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I CAN remember the first cup final I ever went to.

On Sunday, November 2, 1997, all roads led to Motherwell’s Fir Park for Queen of the South fans.

It was the venue for the Challenge Cup final with First Division Falkirk in town and also gunning for silverware.

At that time, Rowan Alexander’s Doonhamers were mid-table in the Second Division so cup progress provided a welcome distraction from league business.

A crowd of almost 10,000 rolled up to see the Bairns clinch a 1-0 win.

From the opposite end of the stadium, I watched as David Hagen scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half.

The Challenge Cup has been good to Queens over the years. The Dumfries team won it in 2002 and again in 2013 – beating Rangers on penalties at Ibrox along the way.

Other lower-league clubs have had their own magic moments.

(Image: Craig Halkett/Daily Record)

Twenty years ago this autumn, Campbell Money's Stranraer pulled off a huge shock when they beat St Johnstone 1-0 at Broadwood.

It remains their only national cup victory.

Same goes for Stenhousemuir. They won the Challenge Cup 12 months earlier thanks to a penalty shoot-out success over Dundee United. Don't forget Alloa Athletic's sole national cup triumph...defeating Inverness Caledonian Thistle on spot-kicks after an eight-goal thriller.

Airdrieonians won it three times before their demise in 2002 but then triumphed again as Airdrie United five-and-a-half years ago.

Nine different winners have been produced in the last nine seasons.

Why is all this relevant?

Well, the competition is on the brink of being radically changed to the point that it will look like a dog’s breakfast.

The Daily Record reported on Saturday that the SPFL are pushing ahead with plans to introduce top-flight ‘B’ teams with invitations extended to two clubs from Northern Ireland and Wales to take part.

(Image: Rob Casey/SNS Group)

Four sides from both the Highland League and Lowland League (now that is a good move, incidentally) will make up the numbers in this Celtic calamity.

The welcome mat is being rolled out for the teams from Ulster and Wales who are in line to receive byes to the third round.

It’s hoped that more TV money can be generated, as well as sponsorship.

But in exchange for pounds and pence, a proud competition will become unrecognisable.

Lower-league clubs have, realistically, only one chance of winning a national cup.

But if they choose to rubber stamp this carry-on, they put that at risk.

In addition, clubs are also refusing to acknowledge the opposition fans have towards ‘B’ teams who the powers-that-be, it seems, are hell-bent on shoving into the senior set-up.

This wretched revamp has the potential to kill off the Challenge Cup as we know it.

(Image: Charles Donnelly/Daily Record)

From Hamilton Accies Under-20s v Stirling Albion in round one to Portadown v Clyde in the last 32 – haud me back.

And, as I pointed out in this column several weeks ago, what will it look like if the final of a Scottish cup competition features an Irish or Welsh team?

Even worse if they end up facing the likes of Celtic or Rangers' reserves.

Mind you, those in charge of our game would maybe prefer to see a Glasgow 'B' team derby final than a Stranraer or Stenhousemuir getting their day in the sun.

I’ve fond memories of the Challenge Cup.

But it will be as good as dead if the clubs – for they are the SPFL – give this nonsense the seal of approval.