Michael Kennedy insists ambitious Darvel are determined to make their mark on the Scottish Cup stage.
The West of Scotland League Premier Division side head to Kynoch Park on Saturday for an historic first-round date with Highland League strugglers Keith.
And Kennedy knows it will be a proud day for Darvel who have undergone a radical transformation both on and off the park in the last couple of years.
The Vale boss told Ayrshire Live: “It’s a momentous occasion for the club and I think it shows how far we’ve come in such a short space of time.
"It’s great for the people at the club who have worked really hard to get the right infrastructure in place to allow us to enter the competition.
“It will be a difficult game. We had someone watching them on Saturday so we will get a report and an understanding of what they are like.
“Our bread-and-butter is the league – but this is an added bonus; our first time in the senior Scottish Cup.
“It would have been better if it had been at home but we will go up there and try and get a result for the club and the local community.”
Darvel's 1-0 defeat at home to Cumnock on Saturday means it is now five games without a win for Kennedy and his troops.
However, the Recreation Park chief – who has former SPFL stars such as Daryll Meggatt, Ian McShane, Andy Stirling and Jordan Kirkpatrick in his star-studded ranks – is confident the tide will turn.
He added: "Every game here is massive. The players shouldn't need any added motivation to win games of football.
"They have enough quality and experience to be competing at this level better than we have been the last four or five weeks."
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