Boss says national tests constantly changing for Nairn County as they prepare of Scottish Cup first round clash with Drumchapel United
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Ronnie Sharp believes facing teams from other leagues in the Scottish Cup is an ever-evolving challenge for the likes of Nairn County.
Nairn host Drumchapel United in the first round proper tomorrow afternoon, with the West of Scotland First Division outfit side having qualified for the Scottish Cup by winning the East, South and West of Scotland Cup Winners Shield.
Formed as an amateur club in 2001 and becoming a founding member of the West of Scotland Football League in 2020, Drumchapel have been allowed to enter the Scottish Cup by the same process that saw North Caledonian League champions Invergordon compete for the first time.
Their involvement are further examples of the constantly changing landscape of Scottish football.
Promotion and relegation at tiers below the SPFL has led to plenty of movement between divisions, with many clubs reassessing their priorities in a bid to move up the pyramid, or avoid dropping down it.
That means the sense of unknown at Station Park, that would already have been prevalent for Nairn facing a team outside the Highland League, has been ramped up to new heights – but Sharp says that challenge is one the Wee County always relish.
“The Scottish Cup is always a challenge,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter who you get, it’s always totally different. That’s the beauty of it, the other leagues are changing all the time now.
“You’ve got new teams in all the time – beforehand you knew the same teams, how they played and what’s going on, but there’s relegation and promotion all over now so the whole thing is changing.
“The Scottish Cup is no different, and it’s one for the club where if you can be successful in it, financially it’s very good. That’s one of the main things, and it can be a bit of prestige if you get through.
“Everybody looks forward to the next round if you get through, and there’s always the chance you can get a big team if you get far enough, but we’ll just target the first game.
“It would be silly to look past Saturday, we just have to improve and play well.”
