North Cup Draw: Forres and Ross County in the Way
Nairn County will face showdowns with Forres Mechanics and holders Ross County in the group stages of this year's North of Scotland Cup.
The draw was made earlier on today and has pitted all of the teams who have contested the last two finals in the same group. County will kick off their attempt to regain the trophy with a home match against Forres Mechanics on either Tuesday July 31 or Wednesday August 1. This will be followed by a trip to Ross County's Victoria Park on either Tuesday 14 or Wednesday 15 of August. Forres and Ross County will play each other at Mosset Park on Tuesday 7 or Wednesday 8 August.
County boss Les Fridge said: "It's a very difficult draw. Obviously the cup has gone back to the way it was previously with the group stages, and Forres at home will be a very difficult game for us. It is a local derby and we play them in the Challenge Cup two weeks later as well so that makes it interesting.
Nairn progressed to at least the semi-final stage in each of Fridge's three seasons in charge and the last time they met the freshly relegated Dingwall side in this competition was in the final last season which was eventually played on Sunday November 19. The Staggies ran out 3-0 winners.
The season before, County ended their 28-year trophy famine with a 3-1 final victory over Forres Mechanics. This was the last time the two local rivals met in this competition. A David MacRae double and a strike from Martin Sanderson just before half time was enough to take the silverware back to Nairn on October 29 2005.
One team from each section will progress to the semi finals and the winners of Nairn's section will play away from home against the winner of the section including Lossiemouth, Elgin and Rothes on either Tuesday 4 or Wednesday 5 September.
The final is currently scheduled for Saturday September 15 but whether it is actually played on that date or not remains to be seen.
The cup will this year be sponsored by ITP Solutions and North FA President John Flannigan said: "We are very grateful to ITP Solutions for sponsoring this prestigious football tournament and hope that this relationship will be of benefit to both parties. We look forward to some exciting games at the start of the season."
ITP Solutions recruitment advisor Scott Watson said: "ITP Solutions Ltd, the north's leading Microsoft Gold partner, is extremely proud to sponsor this year's North of Scotland Cup which has over 100 years of history in the Highlands."