Highland Amateur Cup is called off for second consecutive year
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ORGANISERS have confirmed The Highland Amateur Cup will not return in 2021 due to the impact of the pandemic.
The biggest amateur football tournament in the north will not take place for the second year running due to the lack of time available to stage the competition.
Clubs from all amateur football organisations in the Highlands, including Inverness and District, were unanimous in deciding not to stage the tournament this season after talks were held.
The cancellation of the tournament is part of an attempt by associations across the region to stage competitions at local levels to allow football to return to grassroots level.
Competition secretary Bob Gunn says it was a decision that was agreed by all clubs that the tournament could not return 2021,
“We held a meeting with the Scottish Amateur Football Association and it was agreed to not hold the Highland Amateur Cup this season, “ he confirmed.
“We consulted with all our member association which stretch as far as Shetland and the Western Isles as well as Inverness, Sutherland, Orkney and Caithness so we all had a voice.
“It was unanimous on all fronts that if there is football to go ahead this year, we are better containing it to a local level and start afresh with the Highland Amateur Cup next year.
“The decision has been rubber stamped by the executive and finance committee at the SAFA.”
Gunn says associations want to focus on competing in league seasons and not taking part in a scaled down version of the Highland Amateur Cup.
“The implications on teams to travel from Uist and Barra and Shetland seems pointless at this stage of the epidemic,” he said.
“Teams just want to get back to playing football but appreciate there are guidelines.
“Rules such as sharing dressing rooms and using shower facilities has huge implications on the Highland Amateur Cup.
“Teams travelling from Caithness to places like Durness, Lochinver or Inverness need to use these facilities.
“Highland weather doesn’t dictate we are going to get sunny days between now and August.”
“We have done the right thing asking each individual association for their opinion on this season’s tournament and everyone came back and said no.
“They want to concentrate on their own leagues, in whatever form they take and start preparations for the Highland Amateur Cup next year.”
