Highland Amateur Cup just wouldn't be feasible at the moment, says Wick Groats manager
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Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson says it will be disappointing but understandable if the organisers of the Highland Amateur Cup decide to scrap the tournament this summer.
A cancellation would mean Groats having to wait one more season before getting the chance to retain the trophy, having won it in 2019 for the fourth time in seven years.
Executive committee chairman Hugh Morrison admitted last week that time may be running out to organise the competition because of the uncertainty over when it will be considered safe for grassroots football to return.
The tournament – which features amateur teams from across the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles – was axed last summer for the first time in its 42-year history.
Anderson acknowledged that cancelling the 2021 tournament would be "probably the sensible thing to do", given its geographical spread.
“It's also a very costly competition and it takes a lot of time for the committee to get it arranged," he said.
“It's a massive competition but I'm certainly not surprised it is looking like it's going to be called off.”
Anderson gave the example of Groats' second-round tie against Barra in 2019 as a way of highlighting the logistical challenges that can arise. That match – which Groats won 8-0 – was played at a neutral venue on Skye with a 10.30am kick-off.
“We had to stay the night before on the Friday and Barra needed two boat trips to get to Skye, hence the morning kick-off," Anderson recalled. "Things like that just wouldn't really be feasible at the moment."
Anderson agreed that going ahead with the competition would depend on the progress made in overcoming Covid-19.
“To start the Highland Amateur Cup we'd need to be pretty much over all this, to be honest,” he said.
Anderson stressed that in normal times the tournament is eagerly anticipated by amateur footballers across the Highlands and Islands at the start of the summer season.
“It's on a Saturday, it's not through the week," he said. "It's a day out, it's a social thing – every team looks forward to the Highland Cup. It's good for team bonding too.
“Who knows where we will be in two months' time? It would be great to get the competition played, but I can't see it being practical.”
On the other hand, Anderson is optimistic about the prospects for Caithness summer football – subject to guidance.
"I would like to think a summer season would go ahead," he said. "Again we're in the lap of the gods, it'll depend on what happens in the next couple of months, but the high-risk people are starting to get vaccinated. How quickly that all rolls out to everybody else, I don't know.
“But it's local – we're not travelling far. Obviously we would still need to follow all the guidelines put towards us but I certainly think there is no reason – pending what comes out from the government – that summer football couldn't be played.
"Hopefully spectators can start going back soon as well. Again, with local football, you do obviously get supporters coming but not to the extent of Highland League teams and we have big, wide-open parks.
"If supporters were allowed back again there would be no issues really with distancing. I would certainly like to think it will happen. But we'll just need to see what the Scottish AFA and Caithness AFA say."
The Scottish FA will hold a review into lifting the suspension of lower-league football on March 1.
Mr Morrison said it was uncertain whether restrictions would allow the Highland Amateur Cup to take place.
“I can’t see us making any decision on the tournament until April or May,” he said. “If that happens it might be too late to start the competition.
“That will be for the committee to decide, but I’m unsure when that meeting will happen.
“We have to consider the competition involves teams from Skye to Shetland, and Orkney and the Western Isles, as well as the Highlands.
“Nothing is official, but we need to have things clear in our minds by the end of April that it can go ahead. At the moment, I can’t see that happening.”
Wick Groats completed a clean sweep of honours in 2019 – the Caithness AFA first division title, Eain Mackintosh Cup, David Allan Shield and Colin Macleod Memorial Cup as well as the Highland Amateur Cup.
It was Groats' eighth county league title in a row and they regained the Highland Amateur Cup when Graham MacNab's first-minute strike was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Avoch in the final at Brora.
