The packed holiday schedule (five games in fifteen days) will culminate with a rare Lanarkshire derby as we travel the few miles to Airdrie. The game is confirmed as a 3pm kick off on Saturday, January 6. Motherwell fans are to be housed in the 2900 capacity east stand, that's the one opposite the main stand, but in the happy circumstance of us filling that allocation there are plans to use the 1500 seat stand behind the goal as an overflow.
The cost at the gate will be £18 for adults, £12 for concessions and £8 for U16s. Both clubs have agreed to take part in the SFA Cup for Kids promotion and a voucher to be printed in the daily Record on January 3 will allow youngsters to enter for £4 when accompanied by an adult.
Although there will be plenty of SPL action before this game, plans are already afoot for this first game of what we hope will be a cup run. There is a huge gulf between the teams though both are near the foot of their respective leagues.
Cup meetings between these local rivals have been rare in recent years (though it has to be noted that this will be the first meeting when the Diamonds have played under the name Airdrie United).
The last time we met was in 1974/5 when Airdrie won a semi final replay 0-1. Willie Pettigrew scored in the first meeting (1-1). Let's hope the result goes the other way this time!