Like the other 30 teams currently left in the Scottish Cup, Hamilton men Brian Rice and Scott Martin are thinking of one thing- the glory at the end of it.
Accies will take to Scottish Cup fourth round action today when they face Edinburgh City. The League Two side will be keen on an upset but Rice’s men will look to put a stop to that.
Hamilton played Edinburgh City in 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
Hamilton have never won this competition. On two occasions they’ve been runners-up, way back in 1911 and 1935. Quarter-final runs have been sporadic but Accies name isn’t on the famous trophy all the same.
It’s something Rice would love to put an end to. The Hamilton boss says it’s a dream to think of Scottish Cup glory, having got a taste of the showpiece match as a coach at Falkirk in 2009.
“I am always one to talk about performance but in a cup tie it is about winning,” he said. “I think it is maybe time that Hamilton tried to have a cup run.
They reached the quarter-finals back in 2017. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“We got through the group stages of the Betfred Cup and got beat 1-0 by Kilmarnock in extra time. But the Scottish Cup has always been a massive thing for me.
“I got to the final with Falkirk with Yogi (Hughes), when we played Rangers. There are only two trophies you can win. Realistically you can’t win the league, Celtic and Rangers will predominantly win the league.
“So it is a chance for a club to get to a final and get a wee bit of success. You start out in January, as we do, and you want to get through this round and then you are waiting on the draw being made and it is great.
Rice helped bring Falkirk to the 2009 final. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
“Why not us?”
Martin has sights on success
Martin has a drive for silverware too. Having missed out on the historic 2016 Hibs Scottish Cup win after finding himself out on loan, he wants a career with a trophy to show for it.
He sees no reason as to why that can’t happen at Accies. Martin knows that if his side take their eye off the ball against their League Two visitors though, they could fall victim of a cup shock.
Martin wants a winners’ medal. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“It is something different, it is a cup game and anything can happen,” said Martin. “We need to treat them with respect the same as we do with every team and try to do a job. We are definitely not complacent. They are second in their table, so they are not a bad team.
“They will be up for it just as much as we will. We need to remain professional. I haven’t really had a run in the cup before. I was on loan when Hibs did the famous one I am desperate to get the run going
“People might say it sounds silly but I want to win a cup, I play football to win games and win trophies. It might not happen just now, it might not happen in 10 years, but that is my ambition in the game, to win as much as I can.”