Stewarton Annick Ladies Set For 700-Mile Shetland Round Trip

Stewarton Annick Ladies will make history on Sunday when they make a 700-mile round trip for the first ever Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup match to be played in Shetland.

The sides were drawn together in the First Preliminary Round but it was not clear if the match, which will kick off at 2:30pm, would even take place due to the extensive travel costs involved.

However, thanks to a mammoth fundraising effort from Stewarton Annick Ladies and support from local businesses and Loganair, the Ayrshire club will now travel north on Sunday to compete in the historic tie which will take place at Gilbertson Park in Lerwick.

Stewarton have also received a significant donation from SPAR Scotland – a Scottish FA partner who are committed to supporting girls’ and women’s football across the nation.

Stewarton will fly from Glasgow to Sumburgh on Sunday morning before arriving back home via Edinburgh on Sunday evening.

Since forming a couple of years ago, Shetland Women have regularly had to fundraise to allow them to send teams south and they were rewarded by winning the SWF Highlands and Islands League Cup last season – despite playing every match as an away team.

They secured the trophy with a 7-0 victory over Sutherland in the final in Nairn and they are competing in the Scottish Cup for the first time.

Lisa Millar, President, Stewarton Annick Ladies: “We’re all really excited. It’s been a huge effort to get to this point, so everyone is just looking forward to representing the club in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup and experiencing what will be a very special day in Shetland for our team and Shetland Women.

“When the draw was made, the initial reaction was excitement, followed quickly by the reality of the challenge. The travel costs and organising a same-day return due to players’ work commitments made it a huge logistical task, but we’ve worked hard to find a way to make it happen.

“I’m incredibly proud of everyone. The players, coaches, committee, volunteers and supporters have all played their part. The support we’ve received has been overwhelming, and we’d like to thank everyone who has generously donated or supported us. Without their generosity and support, this trip simply wouldn’t have been possible.”

Sarah Williamson, vice-captain, Shetland Women: “It’s difficult to put into words how much we’re looking forward to Sunday’s fixture. There’s been a real buzz around the community, with people who don’t usually come along to football matches saying they’ll be there to watch.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Stewarton Annick Ladies for making the journey all the way to Shetland. We know how challenging travelling to the mainland can be, so we really appreciate the time, effort and expense they’ve put into making the trip.

“It’s quite a change for us this time being able to walk or drive to the pitch instead of facing a 14-hour ferry crossing followed by several hours on a bus, to then play the game and repeat the same journey back on the same day.

“It’s incredibly special for us to play such a historic fixture in front of our friends and families, who know just how much dedication and commitment it takes to reach this level.

“There’s a certain feeling you get when you pull on a Shetland shirt, knowing you’re representing home. It’s about much more than the 90 minutes on the pitch. It’s an opportunity to showcase women’s football in Shetland and inspire the next generation of players coming through.”

Paula Middleton, Head of Marketing, SPAR Scotland: “When we heard about the plight of Stewarton Annick Ladies we wanted to help in some small way. With SPAR stores situated the length and breadth of Scotland we wanted to help.

“As a long-standing partner of the Scottish FA we are all about making football as accessible as possible for everyone. We wish both teams the best of luck for the game.”