Bonnyrigg Rose host Celtic in Lowland League opener - two months after Old Firm rejection

Celtic Colts will kick off their controversial campaign in the Lowland League at New Dundas Park against Bonnyrigg Rose – one of the sides who opposed their admission to the fifth tier.

Bonnyrigg Rose’s home ground New Dundas Park will host Celtic's first Lowland League fixture next month. (Picture: SNS)

The new season’s fixtures for the Lowland League have been released, with the season to begin on July 17, and the lists include both Rangers and Celtic B-teams after their one-year entry was approved last month.

The matter split opinion in the division but the Old Firm clubs’ colts teams were accepted – though they cannot be promoted or relegated regardless of league position.

Bonnyrigg held a members' vote on the matter and voiced their opposition to the move – but the Midlothian club was out-voted at the Lowland League clubs’ meeting last month.

Rangers and Celtic's youths will meet in the Lowland League after being admitted last month. (Picture: SNS)

As well as Celtic heading to New Dundas Park, Rangers host Bo’ness United on their opening day of the season and will play home games in Dumbarton.

Civil Service Strollers are also on the road for the opener, away at Dalbeattie while Edinburgh University host BSC Glasgow, now managed by Martin Hardie and Zander Diamond.

Rangers will be Spartans’ first opponents of the season, visiting Ainslie Park for their first game of the season on July 20 after sitting out the opening weekend.

The campaign will end on April 16 – the same day as one of the Scottish Cup semi-finals – with Spartans hosting Bo’ness, CSS at home to Stirling Uni and Edinburgh Uni at Vale of Leithen. Bonnyrigg’s last game is against one of their fellow promotion hopefuls East Kilbride, away.

Rangers and Celtic will also meet one another on July 31 and January 1.

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