Livingston manager David Martindale is desperate for a Scottish Cup run after years of frustration going back to his playing days.
Livi have not made a Scottish Cup quarter-final since 2005 and Martindale has only enjoyed two last-16 ties in his spell on the coaching staff over the past nine years.
“It’s about time I had a good run in the Scottish Cup,” he said ahead of Saturday’s fourth-round tie at Stenhousemuir.
“From playing, amateur football, was really successful in the Scottish Cup. Sunday amateurs, got to the final, and Saturday amateur we got to semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.
“It’s been one of my bugbears when I played at junior level, and since I came to Livingston it’s been a massive bugbear, the lack of progression in the Scottish Cup.
“I never had great success at Pumpherston or Broxburn. At Livingston we have been successful in the League Cup and Challenge Cup but this is the one cup we have had a lack of success and I would like to rectify that as soon as possible.
“The closest we came was losing on penalties to Aberdeen in the last 16.
“We don’t really seem to get the luck of the draw in these fixtures either, because I do think there’s an element of luck in the Scottish Cup when you look at some teams’ pathways to the final over the years.”
Martindale is extra keen to enjoy success in the tournament after his own playing experiences in equivalent competitions at different standards.
“It doesn’t matter what level you play, the Scottish Cup has a wee bit of magic about it,” he said.
“If you ask anybody if you were going to win one cup, everyone would tell you it’s the Scottish Cup they want to win. I would love to get to the latter stages and take Livingston to Hampden in the Scottish Cup.
“Everyone enjoys cup football and it brings a different element. I remember as a player we would wear a tracksuit to the game but when it was the Scottish Cup we’d have the shirt and tie on. Scottish Cup generally meant you were getting a bus rather than going in your cars.
“You should be playing against opponents that you are not familiar with and that’s the part I look forward to also.”
Martindale is not totally unfamiliar with League Two Stenny, who appointed Gary Naysmith as manager earlier this month.
“I have a lot of time for Gary,” he said. “We came up against Gary in League One when he was at East Fife. They were our bogey team. Maybe it was Gary.
“We won the league that year but East Fife gave us some very, very difficult games. He got the job at Queen of the South and they were a really, really difficult team to play against.
“I have a lot of respect for Gary as a manager, he had a top playing career and knows the game inside out. It’s going to be a difficult game.
“We have done as much homework as we can. I know a lot of the players there. I had Tam Orr, I had Mikey Miller, I know (Nat) Wedderburn, Sean Crichton is injured but he was my captain at Livingston.
“I am familiar with a lot of the players and I will give them the same respect as any Premiership opponent.”
