FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has described the Scottish Cup as the "jewel in the crown" of Scotland's Homecoming celebrations after securing a sponsorship partnership with the Scottish Football Association.
This season's tournament will be known as the Homecoming Scottish Cup after Glasgow businessman Willie Haughey donated the branding rights of his £2million, two-year sponsorship package to the Scottish Government.
The cup will be used to promote t
he Homecoming tourism drive, which has been designed to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. The trophy will then become a vehicle to promote healthy living and good citizenship. Salmond said: "Thanks to the generosity of Willie Haughey, it's given us a no-brainer as a government.
"His sponsorship allows us to get across a whole range of really important messages, about football for all, citizenship through football, healthy living, participation and lifestyle choices, anti-sectarianism.
"Everybody interested in Scotland wants to know what's happening in the Scottish Cup, so it's a great platform for the Homecoming message.
The £1million-per-year deal, which may be extended beyond two years, will allow the SFA to divert money into youth football following a near 18-month search for a replacement to former sponsor Tennent's.
