Stannergill Cup final ‘a good advert for Highland football’, says SPFL chief
The chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League was among the spectators at an amateur cup final in Caithness at the weekend.
Neil Doncaster drove up from the central belt for Saturday’s Stannergill Cup final between Castletown and Staxigoe United, having attended the Scotland v Iceland friendly at Hampden Park the previous night.
Speaking pre-match at Castletown’s Back Park, Mr Doncaster said: “I had a spare day, I’ve not been to this glorious part of the world before, and I thought what better opportunity to come up and experience it in this nice weather for an amateur cup final. And I am not disappointed in the slightest.
“It’s a fantastic set-up here at Castletown and I’ve had a lovely warm welcome. I think people appreciate when you drive a distance to come and see facilities that they are rightly proud of.”
He added: “The pyramid is only as strong as what’s beneath it. I’ve always said that about the 42 clubs in the SPFL – it’s really important that we care for what’s beneath, because that ultimately drives the success above. I’m really pleased to be here.”
Staxigoe United won the match 2-1 to become the first winners of the new trophy sponsored by Dunnet Bay Distillers. It is the first knockout competition of the Caithness Amateur Football Association season.
Mr Doncaster was invited to play a part in the post-match presentations.
On the game itself, he said: “I certainly enjoyed it. It was very keenly contested, two evenly matched sides, lots of passion on display, lovely sunshine and a good crowd – all in all, a good advert for Highland football.”
Mr Doncaster was heading to Inverness after the match before travelling to Scotland’s next friendly, away to Liechtenstein, on Monday.
More coverage to follow on the Stannergill Cup final.