Scottish Cup shocktroops Darvel have warned Aberdeen they’ll be keeping their fourth round cracker at tiny Recreation Park as they look to squeeze the life out the Dons.
The West of Scotland Premier League club pulled the plumb draw against the Pittodrie outfit as reward for their 5-2 dismantling of League One high fliers Montrose. Incredibly, for Aberdeen it’s a first cup tie against non-league opposition in almost 52 years since a 5-0 win over Elgin City who were then a Highland League club.
For Darvel though it’s the biggest game in the club’s 133-year existence. Boss Mick Kennedy revealed the Ayrshire club could have cashed in on the glamour tie by moving it to nearby Rugby Park thanks to his chairman John Gall’s close ties with Killie supremo Billy Bowie. But that would play right into the hands of Jim Goodwin ’s side with Kennedy desperate to make life as uncomfortable as possible at their tidy - but cramped - home ground which has a capacity of just over 2000.
Kennedy said: “The game will go ahead at Recreation Park. I spoke to the chairman last night and we decided to keep it at our home ground. We could have gone to Rugby Park because John is good pals with Billy Bowie at Kilmarnock.
“But we need to try and manage the dynamics of the game as best we can. If we can make the environment as uncomfortable as possible then it can only assist us in trying to unsettle Aberdeen.
“To be honest our surface is one of the best in the country. We have put so much work into it.
“But it’s the size which Aberdeen won’t be used to, senior parks are much bigger. And we need to try and take advantage.”
Darvel will coin it in when the Dons come to town and it could get even better for the sixth-tier side if the tie is chosen to be televised. Kennedy, who took over three years ago and led the club to the West of Scotland Premier title last season only to lose out on promotion to the Lowland League in a play-off with Tranent, admits it could prove to be the catalyst for a new era.
Three years ago Darvel were still plying their trade in the junior set-up. But now they have eyes on a surge to the SPFL Kennedy said: “Aberdeen coming to town will be a momentous occasion.
“If you asked the club two years ago when we entered the pyramid system then the plan was to progress through the leagues and try to build some momentum in the community and a vehicle that was sustainable. But I don’t think in anyone’s wildest dreams you’d have said we would be playing Aberdeen at home in the Scottish Cup.
“For Darvel fans it’s what dreams are made of. It’s a huge day for the town. And for us it’s big in developing more community engagement and getting more fans behind us. It’s going to play a significant role in the club’s future.
“We are speaking to the council to try and increase the 2,200 capacity slightly for the game. That might mean a temporary stand, I’m not sure.
“It’s at an early stage but we want to maximise the occasion because I would imagine Aberdeen will bring a sizeable crowd with them. I don’t know Jim Goodwin but I do know his brother in law, Mick Oliver, very well.
“Maybe he can give us a bit of inside knowledge. But in all seriousness I’m sure Aberdeen and Jim will give us a bit of respect coming down here. Everybody is looking forward to it.
“I personally would rather have a winnable tie. But it will be a fantastic occasion for the town and the club and my biggest concern now is trying to keep the players focused on our league for the next two months!”
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