Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was back in familiar surroundings at Hampden Park on Sunday night as he made the draw for the First Round of the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup.
In the 150th anniversary edition of the famous competition, the Scottish FA are celebrating those who have made a big impact on the cup – a category into which Gordon indisputably falls, having lifted the iconic trophy three times and reached the final on a further two occasions.
He joined host Gordon Duncan to draw the 30 Round One ties that will take place on the weekend of Saturday, 23 September.
The First Round sees the 26 winners from the Preliminary Rounds joined sides from the Lowland League and the Highland League.
Among the sides joining at this stage are Brora Rangers, who stunned Gordon's side Hearts in 2021. They start this time around by hosting Berwick Rangers, who famously knocked out Rangers in the 1967 edition of the Scottish Cup.
Lowland League table-toppers East Kilbride start with a home tie against Whitehill Welfare, while Highland League leaders Buckie Thistle travel to take on Tayport.
Darvel, conquerors of Aberdeen last season, play Bo'ness United.
University of Stirling were another side who enjoyed success in 2022/2023 and they will face Albion Rovers in a repeat of last season's Third Round clash.
Auchinleck Talbot - the highest scorers in Preliminary Round Two - travel to St Andrews United.
After conducting the draw, Craig Gordon reflected on his memories of winning the trophy for the first time in 2006 against Gretna.
He said: "I didn’t drop any balls doing the draw, which was the main thing. I was worried about messing it up but it went well and it’s great to kick off the competition, especially in its 150th year.
“My dad played as a goalkeeper for Civil Service Strollers and he played in the Scottish Cup for them so I’ve sent them on their travels in the First Round. Hopefully they can come through that tough away match against Camelon.
“I remember winning my first Scottish Cup back in 2006 and going to a penalty shoot-out against a team a division below in Gretna. It was a difficult afternoon, going all the way to penalties after a long, hard season but thankfully we managed to prevail. I managed to save one penalty and one went over the bar I think.
“It was more a sense of relief winning that one when you’re expected to win. The fairytale was there for them and it was up to us to spoil that. That brings its own pressures and thankfully we managed to get it done in the end, but it was a bit too close for comfort."
The Scotland stopper had a couple years out of the game through injury at the midpoint of his career, before signing for Celtic where he would go on to win the Scottish Cup on a further two occasions.
The first of these victories came against Aberdeen in 2017, where Tom Rogic scored a dramatic last-gasp winner to secure a domestic treble.
Gordon said: “To get back to that level after being out and probably improve on where I was before and come back even stronger, it was beyond my wildest dreams at that stage.
“It was a fantastic season in 2017 and to come back and go on to win the Scottish Cup again was something I could not have dreamt of.
"Winning the invincible treble against Aberdeen and us scoring in the last minute – it doesn't get any better than that in terms of performance levels throughout the season.
“I didn’t have any energy to knee slide but I just dropped to my knees when he scored – just realising that we had finally managed it.
“The pressure had been on leading in to the last few weeks of the season to remain unbeaten and Aberdeen gave us a great game that day. They took the lead and we had to come from behind so it was everything you could want from a final: great memories and they’ll always hold a special place in my heart.
"I’ve had a few disappointments as well along the way, more recently, in losing twice in the final but overall, it’s been a fantastic competition and hopefully I’m not finished with it quite yet."
Gordon is continuing his recovery from a serious leg injury sustained in December while playing for Hearts, but he will be cheering on Scotland as Steve Clarke's side take on Cyprus and England in a double header this month.
He added: “The England game is a huge showpiece event with it being the 150th anniversary which is brilliant but for us to look towards qualifying for another major tournament, we need to win the first game in Cyprus.
“It will be a tough game, a warm place to go and it will be a battle in the conditions, but this team has been fantastic for a number of years now.
“We have to go out there and try to win this one and if we can it will go an awful long way towards securing one of the top two spots to qualify for the summer.
“I’m sure the boys will be very excited to get together and meet up again. The atmosphere within the squad is tremendous and I’m sure the boys will be right up for it and looking forward to it.”
Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup First Round Draw
Banks O’Dee v Dalbeattie Star
Bo’ness United v Darvel
Brechin City v Rothes
Broomhill v Cumbernauld Colts
Brora Rangers v Berwick Rangers
Broxburn Athletic v Nairn County
Caledonian Braves v Fraserburgh
Camelon Juniors v Civil Service Strollers
Clachnacuddin v Inverurie Loco Works
Cowdenbeath v Linlithgow Rose
Culter v Deveronvale
Dalkeith Thistle v Clydebank
Dundonald Bluebell v Kilwinning Rangers
Dunipace v Cumnock Juniors
East Kilbride v Whitehill Welfare
East Stirlingshire v Huntly
Edinburgh University v Dunbar United
Formartine United v Threave Rovers
Gala Fairydean Rovers v Strathspey Thistle
Golspie Sutherland v Forres Mechanics
Keith v Luncarty
Lossiemouth v Beith Juniors
Musselburgh Athletic v Gretna 2008
Penicuik Athletic v Pollok
St. Andrews United v Auchinleck Talbot
Tayport v Buckie Thistle
Tranent v Hutchison Vale
Turriff United v Sauchie Juniors
University of Stirling v Albion Rovers
Wick Academy v Jeanfield Swifts