The Ramsdens Cup Second Round tie between Highland League Formartine United and SPFL League Two side Elgin City on Wednesday night is certain to capture the headlines and not just because of the local nature of the contest.
It is not even because it is the first time a Highland League side has reached this stage of the competition that is the talking point.
The game will capture the imagination of the footballing public as the manager of the North Lodge Park club is a former player and manager of Elgin, who is also one of the most colourful characters to have graced the Scottish game in recent years.
Steve Paterson will look to defeat his boyhood team as he comes across them for the first ever time as a manager with the 55 year old former Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Aberdeen and Peterhead boss having a Borough Briggs association that stretches back for over 45 years.
Paterson said: “I remember Elgin having a great team at the end of the sixties when I would go and watch them play. In 1967/ 68 they went on a great run in the Scottish Cup where they beat Albion Rovers and Arbroath and there were 10,000 fans at the games. A few years later they beat Berwick Rangers and Stenhousemuir before losing to Aberdeen who were the Scottish Cup holders at the time.”
“I then went on to play for them, making my debut for Elgin when I was only 15. I then of course moved on to Manchester United after they spotted me playing for Scotland Schoolboys but Elgin were my club when I was younger.”
The bond between the two continued as Paterson added: “I went back as a player/ manager in 1988 and we won 4 trophies including a Highland League Championship. It is a club I have a lot of positive associations with and a club that I have a lot of time for.”
Looking to knock them out of the Ramsdens Cup will be a unique first for Paterson who said: “I don’t think I have ever sent a team out to beat them before in a senior game. I reckon I was involved with Inverness Caledonian Thistle against them in a North of Scotland Cup tie but never in a national competition, so this is a first for me.”
There is a great incentive to get one over his old club as Paterson explained: “The prize of a quarter final place in the Ramsdens Cup is a great incentive for us, but don’t be fooled it is also a great incentive for Elgin. We have home advantage which we are grateful for as winning becomes a more realistic possibility when that is the case.”
“It is a game that we are really looking forward to.”
The Pitmedden side, who finished second to Cove Rangers in the Highland League last season, were invited to take part in this season’s Ramsdens Cup due to their diligent work with the SFA’s Club Licensing Programme.
Whilst they are new to the competition they do have some familiar faces in their ranks including one time finalist with Clyde in 2006, defender Craig McKeown.
Paterson said: “Craig joined us at the start of last season after a good senior career with Clyde and then Dundee. We have just added Joe Hamill who played for Hearts, Leicester, Livingston and Raith Rovers. He played as a trialist in the First Round against East Stirling and he will be a great addition to our squad.”
“Along with the rest of our players they will be well up for the tie.”
Despite his affection for Elgin, Paterson is hoping that Formartine win through as he said: “The involvement of Highland League teams has been great for the tournament and great for the Highland League. We have already created a small mention in the record books when we won in the First Round to become the first Highland League side to win a tie.”
“That result helped give the Highland League credibility at a very important time in Scottish football when lots of changes are being discussed.”
Paterson added: “We played Fort William on Saturday and won 5-0. That was great preparation for this tie. It is a tie I am really looking forward to.”
Elgin City boss Ross Jack reckons that there will a real cup-tie atmosphere inside North Lodge Park when he takes his side to face Formartine for the first ever time in a competitive game.
Jack said: “This game has an extra edge to it as Steve Paterson was once a player and then the manager of Elgin back in their Highland League days. His times here are well remembered as he was successful as both a player and as a manager where he brought silverware to the club.”
Despite their League 2 status Jack reckons his men are underdogs as he explained: “With the age and experience Steve has in his squad and the fact that they have home advantage you would probably put us down as the second favourites to win.”
“Highland League clubs are enjoying a time of good budgets and Formartine are one of the sides that have benefitted from that. They have just signed Joe Hamill, who was with Raith Rovers last season, and they already had Craig McKeown who was with Dundee 18 months ago in their ranks.”
Jack added: “After only a short period in the Highland League Formartine are progressing well under Steve. They came very close to winning it last season before losing out to Cove Rangers on the final day. It is also a very tight park so we will have to adapt our game.”
It is a first clash between the sides as Jack advised: “The clubs missed each other as Formartine joined the Highland League from the junior ranks after Elgin had joined the SFL in 2000. Despite that lack of history between the clubs there will be a great rivalry for the hour and a half of the game. There is history being created now and I am sure that this tie will capture the public’s imagination.”
Jack summed the match up by saying: “It is a tough tie for us to win especially away from home, however the reward of winning a place in the quarter finals of the Ramsdens Cup means that there is a huge amount to be played for.”
“I am sure the Elgin fans will give Steve a great reception and then hope that he loses for the first time since he was the manager of Huntly a good few years ago.”
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