PAIR GET SET FOR A BATTLE OF BRITAIN
BOREHAM Wood and Sutton United will become the first ever English sides to compete in the IRN-BRU Cup next season.
The Scottish League Challenge Cup is an annual competition, which sees teams from across Britain and Ireland compete for the trophy.
Following approval from UEFA, the two highest ranking sides – who were not promoted – from the 2017/18 National League season will enter at the second round stage in the knock-out tournament, comprising of teams from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and, of course, Scotland.
The tournament was first formed in 1991 as a solely Scottish cup, but has expanded its reach in recent seasons, with teams from outside of the country taking part.
The competition includes 30 teams from the Scottish Championship, League One and League Two divisions, 12 “colt” Under 20 teams from the SPFL Premiership, four sides from each of the “Highland” and “Lowland” leagues and two each from the National League, the Northern Ireland Premiership, the Welsh Premier and the League of Ireland Premier.
Surreal
The first match of the cup will take place on Saturday, September 8 (subject to change).
Michael Tattersall, the National League’s chief executive, said: “We were pleased to accept the SPFL’s invitation to participate in next year’s competition.
“We believe our two clubs will benefit from playing in an international competition and we look forward to establishing new relationships with the other leagues involved.” Both National League side are thrilled to be involved and Sutton chairman Bruce Elliott added: “We’re delighted to have been asked to compete in the IRN-BRU Cup. “Both manager Paul Doswell and I are excited at taking part in a competition that is new for us, and gives us the chance to encounter new opposition and play against sides that we would not meet in our normal schedule. We are thoroughly looking forward to it.” Wood boss Luke Garrard, who guided his side to the play-off final, said: “When it came about, it was a little bit surreal I’ve got to be honest, because there is the possibility of playing some of the best teams across Britain and Ireland.
“I think that it will give the players an added incentive and I am extremely excited that we have the luxury of possibly travelling to Ireland or Scotland for a fixture, I think that it is a huge achievement.
“It was actually spoken about prior to the Promotion final, so we had an idea of the competition, but since then we have obviously confirmed our place and then you get more information on dates, the competition and the potential opponents, and I am just extremely excited.”
Scottish Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle are the current cup holders, beating Dumbarton in this year’s final at McDiarmid Park.