HibeeJibee Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 According to FitbaNorth, the Orkney FC club - effectively a combination of the best talents in that island, as I understand it - have entered the North Caledonian League for the coming season. This is a sort of quasi-Senior league in the north of the country, though of low membership, and fairly poor standard. Until now it's been best-known as home to romantically-named Golspie Sutherland, who enter the Scottish Cup each season. I believe this will be the first time a team from the Northern or Western isles has played in any mainland league, and outwith amateur / welfare football, so quite a historic moment. During the last 2 seasons the Orkney team tested the waters by entering some of their cups - with decent success. In 2012-13 they lost 1-0 at Muir of Ord in one cup, then reached the final of another, winning 3-2 at Clachnacuddin and 2-1 at home to Muir before losing 3-2 to Golspie in the showpiece. Last season they doubled the entry to 4 cups: lost 2-3 at home to Halkirk; lost 2-0 away to Clachnacuddin; won 2-0 at home to Alness before losing 3-1 at Golspie; and again reached a Final where they lost out 4-0 to Golspie after winning at Muir (4-3 aet) and crushing Clachnacuddin 4-1 at home. How far can football in Orkney go? Could we see them ascending from the NCL into the Highland League one day - or maybe even further, to the SPFL? Can the Western Isles or Shetland ever emulate their progress? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calum_gers Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 According to FitbaNorth, the Orkney FC club - effectively a combination of the best talents in that island, as I understand it - have entered the North Caledonian League for the coming season. This is a sort of quasi-Senior league in the north of the country, though of low membership, and fairly poor standard. Until now it's been best-known as home to romantically-named Golspie Sutherland, who enter the Scottish Cup each season. I believe this will be the first time a team from the Northern or Western isles has played in any mainland league, and outwith amateur / welfare football, so quite a historic moment. During the last 2 seasons the Orkney team tested the waters by entering some of their cups - with decent success. In 2012-13 they lost 1-0 at Muir of Ord in one cup, then reached the final of another, winning 3-2 at Clachnacuddin and 2-1 at home to Muir before losing 3-2 to Golspie in the showpiece. Last season they doubled the entry to 4 cups: lost 2-3 at home to Halkirk; lost 2-0 away to Clachnacuddin; won 2-0 at home to Alness before losing 3-1 at Golspie; and again reached a Final where they lost out 4-0 to Golspie after winning at Muir (4-3 aet) and crushing Clachnacuddin 4-1 at home. How far can football in Orkney go? Could we see them ascending from the NCL into the Highland League one day - or maybe even further, to the SPFL? Can the Western Isles or Shetland ever emulate their progress? Lewis had a team in the North Caledonian Cup last year. They lost to Alness United 1-0 I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audaces Fortuna Juvat Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Is that Lewis not a team in Aberdeen though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calum_gers Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Is that Lewis not a team in Aberdeen though? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audaces Fortuna Juvat Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Sorry, I was thinking of this lot, http://nonleaguescotland.org.uk/lewis.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 Last season Shetland and Lewis & Harris followed Orkney's earlier lead, entering 2 and 1 cups respectively: Thurso 1-1 Shetland (3-5p) Shetland 2-3 Golspie Shetland 2-0 Sutherland Utd Shetland 1-1 Golspie (1-3p) Alness Utd 1-0 Lewis & Harris Shetland also entered the North Challenge Cup of 2008-09 alongside HL clubs and Golspie. They won 5-0 at Fort William before crashing 6-2 at Cove. Unfortunately that was their only participation, as the NCC was scrapped the following season due to HL expanding to 18 clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audaces Fortuna Juvat Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Now that would be a day out, a trip to one of the islands for a game? Knowing my luck it would be postponed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mon The Candy Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 would love it if we got a game up in the islands. we'll probably be the first people arrrested in 20yrs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Is that Lewis not a team in Aberdeen though? He's Inspector Morse's pal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 would love it if we got a game up in the islands. we'll probably be the first people arrrested in 20yrs! Just don't go gunning for an indian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 The amateur teams from the islands both north and west are generally stronger sides than the Inverness and District Amateurs going by the number of teams from the islands that have won the Highland Amateur Cup over the years So considering a good number of players from the North Juniors West and NCL play for the top amateur sides in the I&DA during the summer months, I would think a team from Orkney would give a more than a good account of themselves in the NCL, probably win it within the first couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Wee Villa Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I've wondered before if teams from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles could compete. I reckon if they had one team per each rather than more and diluting the local talent, they'd have a chance of getting up into the SFL, if some sort of proper pyramid system with promotion to the Highland League is set up. Is football the main sport in each area, or are they more into egg-chasing or shinty or some weird Viking sports like eleven-a-side pillaging? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I've wondered before if teams from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles could compete. I reckon if they had one team per each rather than more and diluting the local talent, they'd have a chance of getting up into the SFL, if some sort of proper pyramid system with promotion to the Highland League is set up. Is football the main sport in each area, or are they more into egg-chasing or shinty or some weird Viking sports like eleven-a-side pillaging? Do they not play a weird medieval game involving 'uppies' and 'doonies' that's not much more than an organised scrap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcat1990 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I've wondered before if teams from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles could compete. I reckon if they had one team per each rather than more and diluting the local talent, they'd have a chance of getting up into the SFL, if some sort of proper pyramid system with promotion to the Highland League is set up. Is football the main sport in each area, or are they more into egg-chasing or shinty or some weird Viking sports like eleven-a-side pillaging? I used to have a flatmate from Lewis and the biggest pastime seemed to be getting far too wankered to do anything, never mind consider sport. That and hating people that aren't white and straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigOutYourSoul Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Do they not play a weird medieval game involving 'uppies' and 'doonies' that's not much more than an organised scrap. The Ba' its called, and yes you describe it well. Basically an organised brawl that lasts all day while people try and get the Ba' to one end of the town by any means necessary. As for the place I spend a week there a couple of years back and loved it. Friendly people and some stunning scenery, a few good pubs where you are made welcome as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 Is football the main sport in each area, or are they more into egg-chasing or shinty or some weird Viking sports like eleven-a-side pillaging? I think it is, yes, although obviously their location makes it difficult for teams to play outwith their own island groupings. All 3 compete at the Island Games football, which Shetland has previously hosted and won. Orkney and Shetland have rugby union clubs that have occasionally threatened to do something in the Scottish Rugby pyramid, and Scottish Rugby Cup. Incidentally they've played in the national rugby levels before - and Orkney currently play in the North League (tier 5) which runs down to Fife, Stirling, Dundee and Clackmannan - despite rugby being mostly amateur. SRU provides travel assistance grants, IIRC. There doesn't seem to be any Shinty in the Northern or Western isles, bar one shinty club - not competiting in adult leagues - in Uist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilky1878 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 The main problem for them if progressing through an eventual pyramid as the location may limit there progress. Say one day they do get into the SPFL League two they would need everyone in the island supporting them because they wouldn't exactly get much of an away support. They also wouldn't take much fan to places limiting the support of the team. All the best for them though and it'll be nice watching there progress in the coming years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I used to have a flatmate from Lewis and the biggest pastime seemed to be getting far too wankered to do anything, never mind consider sport. That and hating people that aren't white and straight. I like him already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcat1990 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I like him already.He looked and acted like an abused puppy. He also drank smart price cider and spent his days attempting to make moonshine. That what you will from that. Bff material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky88 Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 He looked and acted like an abused puppy. He also drank smart price cider and spent his days attempting to make moonshine. That what you will from that. Bff material. All people who live on the islands are shits. I'd vote for independence if we weren't stuck with them tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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