West Lothian clubs learn Scottish Cup preliminary round opponents

Five West Lothian football clubs know who they'll be facing if they're to reach the first round proper of the men's and women's Scottish Cup following yesterday's draw.

In the men's side of things, Blackburn United and Broxburn Athletic were the county's representatives and they enter the competition at the second preliminary round stage. The Brox, who reached the fourth round of the 2019/20 event, were handed a home tie against Lochee United of the Midlands League.

The Dundee-based outfit finished fourth in their sixth-tier division last term and it's sure to be an intriguing contest with the winner reaching the first round proper.

Blackburn United face a long journey north to take on reigning North Region Premier League champions Culter, who hails from the village of Peterculter near Aberdeen.

Both ties will take place on the weekend of Saturday, September 2.

Linlithgow Rose's promotion to the Lowland League ensures they receive a bye to the first round.

In the women's draw, there was a new name representing the county for the first time as Armadale Thistle Ladies were handed a home tie against Arbroath. Armadale are about the enter their first season in the SWFL pyramid but will be considered favourites to win the fifth-tier SWFL East title as the squad features many of the Livingston Development team who had secured back-to-back titles but were ineligible for promotion.

All three West Lothian clubs were given home ties in the preliminary round of the Scottish Women's Cup with Linlithgow Rose hosting Central Girls and Murieston United welcoming Bishopton. Both of those games feature two sides competing in the fifth tier.

Preliminary round matches in the Scottish Women's Cup take place on the weekend of Sunday,