MATCH POSTPONED AGAIN AFTER PITCH INSPECTION WATERLOGGED PITCH

6th December -

Game to be played at Haddington on 10th December 7:45pm.

Scottish Cup Underdog Day

It's a first for the Caley Jags as we face Lowland League side Tranent in the 3rd Round of the Scottish Cup in front of a sell out crowd at Foresters Park. Unfortunately for dogs, they won't be able to see this one as they have been banned due to the expected sold out crowd. Our Middle East correspondent is The Mantis who gives us this insight into what we can expect when we get to Foresters Park to meet the Belters.

An ex-mining town of about 12000, about 6 miles from the Edinburgh boundary and now bypassed by the A1. A working class town compared to the more douce Haddington where Moff and RiG live. People from Tranent are traditionally known as Belters and this nickname has transferred to the team. The Battle of Prestonpans (Johnnie Cope and all that) was just along the road.
In common with a few other mining towns in the Lothians, Tranent has an annual Gala week and crowning of the Gala Queen.

Notable connections with ICT are Ian Black, whose father and grandfather were also footballers, who played 132 times for us between 2004 and 2009, and Steven Hislop, who was assistant manager at Tranent.

Thanks to Mantis for this preview 👍

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Match/Ticket/Info

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The team was formerly named Tranent Juniors and won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1935. In 2018 they moved from the Juniors to the new pyramid setup and were promoted to the Lowland League in 2022. They currently lie 3rd, equal on points with Bonnyrigg, and 4 points behind leaders Clydebank. The club's motto, which you will see writ large at our end, is "Lie Forrit" which means roughly "go forward". The match is a sellout at about 1350 of which we have been allocated 400. We will be entering from the main road where the ground is up a short alley. We will be on the uncovered grassy banking while the home fans will be under cover down the side.
Parking shouldn't be a big problem. There is also an Asda right across the road where I have parked before. There are a few pubs in the town and I wouldn't be too fussed about them but apparently Whispers, just along the High Street, is connected to the club.

⏰ Gates open: 2:00pm
🎟️ 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐓 - No cash gate
🔴 Home Supporters:
Access via both the High Street Gate and Berts Gate
🔵 Away Supporters:
Access via Top Gate only - entrance from the High Street
🥧 Pie Hut:
Open to both sets of fans
Cash and card accepted

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This was our last squad in the 1-1 draw at Alloa which showed three changes in the starting XI from our slick win over Queen of the South last weekend on the telly.

Last 6 in League1

1. ICTFC 2-2 Kelty

2. P'Head 0-1 ICTFC

3. ICTFC 1-0 Monty

4. ICTFC 1-0 Cove

5. ICTFC 4-0 QotS

6. Alloa 1-1 ICTFC

Just to reinforce the ticket situation. This game is currently sold out. No tickets will be on sale at the ground.

It was a less than impressive performance at Alloa but we still came away with a point against one of the better organised teams in the league who will no doubt be challenging for the top slot. Certainly a banker for a play off position.

Our pedigree in the Scottish Cup has been great over the years from non league right up to winning the Scottish Cup in 2015 and again reaching the final a few years ago where we went down to Celtic.

However, we are now the ones facing the potential banana skin whereas we were normally the underdog, a position we were more comfortable with. This time, it's Tranent who will fancy their chances. Beware the underdog, the only dog allowed in the stadium this weekend.

Tranent beat Caledonian Braves 2-1 last weekend with this squad at their disposal. Cammy McKinley opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break, drilling in from 10 yards following a long throw. The Braves squared the game early in the second half before a 94th minute header by Danny Handling secured the points. Euan Bauld was MotM in this one.

Tranent got to the third round by beating Pollock 3-0 in the first round and disposing of Dundee North End by the same score in round two.

More from Mantis: The manager is Robbie Horn, who took Bonnyrigg into the SPFL.
They have a few players with SPFL experience. Dean Brett (#14) is the right wingback and at 32 has a lot of experience, having made 149 appearances for Cowdenbeath before getting sacked for gambling offences and stepping down to the LL with Bonnyrigg.
Midfielder Danny Handling made 55 appearances for Hibs. They also have Reece Mullen, on loan from Alloa.
Top scorers up till present date are Harry Girdwood (#12) with 12 and Cameron McKinley(#9) with 11.
Mantis saw them once this season when they were hammered 5-0 by Clydebank although they had 10 men for most of the game.

Last week they defeated Caledonian Braves 2-1 with the following team. They are having a decent season and wins breed confidence of which there is plenty around Foresters Park at the moment, and rightly so!

1	Kelby Mason
2	Sam Young
3	Robbie McIntyre
8	Sam Jones
9	Cameron McKinley
12	Harry Girdwood
15	Dean Brett
19	Josh Grigor
21	Ben Miller
23	Conor Doan
24	Euan Bauld

Tranent v Bankies

Pie Forrit

If it gets postponed on Monday it will be rescheduled for Wednesday.

The game at Dumbarton is put back a week.

This must all be a risk to our preparations and readiness for two important league games against Hamilton and Stenhousemuir.

Edited December 6, 2025Dec 6 by Robert

2 hours ago, tm4tj said:

Presumably the memories are unforgettable because there are very few of them to remember

So what do you do in these circumstances? Training today? Training on Sunday? Light training on Monday morning?

Surely can't do nothing from Friday until Monday evening.

Ohhh yes they can...

Well well well!

