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| Thursday, 11 July, 2002, 13:40 GMT 14:40 UK Airdrie Utd in historic draw Hamilton, Gretna and Airdrie prepare for the cup The Bell's Challenge Cup played host to a historic double as the name of Airdrie United was drawn out the hat for the first time in Scottish football - paired with Raith Rovers. And fellow league newcomers Gretna will go straight to the national stadium, Hampden Park, to face the oldest club in Scottish senior football, Queen's Park. Clydebank are still hopeful of preventing the Second Division club's administrators selling them to Airdrie United. But the Scottish Football League on Thursday were satisfied enough to have the new club granted a first-round tie on 6 August at Excelsior Stadium home of last season's winners, Airdrieonians.
Gretna beat Airdrie United in the vote to take up the vacant spot left after the liquidation of Airdrieonians, who had finished second in Division One. Facing Queen's Park will give the former English Unibond League outfit a taste of the standard they will face in the Third Division as the Spiders finished bottom last season. St Johnstone, relegated from the Scottish Premier League, will play host to Hamilton Academical providing the Second Division club survive the latest threat to their own existence. The draw for the competition for clubs outwith the SPL produced three local derbies. Ayr United travel down the west coast to face Stranraer, Arbroath host Angus rivals Forfar Athletic and Falkirk will make the short trip to face Stenhousemuir. South of Scotland side Queen of the South have been handed the longest possible journey and face a trip to the Highlands to play Peterhead. First Division sides Alloa Athletic and Clyde both received byes. League Cup first-round draw: St Johnstone v Hamilton Academical Montrose v Albion Rovers Arbroath v Forfar Athletic Berwick Rangers v Inverness Caledonian Thistle Airdrie United v Raith Rovers Morton v Stirling Albion Queen's Park v Gretna St Mirren v East Stirlingshire Cowdenbeath v Ross County Dumbarton v East Fife Elgin City v Brechin City Stranraer v Ayr United Peterhead v Queen of the South Stenhousemuir v Falkirk. Byes: Alloa Athletic and Clyde. All ties to be played on Tuesday, 6 August | Top Scotland stories now: Links to more Scotland stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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