‘Buzzing’ Buckie Thistle stars are dreaming of producing the “biggest cup upset of all time” when they take on the Scottish champions in their own backyard this weekend.
The Highland League side are getting ready for the biggest match in their history after being drawn against Celtic in the Scottish Cup.
The jags travel to Glasgow to play Brendan Rodgers’ league leaders on Sunday in the fourth round and the club have been on a high since they were drawn out the hat against the cup holders.
Player Max Barry said: “When Celtic came out and then Buckie came out after we just erupted. Everyone was just delighted, it’s huge for the club.
“The club will profit a lot from this game and the players as well from getting this opportunity to play against them.”
As the game draws closer the squad are now buzzing with anticipation as they prepare to test themselves against the likes of Scotland star Callum McGregor and last season’s Player of the Year Kyogo Furuhashi.
Jack Murray said: “We are buzzing now to be honest, it has been building slowly since the draw but recently it has picked up and you can’t get it out of your head.
“There is now proper excitement about the place and we just can’t wait to get down there and play.”
And while there are three tiers, many millions worth of talent and 41 Scottish Cup trophies between the teams, Buckie are still daring to dream of a shock result.
Darryl McHardy said: “Everybody knows it will be a very big task for us to go out and beat the champions of Scotland, but you never know.
“There has been a few big cup upsets in the past, but with all things considered I think this would be the biggest cup upset ever if we can go and get a result.”
Like their Glasgow counterparts, Buckie Thistle also wear green and white hoops after, according to local legend, being gifted a set of strips by Celtic over 100 years ago.
Manager Graeme Stewart is hoping the Celtic defence will be as charitable to their forwards on Sunday.
He said: “I have been told that Celtic gave Buckie the strips to play in a long time ago, I don’t know if that’s just a tale or if it’s true. If it is true it makes it a nice little story for this game.
“It was nice of Celtic if they did do that and we appreciate it, maybe they could let us win this game as well that would be good.”
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