CUP-WINNING footballers will be reunited tomorrow to toast a famous cup triumph.

Haddington Athletic were underdogs going into the final of the East of Scotland Junior Cup on May 5, 1973.

However, a Colin Dickson strike at Tynecastle was enough to give them a 1-0 victory over Junior heavyweights Linlithgow Rose.

To mark 50 years since the cup win, members of the Hi Hi squad from that day are being invited to attend tomorrow's East of Scotland Football League Premier Division encounter with the West Lothian side.

Drew Donaldson, Haddington Athletic chairman, was looking forward to welcoming familiar faces back through the gates at Millfield.

He said: “This game has taken on even more significance because Linlithgow Rose can win the league when we play them that day.

“It is probably going to be another big crowd.

“I think we have managed to track down most of the players that were in the squad apart from a couple.

“As you can imagine with time going on, some are not with us unfortunately and some are in care.

“We are hoping to have five of the squad down, which would be great. Another, Ally Matheson, is on holiday and does not get back until the following week.

“The guy who scored, Colin Dickson, we managed to get in touch with him and he will be there.”

The Millfield men lifted the trophy, which was sidelined when the majority of clubs swapped the Junior for the Senior ranks, on three occasions and had knocked Bonnyrigg Rose out in the semi-finals.

Mr Donaldson, who was at the game, described the competition as “the biggest cup played for outside of the Scottish Junior Cup”.

The game was played on the same day as Rangers defeated league champions Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, while Sunderland shocked Leeds United in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 at Wembley in the FA Cup.

Mr Donaldson added: “All the underdogs won that day!”

Peter Dargo, Colin Dickson, Pat Glynn, Jimmy Little and Mick Thorburn are all planning to attend the game, which kicks off at 2.30pm.

The East Lothian outfit sit seventh in the standings after an impressive debut campaign in the top flight of the EoSFL, having gained promotion last term after a battle with Leith Athletic.

Mr Donaldson added: “Linlithgow will certainly be fired up but Scott Bonar [manager] will have Haddington the same.”