Royal return after time out of league

Harthill Royal will compete in the 2017-18 season after a two-year absence from the Junior game.

The club had been set by a series of financial troubles as well as struggling to field a team at times before deciding to take a break to re-group.

The Gibbshill Park side will make their return after confirming their intention to re-join the East Region at a meeting on Tuesday night.

Their first fixture will be at home to Kirkcaldy YM on August 5. Their visitors finished last term bottom of the South Division.

Meanwhile, the first several weeks of fixtures for the new Junior season, along with the first round draw for the East of Scotland Cup have been announced.

The new season kicks-off on August 5 with midweek fixtures taking place on Wednesday August 9 and 16.

The opening set of fixtures sees Broxburn Athletic welcome Jeanfield Swifts and Linlithgow Rose travel to Penicuik Athletic in the Superleague.

Blackburn United’s Premier League debut will be at home to Downfield, with Fauldhouse United welcoming Dalkeith Thistle to Park View.

West Lothian’s two other Premier League sides, Bathgate Thistle and Whitburn, will begin the season away to Haddington Athletic and Kirriemuir Thistle respectively.

There’s a West Lothian derby in the first weekend of fixtures in the South Division with Pumpherston, who narrowly missed out on promotion last term, hosting West Calder United.

Relegated Armadale Thistle start their promotion bid away at Rosyth while Livingston United host Crossgates Primrose and Stoneyburn are at home to Easthouses Lily MW.

The Wednesday night fixtures on August 9 and 16 throw up some mouthwatering derby matches.

Bathgate Thistle host Blackburn United and Whitburn welcome Fauldhouse United to Central Park on July 9 while the following weeks sees Blackburn host Whitburn and Fauldhouse at home to Bathgate Thistle while West Lothian’s two Superleague teams meet at Albyn Park with Broxburn tackling Linlithgow.

The East of Scotland First Round draw threw up some interesting ties with South Division outfits West Calder United and Armadale Thistle hoping to cause upsets at home to top tier sides Carnoustie Panmure and Forfar West End.

Broxburn Athletic, Livingston United, Whitburn, Fauldhouse United and Pumpherston have all been given home ties against Oakley United, Craigroyston, Thornton Hibs, Easthouses Lily MW and Edinburgh United respectively.

Bathgate Thistle have been given a challenging away trip to Superleague side Penicuik Athletic while Linlithgow Rose visit Tayport, Harthill Royal travel to Blairgowrie, Stoneyburn are away to Luncarty and Blackburn United make the trip north to face Scone Thistle.

Those ties will take place on Saturday, September 2.