CROSSGATES PRIMROSE manager Alan Campbell says they are not prepared to simply make up the numbers when they play their first cup final in 26 years this afternoon.

The East of Scotland League, Premier Division outfit will take on Leith Athletic, who are one tier below them in the Scottish football pyramid, on Sunday at Kelty Hearts’ New Central Park for the Alex Jack Cup.

After defeating Kirkcaldy and Dysart and Kinnoull in the opening two rounds, a 5-3 win over Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts sent them into the last four against Bo’ness Athletic last month where they prevailed on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

Having reached the last four of the King Cup in 2019, where they were beaten on spot-kicks by Tranent, the match represents the Humbug Park team’s first final since 1995, which saw them lose out to Newburgh in the Kingdom Cup by the same method.

It promises to be a big day for everyone connected to Primrose who, in 2015, were placed into abeyance before resuming competitive football in the 2016/17 campaign.

Under the guidance of Campbell and his coaching team, and thanks to the tireless efforts of the club’s committee, they have gone from strength-to-strength since then.

Three years ago, they announced their intention to join the East of Scotland League and, in their first season, secured a place in its newly-formed Premier Division, in which they currently sit seventh.

Their opponents are second-top of First Division Conference A and, while emphasising his team won’t take Leith lightly, Campbell said: “There is a wee bit of a buzz about them now. We’re looking forward to it and hopefully we’ll put a performance on.

“We’ve got some experienced players who have been there and played in and won cup finals, so hopefully that can help the younger ones. We’ve got a good mix and, hopefully, they’ll not get drawn in by the occasion and we play the way we’ve been playing all season.

“If we play the way we’ve played for most of this season, we’re a strong team and will give anyone a game. We’ll be a hard team to beat.

“But Leith have been doing well for the last three years. I know more than anyone that those leagues are very difficult to be top of so it will be a 50-50 game.

“No-one remembers you if you lose and we’re not going there to make the numbers up. It’s about trying to be successful and getting a bit of silverware.”

As well as collecting the trophy, an added incentive for the winners of Sunday’s final is that they, together with those successful in the South of Scotland Alba Cup and Strathclyde Demolition Cup competitions, will have the chance to compete in next season’s senior Scottish Cup.

Kick-off is at 2pm and entry, via the Bath Street turnstiles, costs £8 for adults and £4 for concessions.