2011–12 Scottish Cup
The 2011–12 Scottish Cup was the 127th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The tournament began on 24 September 2011 and ended on 19 May 2012. It was sponsored by William Hill in the first season of a three-year partnership, known as the William Hill Scottish Cup. The winner of the competition qualified for the play-off round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League. Heart of Midlothian won 5–1 against city rivals Hibernian at Hampden Park. Fixtures & Results. First round. The first round draw was conducted on 29 August 2011 at Buchanan Galleries  in Glasgow. This round is populated entirely by non-league clubs: Golspie Sutherland received a bye into the Second Round. Source: First round replay. Source: Second round. The second round draw was conducted on 28 September 2011 at the William Hill shop in West Campbell Street in Glasgow. The 17 winners and 1 bye from the First Round enter here, along with the 10 SFL Third Division clubs (Alloa Athletic, Annan Athletic, Berwick Rangers, Clyde, East Stirlingshire, Elgin City, Montrose, Peterhead, Queen's Park, Stranraer), Highland League champions (Buckie Thistle), Highland League runners-up (Deveronvale), East of Scotland League champions  (Spartans) and South of Scotland League champions (Threave Rovers). At a hearing of the SFA Judicial Panel on 10 November 2011, Spartans were expelled from the competition for fielding an unregistered and therefore ineligible player in their Second Round tie against Culter. Culter were re-instated to the Third round. Source: BBC Spartans expelled for fielding an ineligible player. Culter progress to the Third Round. Second round replays. Source: BBC Sport Third round. The Third Round draw was conducted on 26 October 2011 at Musselburgh Racecourse. The 16 winners from the Second Round enter here, along with the 10 SFL  Second Division clubs (Airdrie United, Albion Rovers, Arbroath, Brechin City, Cowdenbeath, Dumbarton, East Fife, Forfar Athletic, Stenhosemuir, Stirling Albion) and 6 SFL First Division clubs (Ayr United, Dundee, Greenock Morton, Livingston, Partick Thistle, Ross County) Source: BBC Sport Third round replays. Source: BBC Sport Fourth round. The fourth round draw was conducted on 22 November 2011 at 10:30am at Hampden Park live on Sky Sports News. The 16 winners from the third round entered here, along with the 12 SPL clubs (Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Dunfermline Athletic, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Rangers, St Johnstone, St  Mirren) and four SFL First Division clubs who were exempt from playing in the third round (Falkirk, Hamilton Academical, Queen of the South, Raith Rovers). Source: BBC Sport Fourth round replays. Source: BBC Sport Fifth round. The fifth round draw was conducted on 9 January 2012 at 2:30pm at Hampden Park live on Sky Sports News. The 16 winners from the fourth round entered here. Source: BBC Sport Fifth round replays. Source: BBC Sport Quarter-finals. The Quarter-finals draw was conducted on 6 February 2012 at 2:30pm at Hampden Park live on Sky Sports News. Source: BBC Sport Quarter -final replay. Source: BBC Sport Semi-finals. The Semi-final draw was conducted on 11 March 2012 at Fir Park live on Sky Sports 3 & Sky Sports 3 HD following the Motherwell vs Aberdeen tie. Source: BBC Sport Final. Source: BBC Sport Awards. The Scottish Cup Player of the Round was decided by the fans, who cast their vote to choose a winner from a list of nominations on the official Scottish Cup Facebook page. Media coverage. From round four onwards, selected matches from the Scottish Cup are broadcast live in Ireland and the UK by BBC Scotland and Sky  Sports. BBC Scotland has the option to show one tie per round with Sky Sports showing two ties per round with one replay also. Both channels will screen the final live. These matches were broadcast live on television. Overseas. From round 4 onwards, Premium Sports showed matches live in the USA and Caribbean. Setanta Sports Australia show matches live in Australia.