GLAMOUR Scottish Cup ties could in future be played at the home of four of East Lothian’s football teams.

Haddington Athletic, Musselburgh Athletic and Tranent Juniors are looking to follow in the footsteps of East Lothian neighbours Preston Athletic and play in Scottish football’s premier cup competition.

Haddington and Musselburgh both have plans lodged with East Lothian Council for floodlights to be put in place at their respective grounds of Millfield and Olive Bank.

Meanwhile, Tranent have already been given the green light to install floodlights.

Now all three teams, who play in the East of Scotland Football League, have been given a further boost, with funding of about £100,000 from East Lothian Council split between the clubs.

Councillor Jim Goodfellow, cabinet member for community wellbeing, said: “We are happy to be able to support these three applications from football clubs who make an extremely valued contribution within their respective communities.

“Each club has been working through their respective Scottish Football Association (SFA) licence applications and have invested significant financial sums themselves to allow them to be in a position to obtain an SFA licence.

“The council is delighted to be able to make a contribution to the floodlighting element which was a late criteria requirement in the license process.”

Drew Donaldson, first-team chairman with Haddington Athletic, said getting the floodlights and the SFA licence and membership would open a number of doors.

He said: “Membership can get you into the Scottish Cup. Bonnyrigg Rose as a junior team ended up getting drawn against Hibs and made a fortune.”

If approved, the floodlit grass pitch would complement the artificial pitch off Whittingehame Drive, which is already floodlit.

Haddington Athletic player-manager Joe Hamill knows all about playing in the Scottish Cup having scored his first goal for former club Hearts in the competition in 2004 against Berwick Rangers.

He said: “It is massive playing Hearts or Hibs or even a League One team like a Raith Rovers.

“Financially, it would be outstanding playing in the Scottish Cup.”

Currently, Preston Athletic are the only East Lothian side who compete in the Scottish Cup.