Papa Joe football tourney cancelled for 2020

Ayrshire’s popular annual football tournament, the Papa Joe McGill Land O’ Burns Scotland Cup, has been cancelled for this year.

It was due to take place in Ayr next month but organisers have pulled the plug due to the ongoing situation with the Coronavirus pandemic.

A statement from the organisers said:“It is with regret we have to announce the cancellation of our August tournament.”

Back in March, the committee were forced to make the decision to cancel two of their 2020 Scotland Cup Tournaments, meaning the axe fell on the Scotland Cup Easter Tournament, in Largs, and the 43rd Ayr International Scotland Cup Tournament, in May.

Now the committee has been left with no option but to cancel a third big tournament, which attracts thousands to Ayrshire every year.

Their statement said: “In March, the Scotland Cup Committee regrettably made the decision to cancel two out of three of our 2020 Scotland Cup Tournaments:

“After this decision, the committee continued to monitor and review the ongoing situation and has adhered to the directives from the SFA, SYFA and the Scottish Government. Grassroots football has not been permitted to return yet, our events class as mass gatherings due to the large number of people who attend our events. We believe that our decision is correct and look forward to welcoming teams from across the globe in 2021.

“We understand and appreciate the level of disappointment that this will create. However, in these unprecedented times of uncertainty we need to act responsibly.

“The health, safety and well-being of everyone are of paramount importance. We have a duty of care to the players, team officials, match officials, parents, supporters, tournament volunteers, caterers, sponsors and all who assist over the weekends of the tournaments.”

The first tournament was played in 1978.