Two media men will be joining forces on Sunday in a bid to write themselves into the soccer history books… as players, writes Hamish Mackay.
Press Gazette has already charted the progress of Scotman sports sub Phil Johnson in Edinburgh nonleague team Spartans’ giant-killing run to reach the last 16 of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup.
However, it has emerged that midfield dynamo Ken Hughes also has media credentials – whipping off his jersey after the 4-1 thrashing of Arbroath in the last round to reveal a T-shirt emblazoned with “Up like a Salmon”. Hughes is the media officer for Scottish Quality Salmon.
And his message was intended to champion the cause of the Scottish salmon following a punishing work week in which salmon had been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Not that a series of 20-hour working days in a bid to defuse the front-page stories affected Hughes in the run-up to playing a full part in clinching Spartans home tie against Scottish Premier League near-neighbours Livingston.
Scottish Quality Salmon is so pleased with Hughes’ cantrips that it is to be match-day sponsor on Sunday and will also contribute to Spartans’ flirtation with corporate hospitality in a specially constructed marquee.
The crowd limit has been raised from 1,000 to 3,000 for the match although the tiny grandstand cannot be used because it has been condemned for years.
Midfielder Johnson, who has hit three goals in the cup odyssey, took a holiday this week before the big match – to add the final touches as editor of the 48-page full-colour match day souvenir programme, which is on sale at £2 as a collector’s item.
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