GAME OFF AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN

Following a pitch inspection earlier today, tomorrow’s (8th December)

@ScottishCup Third Round tie against @ICTFC

has unfortunately been postponed due to ongoing drainage issues caused by recent heavy rainfall. Despite the best efforts of everyone at the club over the past week - including the use of pitch covers and around-the-clock work from our ground and volunteer team - the pitch remains unplayable. It’s important to note that we have not had to postpone a single match at Foresters Park since 2019. Our team has worked tirelessly, in extremely challenging weather, to try and ensure this fixture could go ahead - reflecting the pride and professionalism shown week in, week out by those behind the scenes. With more heavy rain forecast overnight and into tomorrow, the decision has been made to postpone the tie in the interest of safety. The next date set is Wednesday and a statement will be released tomorrow regarding the fixture. We thank all supporters - both home and away - for your understanding and continued support.

If the pitch is that bad and not just a weather problem, the SFA should intervene to ensure an alternative ground is on standby on Wednesday to host the game.

That said Inverness Thistle's match against Falkirk became famous in Scotland because the game was postponed 29 times, It was originally supposed to be played on 6 January in Inverness at Kingsmills Park due to ice and snow, and was eventually played on 22 February once it was deemed suitable, where Falkirk won the game 4-0, and were eventually put out by Dundee 3 days later,^] though it was a few postponements short of beating the record of 33 games by Airdrieonians and Stranraer set 16 years earlier due to similar circumstances during the Winter of 1962–63 in the United Kingdom where football matches were called off due to snowstorms.

Game off - again! What next?

It's a shameless ploy by Tranent to make it into the 5th round draw.

It doesn’t sound like it will be playable any time soon so moving it to another ground where it is guaranteed to go ahead on Wednesday would be sensible.

I do worry all this will hamper our preparations for important league games, whilst East Fife will have missed a good payday on Saturday and Dumbarton have been messed around too.

Would we be allowed to host it?

This tie seems to be cursed! Just something about the postponements makes me uncomfortable. I’m old school and the older I get the more the strength of the hex becomes for me. If we get through this round Lothian remains a foreboding menace for me!!!

bc

Edited December 7, 2025Dec 7 by big cherly

2 hours ago, tm4tj said:

"It’s important to note that we have not had to postpone a single match at Foresters Park since 2019."

It's not important. It's completely irrelevant.

Having seen the weather forecast, I can't see the match going ahead on Wednesday either.

This farce could seriously derail our season.

5 minutes ago, Robert said:

Would we be allowed to host it?

I thought of that, too, but don't forget that it's a sell-out, so Tranent would have to refund everyone.

I could see it moving nearby - eg Preston Athletic or Newtongrange Star - which would minimise the refunds. But not Inverness.

8 minutes ago, Robert said:

Would we be allowed to host it?

Ain’t going to happen!! Forget it! 

bc

Section 20 of the rules indicate we keep trying on Mondays and Wednesdays until the game gets played:

https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/13230/mens-scottish-cup-rules-2025-26.pdf

Section 10.3 refers to what happens if a club deems its ground unsuitable. Tranent potentially could do that if they don’t see it being playable soon and the SFA will determine the venue.

If they don’t, this could go on and on!

The impact on our preparations for league games is a major concern.

Edited December 7, 2025Dec 7 by Robert

1 hour ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

It's not important. It's completely irrelevant.

Having seen the weather forecast, I can't see the match going ahead on Wednesday either.

This farce could seriously derail our season.

It’s not irrelevant as they’ve been getting needless stick off our fans.

2 hours ago, ICTPaisley said:

It’s not irrelevant as they’ve been getting needless stick off our fans.

Folk forgetting where weve come from. I remember the absolute excitement when Caley qualified for the SC. Tranent were desperate to get these games on

Maybe we should ask Dumbarton if they fancy a game. One fixture less.

Never thought I'd see ICT play in my "hometown".

I understand Haddington is a grass pitch so hopefully there’s no risk to it going ahead.

Congratulations to Scott Kellacher on his third Manager of the Month Award this season.

19 minutes ago, Robert said:

I understand Haddington is a grass pitch so hopefully there’s no risk to it going ahead.

Right now I'm in Falkirk, with monsoon-like rain. And a yellow rain warning across the Central Belt today.

Fingers crossed, though.

Does that mean bigger capacity and more tickets now available??

7 minutes ago, bishbashbosh said:

Does that mean bigger capacity and more tickets now available??

Hard to find accurate info online. I have seen anything from 500 (FootballGroundMap) to 1500 (Wikipedia/Transfermarkt) quoted and the official website for Haddington simply doesn't have a number. East Lothian Courier does note the new stand built in 2024 holds 158. Tranent have said there will be no cash gates on the night, but that all existing tickets remain valid so with their capacity at 2000+ then its going to be in that range I would think, perhaps lower as they will hedge bets that not everyone can make a Wednesday night fixture in East Lothian.

so, to answer the question - no, no more tickets available other than those already out there but site users can feel free to start a ticket thread looking for or trying to get rid of your existing tickets.

1 hour ago, Scotty said:

Hard to find accurate info online. I have seen anything from 500 (FootballGroundMap) to 1500 (Wikipedia/Transfermarkt) quoted and the official website for Haddington simply doesn't have a number. East Lothian Courier does note the new stand built in 2024 holds 158.

I would say there's more room as Tranent has one end closed off.
I think they're daft not to sell more as I know plenty neutrals who have had their interest sparked by this tie. Just checked Fanbase but nowt available.
I wonder if they'll still segregate us. There's a covered terrace on the entrance side and the new seated stand is on the far side so they may give that to the home fans. The pavilion and all the other stuff is behind the goals and usually you can walk all the way round.
Parking is rubbish though and it's a wee bit out of town but walkable, accessed by a narrow country road. I would have played it at Musselburgh.

Edited December 9, 2025Dec 9 by The Mantis