Dougie MacDuff reckons he’ll feel like a foreigner in an Old Firm match when he leads Irvine Vics into tonight's Marymass derby against Meadow.
It’s the 100th anniversary of the famous friendly fixture this year and new Vics boss MacDuff admits the history and hype surrounding the annual tradition has blown him away.
Now he’s hoping his side can pull off an upset at Meadow Park to give their supporters a much needed boost after a winless start to the season.
He said: “I feel a bit like a foreigner coming into an Old Firm game. I’ve heard all about how passionate both sets of supporters are when it comes to this fixture.
“It’s a big game on Irvine’s calendar, there will be a big crowd and I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s a chance for our boys to test themselves against a Premier team.
“We’ve had a tough start but if we can end the week with a win everything suddenly looks a lot brighter.”
MacDuff is hoping several injury worries clear up in time for the clash. Striker Ben Kellington comes back into the fold after missing the midweek defeat at Saltcoats through suspension.
The first Marymass derby was held on August 19, 1921. Up until that year, both clubs had enjoyed free Marymass Saturdays to let the people of the town head out to Irvine Moor for the races.
However, in 1921 the rivals were given a league fixture for that weekend and the decision was taken to play it on the Friday evening and a tradition was born.
Although this year marks the 100th anniversary of the derby, it will actually only be the 95th match of the series. No matches were played during WWII on top of last year’s Covid cancellation,
In the first eight years of the Marymass Derby, Vics had four wins to Meadow’s three, but Meadow have largely dominated since 1928.
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