Sport / Women’s team set for inaugural league cup bow ahead of Island Games
THE SHETLAND women’s football team are set to join a major cup competition for the first time next month as they build up to this summer’s Island Games in Orkney.
The blues have joined this year’s ScottishPower Highlands and Islands league cup, and will even meet inter-county foes Orkney in their maiden fixture.
It comes as the women’s team prepare to take part in their first Island Games competition for 20 years this summer.
Shetland will travel to face Orkney in Kirkwall on Saturday 12 April in their first league cup group fixture, before taking on Clachnacuddin in Aberdeen on 18 May.
The competitive fixtures will be the final warm-up games the squad plays before the Island Games, which run from 12 to 18 July.
The league cup semi-finals return in September, with Shetland vying to finish in the top two of their three team group to earn a place in the last four.
Scottish Women’s Football chief Aileen Campbell said the organisation was “particularly excited” to welcome the blues into the cup competition this year.
Shetland Women have received extra funding from tournament sponsors ScottishPower for their travel costs, and the company’s brand director Julie Keough said it was “incredibly important” for them to help “level the playing field for clubs”.
“We recognise the challenges that those out with the central belt can face, particularly when it comes to access to funding, equipment and facilities,” she added.
Shetland will face top seeds Bermuda, Jersey and Isle of Wight in a tricky group at this summer’s Island Games.
It is the first appearance by the women’s team at the event since Shetland hosted the games in 2005.
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