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Highland League and North Caledonian League unlikely to enter new national cup competition


By Will Clark

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NORTH football clubs are unlikely to take part in a new national non-league Scottish Cup which is set to be established next season.

North Caledonian League - Alness United v Invergordon, Dalmore Park, Alness...Invergordon wideman Scott MacIver can't get passed the Alness defence...Picture: Callum Mackay..
North Caledonian League - Alness United v Invergordon, Dalmore Park, Alness...Invergordon wideman Scott MacIver can't get passed the Alness defence...Picture: Callum Mackay..

Representatives of the Highland League and the North Caledonian League say they will probably reject the chance to feature in the new National Non-League Cup being organised by the Scottish Junior Football Association.

The competition is for over 200 clubs across Scotland in the pyramid structure who play at tier five level or below, scheduled to start for the 2022/23 campaign.

Clubs from the Highland League at tier five level and the North Caledonian League and the North Junior Super League, both at tier six level, would be eligible to enter the competition if they wished.

But sources from the Highland League say that it is unlikely any of their clubs will enter the competition due to fixture congestion caused by league matches as well as other cup competitions, including the Scottish Cup, Highland League Cup and North of Scotland Cup.

The North Caledonian League have not formally discussed the possibility of their teams taking part in the Non League Scottish Cup.

But president Iain Whitehead says due to their own league and cup competitions, as well as the possible cost implications, believes there is not much enthusiasm from their clubs to take part.

“Representatives from the Scottish Junior Football Association mentioned it to us, but there have been no formal discussions that we have held,” he said.

“Our season is already squeezed as it is, and I’m not sure our teams would be keen to take part considering the potential distances that could be involved.

“In my personal opinion, I’m not sure our clubs would be interested in taking part due to the cost of travel and the potential to having to travel a long distance, which I would think put teams off taking part.”


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