A real festival atmosphere
Friday 25th January 2013
SFL Chief Executive, David Longmuir, reckons that football fans will be looking forward to this weekend’s Scottish Communities League Cup Semi-Finals, where Inverness Caledonian Thistle take on Heart of Midlothian this Saturday and St. Mirren meet Celtic on Sunday as they mark the start of the run in towards clubs picking up silverware at the end of the season.
Longmuir said: “Since we moved the Semi-Finals back to a weekend slot a couple of years ago, they have grown in importance as they are now seen as a pivotal time in the football calendar. These two games mark the start of the long home straight to winning trophies so they now have an increased tension to them.”
He is delighted that the turning point in the 2012/13 season is being marked in two cities as he explained: “For the first time in a number of years, we have the Semi-Finals in both Glasgow and Edinburgh and that has been welcomed by the clubs and fans. It is important when you consider the geography of football in Scotland that you move games when you can.
“The Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hearts semi is at Easter Road after seeking the opinion of both clubs and I am sure that the fans that travel down from the Highlands will enjoy their trip to the Capital. They will help make it a real festival atmosphere.”
Longmuir added: “After these games, eyes will start turning towards The Scottish Communities League Cup Final, The Ramsdens Cup Final, the latter stages of the Scottish Cup, League titles and the race for the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off places.
“Whilst winning the Second and Third Division titles may no longer be achievable for some sides reaching the excitement of the end of season Play-Offs remains achievable so this weekend certainly kicks off an exciting time in Scottish football.”
The Scottish Communities League Cup is, of course, not just about football on the field with Longmuir saying: “We have the biggest clubs in the country doing great things for their community and we have the smaller clubs doing great things for their community as well. This competition is so important to everyone in football as it helps convey the very positive message of what football is doing in communities the length and breadth of the country.”
