Welfare league launch hunt for missing trophy last seen in 1999
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The president of the Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare League is appealing for information on the whereabouts of one its most historic football shields.
The missing trophy, an impressive large wooden shield, was first introduced in the 1920s and had been awarded for several decades to the winners of the league competition.
It is understood that the shield was last used in 1999 when it was presented to winners, Grantown United.
A new shield was introduced from 2000 onward – first won by Kingussie – and it is believed that the retired shield took up residence on the wall of the Thistle Bar, next to the Tyree House Hotel in Grantown.
The bar, who sponsored Grantown United at the time, closed down soon after, with the fate of the shield unknown.
24 years later, league officers and local historians are hoping to track the original trophy down in a bid to have it restored and re-introduced as the top prize for its member clubs.
President of the SBWFA, Alasdair MacNeill, said: "The trophy was last won by Grantown United in 1999, after which the present shield was used.
"The old shield was last known to be in the Tyree bar in Grantown. Someone had butchered it by drilling two dirty great holes in the thing and screwed it to the wall. However, since the establishment closed down its whereabouts have become unknown.
"It was far too nice a thing to have been simply flung in a skip, so I am hopeful it's in a garage or loft somewhere gathering dust. I'd really like to get it back and investigate the possibility of fully restoring it and reusing as the present shield is nearing its own end of life."
The trophy is described as being just under a metre in height, with league winners' names engraved on plaques covering the front and back of its body.
Anyone with information that could lead to its recovery are asked to contact the league on teams@sbwfa.co.uk.
Representatives of teams looking to play in this summer’s welfare football in the strath are being invited to a league meeting next week.
The league AGM will take place next Wednesday, March 29 at the Cairn Hotel in Carrbridge, with a 7pm start.
Mr MacNeill added: “We will be looking to formulate the coming season in terms of league and cup fixtures, and encourage anyone interested in entering a team to attend.
“This is further enhanced by very generous assistance from the Scottish Welfare FA which has agreed to contribute £100 towards each club’s mandatory insurance payments, taking a good burden off many in these difficult times.”
Interested parties are encouraged to attend on the night or email teams@sbwfa.co.uk for more information.
