Summer football season in Sutherland is cancelled due to rise in virus cases
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SUMMER football in Sutherland has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to the impact of the pandemic.
The North West Sutherland Amateur Football Association have confirmed the 2021 campaign will not take place due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the region.
The season was due to begin tomorrow, with 10 teams, eight from Sutherland and two from Ross-shire, taking part in a shortened regionalised league format.
However, after discussions with clubs regarding the growing number of cases as a result of the Delta variant, it was agreed to cancel the season to avoid further spread of the virus.
NWSAFA secretary Hugh Morrison says the decision was taken with health and safety being the highest priority.
He said: “Due to the increase in cases across the Highlands, we have decided that we are not going to go ahead with this season.
“The season was planned to take place over a six-week period.
“But we don’t want the NWSAFA to be blamed for spreading cases around parts of Sutherland and Ross-shire.
“The virus is rife on the east coast of Sutherland.
“We have teams based from Lochinver to Dornoch and Brora to Kinlochbervie.
“We do not want to be responsible for the virus spreading.
“We understand there will be frustration, but with the number of cases in the last two or three weeks, it would be foolish to start it up again.
“It could have been a recipe for disaster.”
The news has come as a blow to football clubs who were unable to play last season due to the first wave of the pandemic.
Ten teams were due to take part in the league this season who all gave their views on whether the campaign should go ahead.
Eight teams from Sutherland who were due to play included Brora Wanderers, Dornoch, Golspie Stafford, Helmsdale, Kinlochbervie, Lairg, Lochinver and Melvich along with Ross-shire teams Inver and Lochbroom.
Three clubs, Invergordon Social Club, Tongue and champions Tain Thistle declined to play this season before the season was cancelled.
Representatives from towns and villages outwith the football clubs where they are based were also consulted about the season.
Despite the rising number of cases, the number of people being hospitalised is not rising at the same rate due to the vaccination programme.
But Morrison says they are not prepared to put footballers or communities at risk.
“People will be annoyed that the season is not happening. But football will only not be happening under the NWSAFA, if clubs want to play their own friendlies, we can’t stop them doing that.”
