Three teams have dropped out since last season and the future of the league had been in doubt until Kingussie announced in March that they would be making a return after a year out.

Tomatin have switched to the Inverness amateur association leagues, while Carrbridge and Cromdale have been unable to get enough players to raise teams.

The departure of the trio put the season in severe doubt until the Kings confirmed that they would be fielding a team thus providing a much-needed fourth team.

League chairman Graeme Mackie said he was relieved that the season had finally kicked-off.

He added: "The events of the last few months have been a real setback for local welfare football with the loss of Tomatin and two stalwarts.

"Fortunately, Kingussie had indicated they were interested in rejoining and Newtonmore were also asked but I think they had a problem mustering numbers because of summer shinty.

"Over the years, the SBWFA has produced numerous footballers who have gone on to play at a higher level – even long before the formation of Strathspey Thistle.

"With the possibility of Highland League football on our doorstep, welfare football is the only football a lot of players will now get to play in.

"Therefore, we thought it was imperative that the league continued even just with four teams.

"I firmly believe that SBWFA will grow again although maybe not to the ten team league there once was.

"But if just one former player from each village takes this warning about the state of welfare football on board then that will start the ball rolling, and who knows."

All matches are being played on Tuesday nights but there will no longer be games on a Friday.

FORFEITED

The first round of fixtures got under way with Kingussie hosting RBL Aviemore last Tuesday.

An early penalty from Colin Mitchell gave the home side the lead but goals from Alan Docherty, Davie Ross and Brian Minard meant that RBL took a commanding lead into the second half.

A fightback seemed on the cards when Rory Borthwick pulled one back to make it 3-2, but RBL's David Robertson scored late in the game to give them a 4-2 victory and all three points.

Further up the strath, Aviemore Thistle were due to face Tomatin United, however, the hosts were unable to field a full team and so forfeited the game, giving United a 3-0 away win.

Last night (Tuesday) saw the McCook Cup semi-finals taking place. Kingussie hosted Tomatin United, while Thistle and RBL battle it out in the first Aviemore derby of the campaign.

In mid-March, five teams – including Kingussie – confirmed at the league's AGM, held at the Cairn Hotel, Carrbridge, that they would be playing this season.

However, defending champions Carrbridge announced last month that they would be unable to take their place this season A league spokesman said: "At an emergency meeting held on April 20 it was announced that last season's champions, Carrbridge FC, would not be competing again this year due to a chronic shortage of players.

"This, obviously, threw the entire fixture list into chaos but it was reworked so that the season could kick-off as scheduled on May 5.

"Because of the reduced number of teams, all league and cup games will now only be played on Tuesday nights – league one week, cup the next and so on.

"Each team will play the other three times, one home, one away and the other decided at random."

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