Caithness United to compete in Highland Academy Festival hosted by Ross County
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Ross County will this summer be hosting a Highland Academy Festival featuring teams from right across the Highlands and Islands.
It is the first time in years that such a tournament has taken place, with teams set to participate in the two-day event at the Highland Football Academy including under-14 and under-16 sides from Ross County, Orkney, Caithness United, Elgin City, Shetland, Clachnacuddin and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The event, which has been put together by Ross County, is aimed at showcasing the best the Highlands has to offer at both age groups and exhibiting some of the exciting young talents from both across the mainland and islands.
Teams will arrive for the first round of matches on the evening of Friday, July 1, and the festival will conclude the next day.
County will now hope the next generation of first team stars will be on show at the festival, which should showcase the best young talent around in the Highlands and Islands.
Ross County academy manager, Gordon Duff said: “It’s fantastic to be hosting a festival that brings together so many clubs from across the region. We have seen over the years the strength of youth football in the Highlands and Islands and the pathways that can be created into professional football.
“You just need to look at the past 12 months and we here at Ross County we have had Josh Reid play in our first team who was a Dingwall boy, and his performances in the first team here led to his move to Coventry City.
"We have also had Matthew Wright playing in the first team last season and scoring against Rangers with Adam Mackinnon and Ross Munro also featuring in the first team for Ross County.
"That is coupled with the successes at youth levels for all of the other clubs involved too. Hopefully this festival will see that next group of talented youngsters on display.
“We have designed the festival to showcase some of the talent that each club has at the two age groups, and it will be a really good 48 hours for the different clubs.
"I would like to thank the clubs for their participation and partnership in arranging the festival as well as the staff here who will be running the event alongside myself. Thanks, must also go to the Highland Football Academy and their staff for making the venue available.”
