John Hughes and Kirsty Howat make Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Preliminary Round Draws
The draws for the Preliminary Rounds of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup took place on Wednesday evening at the National Stadium.
Hughes tasted success in this competition a decade ago, when his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side defeated Falkirk in the 2015 Scottish Cup Final.
Howat, meanwhile, has lifted the trophy on three occasions – with Glasgow City in 2019 and with her current side Rangers, in both 2024 and 2025.
The pair joined host Gordon Duncan for a mammoth double draw as the First and Second Preliminary Rounds were decided for both the men's and women's competitions.
The full results of the draw are listed at the bottom of this page.
The Preliminary Rounds in the men's competition will be played on the weekend of Saturday, 9 August and the weekend of Saturday, 30 August.
The Preliminary Rounds in the women's competition will be played on the weekend of Sunday, 17 August and weekend of Sunday, 7 September 2025.
Following the draw, John Hughes reflected on his memories of the Scottish Cup, both from his playing and coaching career. He said: 'As a player, one stand-out memory was when Falkirk beat Hearts 4-0 at Brockville, with Colin Samuel scoring a hat-trick. It was a great game because Hearts were flying under Craig Levein, and with me being from the other side of Edinburgh, it was fantastic to get that result.
'At Hibs, it was disappointing with the club's history not to win the Scottish Cup. I remember we got to the Semi-Final when Alex McLeish was manager but Aberdeen beat us and that was a disappointment.
'Then as a manager, getting to the Scottish Cup Final with Falkirk in 2009 was amazing, and beating our rivals in Dunfermline in the semis. We got to the final and lost to Rangers through a wondergoal from Nacho Novo. I thought we were the better football team that day, our tactics were spot on and we hit the post but Walter Smith and Alex McCoist knew how to get over the line. I was so proud to have six academy players in that team as well.'
After coming close in 2009, Hughes' crowning moment in the competition would come six years later, when he lifted the Scottish Cup with Inverness. He added: 'I remember in the Semi-Final against Celtic we had nothing to lose. We'd already beaten Celtic that season and we were a really good football team.
'Lady luck went our way that day as Josh Meekings should have been sent off for the handball, and then they were down to 10-men. But the goal was everything we worked on – one full-back Graeme Shinnie crossing it and David Raven, the other full-back, getting the winner.
'Then in the final against Falkirk we were favourites which was different but it was just about embracing the day and making history. James Vincent had to come on at right back – where he didn't usually play – because Raven was injured, then came on and scored the winner.
'I remember the celebrations the following day, going in with all the families and going on the open-top bus. You could just see what it meant to everyone. We then kept the trophy for the whole season at the reception at the stadium in Inverness and it was an amazing thing for the community.
'I can't believe it's ten years now. You sometimes you come across the photos on your phone and the memories are amazing.'
The former Falkirk, Hibernian and Ross County manager has been out of work since leaving Dunfermline three years ago, but he insisted he's ready to step back into management if the opportunity arises.
'I felt out of love with football for a bit after leaving Dunfermline, if I'm being honest', he said. 'I had to take a break and I've enjoyed the ambassadorial things I've done with Hibs and the media work and spending time with the family. There's a lot of sacrifice when you're a football manager and so it's been nice to spend time with my children and even grandchildren now.
'But football never leaves you. The batteries are really recharged and I'm ready to go. I don't lose sleep over it but I still feel my CV is good so we'll see what happens.'
Kirsty Howat has been fortunate enough to lift the trophy on three occasions, with the stand-out memory being her recent two-goal appearance in the final in May, when Rangers defeated Glasgow City 3-0. Looking back on her Scottish Cup memories, she said: 'This season we'd obviously had a bad result a week before in losing the league to Hibs on the last day, so we had a point to prove and it felt like a dominant performance which we probably didn't expect.
'Great memories and it was an amazing overall performance. If we'd finished our whole season on the league disappointment then it would've been tough so having the cup final the week after was definitely a good thing for us to put it right. That defeat on the final day gave us all the motivation we needed to go and do it on the day.
'It's definitely up there with one of the proudest moments of my career, scoring two in the final with all my family there. It doesn't get much better.
'I've had two good years in the cup now, winning two years in a row at Hampden. The experience of playing here is a dream come true. It's a brilliant stadium and hopefully we can keep building on the crowds.'
As well as her cup final double, Howat also ended the season on a high with a recall to the national team under new head coach Melissa Andreatta and she is aiming to maintain her place in the national side for their next camp in October.
'Last season I started a bit slowly but I got a lot of minutes in the second half and scored some big goals when it mattered', she said. 'Getting the call-up to the national team just before the summer was really pleasing. It's a fresh start for everyone and I was delighted to get minutes.
'My last camp before June had been a year ago so it was great to feature in both games and help us to a positive result in the Netherlands. Hopefully there's many more to come.'
Rangers Women have recently seen manager Jo Potter leave her position, but despite the uncertainty, Howat remains optimistic for another big season ahead. She added: 'We're looking ahead. It's a lot of change, with a new manager to come and new players coming in but after the disappointment in the league, winning that has to be our aim.
'It's been a few years now that we've not managed to do that. Our standards are high and we're at Rangers to win trophies. We'll be looking to put that right this season.'
Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Preliminary Round One
Dundee North End v Culter
Invergordon v Lochar Thistle
Irvine Meadow XI v Johnstone Burgh
Whitburn Juniors v Steins Thistle
Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Preliminary Round Two
Auchinleck Talbot v Haddington Athletic
Benburb v Easthouses Lily MWFC
Blackburn United v Darvel
Bonnyton Thistle v Girvan
Bo'ness Athletic v Creetown
Dunbar United v Cumnock Juniors
Dundee North End or Culter v Whitehill Welfare
Dundonald Bluebell v Edinburgh University
Glasgow University v Newton Stewart
Glenafton Athletic v Dalkeith Thistle
Golspie Sutherland v Coldstream
Hawick Royal Albert v Threave Rovers
Hill of Beath Hawthorn v St Andrews United
Invergordon or Lochar Thistle v Dunipace
Jeanfield Swifts v Preston Athletic
Penicuik Athletic v Kilwinning Rangers
Rutherglen Glencairn v Newtongrange Star
Sauchie Juniors v Hutchison Vale
St Cadocs v Pollok
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Burntisland Shipyard
Tayport v Dalbeattie Star
Tweedmouth Rangers v Lochee United
Tynecastle v Carluke Rovers
Vale of Leithen v Musselburgh Athletic
Whitburn Juniors or Steins Thistle v Irvine Meadow XI or Johnstone Burgh
Wigtown & Bladnoch v Camelon Juniors
Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup Preliminary Round One
Arbroath Women v Giffnock
Central Ladies v Musselburgh Windsor
Cumbernauld Colts v Penicuik Athletic
Cumnock Juniors v Benburb
Danderhall Miners v Nairn St Ninian
Drumchapel United v Aberdeen City Ladies
Dundee West v Bishopton Ladies
Edinburgh South v Cumbernauld United Ladies
Grampian Ladies v Bayside Ladies
Muirieston United Ladies v Stewarton Annick Ladies
Thornton Hibs Ladies v Ardrossan Winton Rovers
Receiving Byes into the Second Preliminary Round:
Alloa Athletic
Annan Athletic Ladies
Blairgowrie WFC
Buckie Ladies
Edinburgh Uni Thistle
Gretna FC Ladies
Harmony Row
Huntly
Jeanfield Swifts
Ross County
St Anthony's Ladies
Stonehaven Ladies
West Park United FC
Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup Preliminary Round Two
Arbroath Women or Giffnock v Ross County
Danderhall Miners or Nairn St Ninian v Central Ladies or Musselburgh Windsor
Drumchapel United or Aberdeen City Ladies v Edinburgh Uni Thistle
Dundee West or Bishopton Ladies v Alloa Athletic
Edinburgh South or Cumbernauld United Ladies v Muirieston United Ladies or Stewarton Annick Ladies
Gretna FC v Grampian Ladies or Bayside Ladies
Huntly Women v Annan Athletic Ladies
Jeanfield Swifts v Cumbernauld Colts or Penicuik Athletic
St Anthony's Ladies v Blairgowrie
Stonehaven Ladies v Buckie Ladies
Thornton Hibs Ladies or Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Cumnock Juniors Ladies or Benburb
West Park United v Harmony Row
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