Buckie Thistle manager delighted with Celtic draw and vows to give best efforts

Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart has revealed his excitement at drawing Celtic in the Scottish Cup and says his team will give everything in the match in Glasgow.

The Highland side defeated Broxburn Rovers on penalties at the weekend to claim a place in the fourth round draw and their reward was a trip to Celtic Park to face the holders in the next round.

While Stewart and his players face a huge challenge against the Premiership title holders, the financial rewards from the away tie can be transformative for the team. Stewart told STV that everyone involved was thrilled by the outcome.

“We’re delighted with the draw,” the Thistle manager said. “If you’re going to get a big team then you want it away from home so I’m delighted for the club.

“Financially, it’s brilliant. Gary Farquhar, our president, has put a lot of time and money into the club and hopefully it’s a reward for him.

It was part of the team talk on Saturday. I told the boys to go and do it for Gary and they were all thrilled to do that.”

Stewart revealed that a number of the players in his squad are Celtic supporters but vowed that they won’t be going to Glasgow as tourists and are fully intent on giving a good account of themselves on the biggest stage the team will have played on. And with the team currently fifth in the Highland League but with two games in hand on leaders Brechin City, who are six points ahead, the focus will be on the league until the cup match on January 19.

“It’s surreal, a little bit, unexpected but we’re delighted,” he said.

“There’s always a chance and we’re not going to go there with designs on losing. But we’ve got to be realistic, they’re one of the biggest clubs in the world with top players and a big budget.

“Yeah, we’ll go there with a game plan and we’ll do our best and try and get a result. But it would be an unlikely result.

“It’s good for everyone at the club and for the Highland League. It gives everyone a boost but we have to concentrate on business and the bread and butter of the league.

“It’s fun just now but we have to get our heads right on the league as well.”