Rangers are set to play Highland League side Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup fourth round in a David v Goliath tie at Ibrox.
The Gers will be delighted with the Scottish Cup draw, which pairs the Ibrox side at home against lower league opposition on either the 18th or 19th of January.
With Rangers set to head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Europa League duties the following Thursday (23/01), it’s pretty much a dream scenario for Philippe Clement.
But it’s also a dream scenario for Fraserburgh FC, who get to face the biggest club in the country and receive a welcome cash boost in the process.
That’s not been lost on the Highland club’s manager Mark Cowie, who was in charge the last time the two teams met in 2018.
Josh Windass scored a hat-trick as a Graeme Murty led Rangers ran out 3-0 winners in a rescheduled midweek clash at Bellslea in Fraserburgh.
Fraserburgh manager ‘delighted’ by Scottish Cup draw
“Wow – we’ve been lucky enough to do it once and now we’re away to do it again!” Cowie told the Press and Journal.
”This time the stresses won’t quite be the same for our board because it’s not at Bellslea and we’ve got a day to look forward to at Ibrox.
“I would say it’s a once lifetime thing – but we’ve been luckily enough to get it twice! We’ve had three tough home games and we’ve managed to get through them to reach this stage.
“I’m delighted for the players, because there’s a lot of them getting towards the end of their careers.
“How many folk can say they’ve played Rangers twice in a competitive game, once at home and once at Ibrox? I’m delighted for them.
“It’s a great thing to look forward to. It’s a reward for Finlay Noble (club secretary and former chairman), the new chairman Michael Murray and all the board members.
“They all do their utmost to ensure the club gets by season to season. We’ve done the hard work to get here and now we can enjoy it.”
Fraserburgh reflect on ‘stressful’ Rangers visit
Fraserburgh have extra cause for celebration after drawing Rangers in the Scottish Cup again because this time the tie is at Ibrox.
Last time out, Fraserburgh hosted Rangers and the game was complicated by postponements and associated costs for a ground not equipped for the intrigue and gargantuan size of Rangers.
Rangers were initially supposed to play Fraserburgh on Sunday 21st January 2018 but due to a cold snap, the match was rearranged for Wednesday 29th.
This came as a bitter disappointment to Fraserburgh, who’d obviously shelled out for all the necessary measures to embrace Rangers over the weekend.
These sorts of Scottish Cup ties are always best played on a weekend when it can be an occasion for the entire town.
Whilst Fraserburgh’s modest home would go on to host the Gers in a memorable midweek tie, this time around the Fraserburgh board won’t have anywhere near the same amount of stress.
That’s because all the Highland League side will have to do is hire a bus with Rangers handed the role of Scottish Cup hosts this time around.
Fraserburgh’s manager Mark Cowie has also urged Rangers fans to come out and support the game, with the Highland club hoping for a much-needed financial boost.
”The game in 2018 was an unbelievable occasion for the town and the club, but there was also a lot of stress for the board,” explains Cowie.
”People think it was big money coming in, but there were also a lot of outgoings and a lot of things the club had to do to ensure we could host the game.
“Everything was planned and then the game was postponed and we had to reschedule.
“There was a lot of stress involved, but with this tie we won’t have any of that stress – we’ll have to organise a bus and that’ll be about it!
”We earned the chance to be in the draw and we’ve been lucky enough to get an unbelievable draw.
“I’m not daft enough to think it will be the same game as it was at Bellslea. Bellslea has got a lot of advantages for us because of how tight and cramped it is.
”We’re away to play at Ibrox, which is a different kettle of fish – my players have played in front of 1,500 or 2,000 before. But now, hopefully, we’ll be playing in front of a massive crowd.
“Hopefully the Rangers fans come out and support the game. Times are hard for every club, so hopefully it’s a bumper crowd and a good payday for the club.”
