Strath's welfare football teams get chance to compete on national stage
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The Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare League has stirred from its winter hibernation with some big news.
The Scottish Welfare FA recently took the step to move the Scottish Cup from a winter to a summer competition, opening the door to a host of clubs previously unable to participate.
The contest has drawn such a bumper crop of interested teams that the format has been split into north and south regional groups up to the quarter final stage.
Clubs knocked out of the competition before then will have a second bit at the National silverware cherry through automatic entry into the Highland Welfare Cup.
The SBWFA has now entered six teams into the competition for the first time ever where they’ll face opposition from Forres & Nairn WFA, Moray & District WFA and the North East Scotland WFA in the opening rounds.
The fixtures are:
Preliminary Round North (weekend of 27 April): Glenugie Utd (NE) v Cromdale; Grantown Utd v Kinloss Sappers (F&N); Elgin Thistle (F&N) v Aviemore Thistle; Elgin Albion (F&N) v Badenoch Utd
First Round North (weekend of 11 May): Carisbrooke (F&N) v Glenugie Utd (NE) or Cromdale; FC Abernethy v Hopeman (M&D); Elgin Albion (F&N) or Badenoch Utd v Haven (NE); Craigellachie (M&D) v Grantown Utd or Kinloss Sappers (F&N); ESCT Academy (F&N) v Grantown Rovers; Elgin Thistle (F&N) or Aviemore Thistle v Rothes A (M&D).
It is anticipated the domestic campaign will kick off in early May, and so far the six clubs mentioned have already signed on for another year.
Boat of Garten Ospreys have yet to confirm.
SBWFA Chairman Alasdair MacNeill expressed his delight at the new national cup format.
He said: “Never before have we had so many member clubs tread the national stage, and this is a hugely exciting development.
"The regional format in the opening rounds is a superb initiative to help keep costs down, and the second chance through the Highland Welfare Cup is a tremendous move.
“The national scene has been a bit stagnant of late but this has really ignited it all again. I’m sure all out participating clubs will do the area proud.
“I also hope to attract more clubs for our upcoming season. Six is a great number again but I’d really love to get eight so fingers crossed Boat will participate again and any new club – or returning old club – would be ideal.
“BBC Scotland’s ‘A View from the Terrace’ have also been in touch and are very keen to film a piece for the show around the theme of football where shinty is king.
"This is yet another exciting prospect for not only the league but the area in general.
“I hope to hold the AGM next month so will have a better idea how things lie then.”
Interested parties can email teams@sbwfa.co.uk or can make contact via the association’s Facebook and X/Twitter pages.
