Darvel FC v Aberdeen: Scottish Cup has whole town catching football fever
The small East Ayrshire town of Darvel has been swept up in the magnitude of a Scottish Cup tie with Aberdeen.
A night to remember awaits the small East Ayrshire town of Darvel.
It’s a huge occasion for the town with a population of around 3,900 people and the majority of them will be out on the streets or down at Recreation park as Darvel FC host Aberdeen in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
The fifth-tier side have impressed so far in the competition with a 5-2 away win over Montrose in the third round which helped them set up this dream fixture.
It could be an upset for the ages in Scottish Football if the side get through, and manager Mick Kennedy is confident his side can put on a solid performance, and better yet, a bit of a show.
He told Clyde 1: “There is certainly a lot of belief between the players and the staff, and we’re sure we can go make a good account of ourselves, and I’m also sure we can put on a really good show for the local support.
“We’ll try impose our own style, and our own philosophy in the game as we do every other week. The challenge will be can we do that at this level. It’s a massive challenge but that will certainly be how we plan to set out in the match.”
A lot of work has gone into Recreation Park to make it suitable to host the match tonight with the club spending a lot of money to ensure it could be played locally and not at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock.
All the players and staff are hyped for the occasion, but the real buzz is coming from the town itself with every local being swept up by the magnitude of the Scottish Cup in Darvel.
'Local business will get a massive financial boost'
Businesses are looking to make a killing as a good few thousand fans more than usual will be in the area.
Ian King from the Railway inn told Clyde 1: “The magnitude of this game for this town is unbelievable. We’re playing a team that won the European cup against Real Madrid, and they’re coming to Recreation Park. We’ll never see the likes of this again.
“The local businesses and the local economy is going to get a great boost. For the town as a whole, for the pubs and shops they will get a massive financial boost from it.”
Owner of the Black Bull, Kevin McManus said: “Everyone is going to be out and about on Monday night. Those who couldn’t get tickets will be getting a few pints and watching it in here which is great for us.
“Almost everyone I know is going down to the game, but I am hoping to be too busy in here to get the night off.”
'Children were wearing their blue and white scarfs walking to school'
The town has caught a blue and white fever, as bunting hangs all around the area and every shop has a sign that says, ‘We support the mighty Darve FCl’.
The Darvel FC players took a trip to the local primary school on Friday, and the buzz around town has fans of all ages dreaming of a giant killing.
Local florist Fiona Anderson told Clyde 1: “You saw all the kids going up to school in their scarfs and hats, and even the ones who aren’t into football are just buzzing for the whole thing.
“Everybody is getting involved, and it will be a blue and white town come Monday.”
'Aberdeen should be worried.'
Members of the local community group, the Darvel Area Regeneration Team (DART), have been out hanging the bunting and even cleaning the ‘Welcome to Darvel’ signs for the big occasion.”
George Gardner from the group said: “This place will be a buzz with activity as we build up to the game, and I think the result that Aberdeen had last week will do nothing to diminish the optimism of the Darvel fans, and if I was an Aberdeen fan, I’d be slightly worried.
Sheila Mare, who’s also part of the group, was out on Friday hanging blue and white decorations. She told Clyde 1 it will be her first match in 25 years, but she couldn’t resist getting involved with the buzz around town.
She said it’s a great way to get people interested who aren’t usually bothered.
She said: “That’s what it’s done. It’s made people like me who were maybe a bit reluctant, or less enthusiastic to get involved and go. And I’m not alone, there’s a few of my friends going who I know wouldn’t usually go.”
Win or lose for Darvel FC it will be a night to remember, but Tuesday morning would feel that little bit better for the local if they have another dream fixture to look forward to.