Musselburgh Athletic go for Scottish Cup qualification next season

Brian Martin is aiming to secure a place in the William Hill Scottish Cup for Musselburgh Athletic next season on Sunday – but he doesn’t plan on staying around at Olivebank to be part of it.

Alex Jack Cup winners Musselburgh take on South of Scotland Alba Cup winners Mid Annandale at Blackburn United’s New Murrayfield Park for a spot in the national competition in what is Burgh’s biggest match since their 2015 Junior Cup final loss to Auchinleck Talbot.

Martin, who was captain that day, came out of retirement to return to the club in the summer after two years out of the game after leaving Berwick Rangers, but he plans to hang his boots up for good at the end of the campaign.

“I quit about two years ago and never played then I went back to Musselburgh for pre-season and I was struggling,” said the 34-year-old. “I was really unfit and was right at the back, behind the goalkeepers but I am feeling fit now. I still feel it during the week after a game on a Saturday, it is catching up with me again and I think this will definitely be my last season.

“I struggled to get back into it to be honest, I wasn’t playing that well so the timing of everything was different. The last few weeks I have scored a few goals and picked up a few man-of-the match awards so I am enjoying it. They are probably glad I am back now but they probably weren’t back at the start of the season!”

An avid horse racing fan and part-owner of a horse with Burgh team-mate Michael Moffat, Martin had booked to go to Cheltenham this weekend a year ago given he didn’t expect to be back playing.

He added: “I have had to cancel it, because it is going to be too tight with the cup final. I have booked an earlier flight than the rest of the boys to come home but if it gets delayed, even by an hour, then I will miss the game and they won’t be very happy. It’s a massive game for us. There is no point beating about the bush, we should win. If we turn up, we will win, but it is all about the boys turning up with the right attitude otherwise we will get turned over.”