EMIRATES SHEIKH UP JUNIOR CUP.

Byline: Gary Ralston

THE JUNIORS gave Scottish football finances a good sheikh yesterday when they teamed up with Emirates Airlines.

The global flight operator already have sponsorship deals with Arsenal, Hamburg, PSG, AC Milan and Olympiakos in the bag.

Now they can add the likes of Crossgates Primrose and Carnoustie Panmure to their portfolio of clubs after the SJFA secured a two-year deal to sponsor their cup competition, the first round of which was drawn at Hampden yesterday.

Active The remarkable deal, worth six figures, is a real coup at a time when football finances are stretched and is much higher profile than previous backers, OVD Rum and Scottish Citylink buses.

SJFA secretary Tom Johnston said: "We have been in discussions for the last seven months and are delighted to secure the involvement of an internationally recognised company "They are active at the top end of the game but this gave them the opportunity to get in at grass-roots level . "We are not immune to the current financial problems but we're attractive to sponsors as we have a good product and we sell it at a sensible price.

"Believe it or not, I'm off to Dubai on holiday at the end of the month but that was planned a long time ago - honest!" The first-round draw saw holders Auchinleck Talbot drawn away to face New Elgin with Pollok's long wait for a home tie finally rewarded with a match at Newlandsfield against Kirriemuir Thistle.

The glamour tie of the round is in Ayrshire where Derek Ferguson's Glenafton take on Kilbirnie Ladeside with other local derbies seeing Kirkcaldy YM face Jeanfield Swifts and Dundee East Craigie meeting Carnoustie.

The full draw is: Johnstone Burgh v Lochee Harp, Harthill v Camelon, Bellshill v Culter, Glenafton v Kilbirnie, Stonehaven v Livingston Utd, Lossiemouth v Arbroath Vics.

Newmains v Banchory St Ternan, Oakley v Sunnybank, Inverness City v Kelty, KirkcaldyYM v Jeanfield Swifts, Troon v Benburb, Beith v Cumbernauld, Glencairn v Luncarty, Pollok v Kirriemuir.

Greenock v Whitburn, Scone v Parkvale, Edinburgh Utd v Penicuik, Aberdeen East End v Shettleston, Whitehills v Forfar Ath, Lugar v Glenrothes, Kinnoull v Hill of Beath, Bankfoot v Irvine Meadow, New Elgin v Auchinleck, Bonnyrigg v Dunbar.

EK Thistle v Cruden Bay, Crossgates Primrose v Dufftown, Spartans v Larkhall, Largs v Cupar Angus, Hermes v Whitletts Vics, Banks O'Dee v Blantyre, Dundee East Craigie v Carnoustie.

Ties on Saturday, October 3 (3pm).