East Kilbride’s twitter account went Scottish Cup crazy after they were potentially paired with Celtic in the fifth round draw of the competition.
Saturday’s fourth round tie with Lothian Thistle/Hutchie Vale was postponed due to weather conditions in the new town with the tie now scheduled for next Wednesday at the K Park inside Calderglen Country Park.
The battle of the Lowland League clubs will take on extra significance with the winners assured of a £100,000 pay day if the match is shown live on television.
Celtic have played friendlies in each of the last two pre-seasons at the K Park with youth team defender Josh Kerr currently on loan to East Kilbride with another former Celt, Liam Gormley also in Billy Ogilvie’s squad.
Reacting to the draw, Gormley, who scored the winning goal in the 2011 SFA Youth Cup Final tweeted: “Absolutely delighted to have the chance to play @celticfc after 5 years being away! Massive game against Lothian thistle now! Buzzing.”
Absolutely delighted to have the chance to play @celticfc after 5 years being away! Massive game against Lothian thistle now! Buzzing ??????
— Liam Gormley (@liamgormley67) January 11, 2016
Playing things down a little the official club twitter account said: “East Kilbride or @lthvf have been at home to @celticfc ! In the William Hill Scottish Cup!”
REMEMBER The 5th round Scottish Cup draw is live on @SkySportsNewsHQ from 6.15pm with Gary Anderson & Brian Laudrup pic.twitter.com/kDPQuK02Ez
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 11, 2016
Midfielder Anton Brady tweeted: “Great draw , but we have a massive game before that next week.”
In the second round of the Scottish Cup East Kilbride won a replay away to Forres Mechanics then used the same route to get past Stenhousemuir to claim a place in the fourth round draw.
Founded in 2010 East Kilbride joined the Lowland League in 2013 and finished last season in third place behind champions Edinburgh City.
After the draw was made EK chairman Mark Horner mentioned that if they were to get through they would hope to play the match in the town. With one stand holding 500 supporters that seems unlikely with the demand for complimentary tickets among the home squad likely to exceed supply.
Switching the match to Hamilton or Motherwell seems a more likely option- if EK can get past Lothian Thistle/Hutchie Vale.
East Kilbride are a completely different club to East Kilbride Thistle who won the Junior Cup in 1983.
East Kilbride is now on the map.