Hartley eager for Hibs clash with Cove all set to go live
● League 1 club to be TV hosts for first time when they face Premiership side
Balmoral Park will host live TV coverage for the first time when Cove Rangers open their domestic season by entertaining Hibernian in Group B of the Betfred Cup.
The delayed start to the campaign means Scotland’s lowerleague clubs have a long wait before getting back into serious action.
But when the fixtures were released yesterday for the Betfred Cup, the Aberdeen club were handed a tasty opener against Premiership opponents who have started their own campaign in top form.
Jack Ross’s Hibs team are unbeaten in their league campaign so far, and currently trail table-topping Rangers only on goal difference, having won three and drawn one of their first four fixtures.
Cove, who have only featured once on live TV since becoming an SPFL club – an away match against Welsh club Connah’s Quay in the Irn Bru Challenge Cup – will host Hibs on Saturday 10 October for a 12:30pmkick-off whichistobe broadcast on Premier Sports, and manager Paul Hartley, himself a former Hibs player, welcomes the challenge.
“It’s a tough start for us against top quality opposition but one the players will really look forward to,” said Hartley.
“The fact it’s also being shown live on television will add to the occasion and is great for the profile of our club.
“We are just happy to finally have some fixtures to focus on as we get closer to the stage where we will be able to return to training.”
Hearts will kick off their season at home to Inverness on Tuesday 6 October in a game which will also be broadcast live by Premier Sports.
Kelty Hearts will make their debut in the competition on the same night when they take on St Johnstone at home.
Hibernian will open their campaign at home to Highland League champions Brora Rangers the following evening, with Dundee United travelling to Brechin and St Mirren hosting Partick Thistle at the same time. Hibs will complete a run of three fixtures in six days with a trip to Forfar Athletic.
The following month they will face Dundee in what could be a top-of-the-group clash at Easter Road. That game will also be broadcast live by Premier Sports.
Hearts will be shown by the broadcaster twice during the group stage. The first will be the Inverness game before they are screened live again a week later, again at Tynecastle, against Raith Rovers. They also have trips to Cowdenbeath and East Fife.
Edinburgh City’s campaign begins with consecutive home games against Livingston and Stenhousemuir before travelling to face Alloa Athletic and Airdrieonians.
Other notable fixtures include Dunfermline v Falkirk (Friday 9 October), Dundee United v Kelty (13 October), St Johnstone v Dundee United (10 November), St Mirren v Morton (11 November) and the Lanarkshire derby between Hamilton and Albion Rovers on 14 November.
The group stage concludes with the Hibs v Dundee game with the second-round draw taking place immediately afterwards.