Hopes Moray Community Cup could return in May
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TEN clubs are hoping to rejoin the road to Borough Briggs in this season’s Moray Community Cup tournament.
With welfare football off the calendar for the past year due to Covid-19, an event aiming to give some of the area’s older players a platform to play resumed its action late in 2020.
The Community Cup was halted by the suspension of play in January, but is aiming to resume in May if restrictions allow.
Registrations secretary Stuart Whyte, who runs competition sponsor The Ionic Bar, said with contact sport possibly returning in mid-May, the competition could be completed with final group games and a knockout finale.
“We are hoping to invite Scottish Welfare FA officials to Borough Briggs final if possible and even stream the game if we are able to,” Whyte said.
Two sections of five clubs began on November 29 with plans to play each other twice. Group winners go straight into the Community Cup semi finals, with second and third placed teams going into the quarters.
The grand final will be played at Borough Briggs.
Fourth and fifth placed sides go into the Community Shield semi finals – to ensure everyone plays as many games as possible.
It was hoped the knockout stages would be two-legged but, instead, organisers hope to finish the groups on May 23 and play one-match knockouts.
Forres teams Mosset Tavern and Carisbrooke have been playing in the event since November, while Forres league trio FC Elgin, Elgin Caledonian and Elgin United have also been in the thick of the action.
Another side competing, the Elgin Golden Oldies, are made up of a squad of veteran players, including Forres Mechanics first team coach Charlie Brown – who has been showing off some of the goalscoring talents which made him a Cans favourite in his heyday.
Neil Whyte, star of the Cans’ last title-winning team and later to receive a testimonial from the Mosset Park outfit, has been proving he has lost little of the pace that terrorised Highland League defences.
Steven Rattray, another ex-Forres man who won the Highland League with Deveronvale, and ex-Vale, Lossiemouth and Elgin City winger Stuart Cameron are two others featuring for the EGOs this season.
Funding was made available from the Scottish Welfare FA to cover tournament costs, including referees.
