Page 3 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.19 2020-21

Leading convenience store group SPAR Scotland is extending its partnership with the
Scottish FA and will continue to sponsor the Scotland Women’s National Team until 2023.
SPAR Scotland originally launched its sponsorship with the Scottish FA in 2019 and
throughout 2020 continued to raise the profile of the Scotland Women’s National Team,
committing to investing in girls’ and women’s grassroots football across Scotland until 2021.
A key element of the partnership was the introduction of the SPAR Future Stars
Football Cup which is a nationwide Girls Football competition stretching across all six
Scottish FA Regions. This presented an opportunity for girls aged 12-16 years to participate
in a competitive, fun and inclusive competition for their school.
Despite the Future Stars Final not being able to take place last year due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, SPAR Scotland witnessed great team performances at local and
regional level prior to lockdown and will ensure the competition begins again next term.
During the pandemic SPAR Scotland worked with the Scotland National Team
players as they took part in virtual videos including Lizzie Arnot baking banana bread and
Lana Clelland taking on keep fit activities.
Colin McLean, CEO of SPAR Scotland, said: “Our continued sponsorship of the
Scotland Women’s National as they embark upon their qualification campaign for the
World Cup in 2023 is hugely significant.
“Our partnership means we can continue to commit to girls and women’s grassroots
football with the Scottish FA. This allows our hugely successful Future Stars tournament
to continue to encourage young girls to participate in the sport and build on the positive
momentum in girls’ and women’s football generated by the success of the national team.”
Fiona McIntyre, Head of Girls’ and Women’s Football at the Scottish FA said:
“SPAR Scotland’s partnership with the association has been hugely valuable and beneficial
in the growth of the women’s game since the World Cup in 2019.
“The start of their partnership coincided in a real upsurge of interest in the national
team and women’s football as a whole. The SPAR Future Stars Cup allowed young girls
across the country to enjoy playing football in a friendly, competitive tournament against
other schools as well as hone their skills.
“SPAR Scotland have demonstrated a real commitment to support the growth of the
women’s game across the board from grassroots to the national team and their backing is
invaluable as we aim to increase participation numbers, with girls and women across the
country now back on pitches following the difficult year we’ve all experienced.”
(www.scottishfa.co.uk)

The 2021 Scottish Women’s Football (SWF) Highlands & Islands League will start on
Sunday 20th June and conclude on Sunday 10th October. The start of the season follows
contact adult training having been permitted from 17th May. A condensed League and
League Cup schedule has been agreed, providing regular competition for the nine affiliated
teams in the Highlands & Islands.
The first weekend of the season will see reigning 2019 champions, Clachnacuddin,
travel away to Caithness who finished third that season. Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Development, who were runners-up, and Nairn, who finished bottom in 2019, are both at
home to new sides in the form of Orkney and Sutherland respectively. The final tie is Brora
Rangers hosting Buckie, two sides who were separated by just one point last season.
Issue no. 19 - 27 May 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk