Aberdeen are poised to see their Scottish Cup tie with Darvel moved to Monday night to be broadcast live on BBC Scotland.
It was Record Sport who first revealed the West of Scotland Premier Division leaders will not be moving the game from their tiny 2,200 capacity Recreation Park ground despite the potential for a huge visiting support from Aberdeen. It will now take place under the floodlights on Monday January 23 2023 and will be the Dons first Scottish Cup clash with non-league opposition since they faced Elgin City, then of the Highland League, in 1971.
Record Sport understands the move to Monday night has not gone down well at Pittodrie with the club seeking clarification from the SFA. Mick Kennedy confirmed to us the game would be taking place at their usual home ground and Darvel chairman John Gall stated explained after the draw why the game would definitely go ahead there and why they had no intention of trying to switch it to a bigger venue like nearby Rugby Park in Kilmarnock.
He said: "I’m determined to keep the game at Darvel. It’s the romance of the cup and that’s what it’s all about for me. We could make double the amount of money if we moved it to Kilmarnock, but it’s not about the money, it’s about bringing Aberdeen to Darvel, to our pitch, which will be a leveller for us. It’s one of the best surfaces in Scottish football, but it’s our park.
“The crowd is right on top of the players and everything like that, and I think it’ll be a wonderful occasion, I really do. During Covid, they gave us a capacity of 2,200, but I’ve since heard it’ll be more than that now – but we never thought we would need it this season!"
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