Penicuik volunteers mobilise after storm debris covers half of cup-tie pitch

Penicuik Athletic are organising a volunteer clear-up after Storm Boelo left debris across roughly half the pitch at Montgomery Park, according to BBC Sport. Club president Andy Penman said around 30 people had offered to begin work on Monday evening. The club remains confident that its rearranged Scottish Cup match against Clyde will be able to take place on Tuesday.

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The disruption followed an earlier postponement caused by a different problem. The tie was originally scheduled for Friday, with BBC cameras due to cover the match, but a waterlogged playing surface forced it to be called off. High winds then brought down material from the old trees bordering one side of the ground, leaving the club with further work before it could host the game.

Penman described branches scattered over a substantial portion of the pitch, with some driven vertically into the turf. However, he said the surface beneath the debris was in good condition and that the standing water which had prevented Friday’s match had drained away quickly. His assessment separates the current clearing operation from the waterlogging that caused the original postponement.

The response has drawn on the local community, with volunteers offering their time to help prepare the ground. All 1,300 tickets have been sold for the rearranged fixture, which is scheduled to kick off at 19:45 GMT. Penman’s confidence that the match will proceed depends on the preparations still ahead; the BBC report described offers of help rather than a completed clean-up.

Penicuik reached this stage by defeating Kilwinning Rangers in the first round. Their visitors Clyde are level on points with Stranraer at the top of League Two, while Penicuik occupy ninth place in the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division. East Kilbride, currently fourth in League One, await the winners of the tie.

The hosts have previously beaten higher-level opposition at this point in the competition, defeating Stenhousemuir 3-0 in 2019. Penman acknowledged that Penicuik’s league performances had fluctuated and suggested the cup run had been a distraction. For now, the immediate task is off the field: removing the storm debris so the sold-out fixture can be played.