Auchinleck Talbot boss on dream Scottish Cup draw against Celtic | OneFootball

Auchinleck Talbot manager Tommy Sloan has described his club’s Scottish Cup tie against Celtic as being the biggest cup-tie in his long career. The Ayrshire junior side got the dream home draw when the big guns entered the hat at the fourth round stage…

Dumbarton v Auchinleck Talbot , Scottish Cup Third Round at Marbill Coaches Stadium in Dumbarton on 29 November 2025 Auchinleck Talbot’s players celebrate with their fans. Photo IMAGO Andy Scott

Auchinleck Talbot has yet to decide whether the cup tie is going to be played at their 4000 capacity Beechwood Park or perhaps maximise their takings by moving the game to either Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park or Ayr United’s Somerset Park. Killie has a home draw of their own, versus Dundee at Rugby Park whereas Ayr United are away in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup with a tough task against Dundee United at Tannadice, with the ties scheduled for the weekend of 17 January.

The 61 year-old Auchinleck Talbot has won the Junior Cup seven times and is realistic enough to know that is his side’s best chance of collecting silverware in a cup competition this season. However taking on Celtic in the Scottish Cup is going to be a career highlight for Tommy Sloan.

Dumbarton v Auchinleck Talbot , Scottish Cup Third Round at Marbill Coaches Stadium in Dumbarton on 29 November 2025. Auchinleck fans celebrate with their team. Photo IMAGO Andy Scott

Auchinleck Talbot hammered Dumbarton 4-0 in the third round at the weekend to set up the tie with the Scottish Cup’s most successful club – Celtic have lifted the old trophy on 42 occasions in our unbroken history Sloane has been talking about the draw and also the task he now faces keeping his players focused as they await until the middle of next month to face Celtic.

“You don’t get any bigger than that. It’s great for the club, with the publicity and whatnot, it’s great for the players especially, playing against Celtic, who last week beat Feyenoord away in Europe,” the Auchinleck Talbot manager said, as reported by STV.

“It is the biggest tie I have been involved in, there is no question of that. They are the champions of Scotland.

“To be honest, the Junior Cup is one we can win. That’s the most important competition for me whereas, we love being in the Scottish Cup but we know we are not winning it. I am realistic about it. The one we need to win is the Junior Cup, and we have had good success in it.

“We have a load of games before then. I will need to keep on to the players, that we need to try to win these games. It’s not a case of taking it easy. We need to guard against that.

“Hopefully the (Celtic) game is an incentive for them and we can keep the form up.”

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