT 0-0 Stranraer (aet). ICT 4-3 pens

Scottish Cup 1997-98. 3^rd Round. Inverness CT 8-1 Annan Athletic