Message from the SFL Chief Executive
Wednesday 25th January 2012
The Scottish Communities Cup reaches the semi-final stage this weekend with four teams battling it out at Hampden for a place in the Final that is being held on March 18 and I would like to wish Ayr United, Celtic, Falkirk and Kilmarnock the very best of luck in their games and may the best teams win.
This season’s competition has been one of shocks and drama at every stage which has been great for the tournament and that has been reflected by having two First Division sides in the final four. Ayr have already beaten three SPL sides to be here and Falkirk have an exciting young team that have seen off Rangers and Dundee United to reach the National Stadium.
Saturday’s all Ayrshire Derby is shaping up as the biggest ever meeting between Ayr United and Kilmarnock and Hampden was the choice of the clubs and the fans and we are looking forward to seeing the game played there.
There are thousands making their way to Glasgow just 3 days after Robert Burns’ day and I am sure the National Bard would have approved of the decision of my colleagues at the Scottish Junior Football Association to give their sides Whitletts Victoria and Girvan a free week to enable their players and officials the chance to back their Senior neighbours.
We welcome them and all the other fans that have made sacrifices in lots of different ways to be at the Scottish Communities League Cup weekend. It makes me proud to see the efforts put in by the communities who support their clubs to back them in these events.
Throughout December and January we were tracking the sales of tickets and noticed a bit of an upturn in the week leading up to Christmas so we hope that everyone who attends having received a Christmas present with a difference enjoys their game.
One thing the Honest Men and Bonnie Lassies will not be seeing is cowran, tim'rous beasties on the pitch so I say to the people of Ayrshire - Saturday is your day, enjoy it.
It promises to be a great weekend and I am sure that our family friendly approach to ticket pricing of £15 for adults and £5 for Juveniles under16 years will see good crowds turn out for both games.
The message behind this season’s competition of ‘Tolerance – Respect – Responsibility’ is well established and I would like to thank everyone who has backed it especially the First Minister Alex Salmond and his Senior Ministers who have been enthusiastic supporters.
Club officials, players and fans across the 42 clubs that started off looking to reach Hampden have also backed the competition well and I thank them for that.
We have made a really good start in establishing what the Government’s backing is all about in this competition and having two high profile semi-finals across the one weekend will certainly establish the message further.
