Match of the Day II
Storms force club to play 2 games 165 miles apart – on the same day
FOOTBALL managers are known for their frequent gripes about having to play too many games in a short period of time.
But the situation at one Scots club is so bad, they will try to clear a backlog by playing two games in the same day.
Orkney Football Club will play two fixtures 165 miles apart after a series of storms led the North Caledonian League to postpone several matches.
The bizarre situation could see the club secure six points in the space of two hours. One squad will travel to Helmsdale, Sutherland, to face second-bottom Bunillidh Thistle at 12.30pm tomorrow.
Fifteen minutes later, at Kirkwall’s KGS 3G Sports Centre, the second squad face Bonar Bridge FC, who are rooted to the bottom of the league, having failed to pick up a point all season.
Orkney FC president Edgar Balfour said: ‘Everybody knows what January and February have been like with these named storms.
‘We had brilliant weeks where it was lovely weather then it would get to Friday and another storm would start, so the ferry might not be able to go or the pitches we were going to were not playable.
We had a good cup run as well so that meant we lost another league game that week. We won the cup but it meant we fell even further behind in the fixtures.’
Mr Balfour added: ‘There were various options the association and ourselves looked at, one of which was this double header.
‘We’re really fortunate in that we have a deep pool of guys in Orkney that are part of the club. It’s a real six pointer, so hopefully we get those points.’
Orkney FC are fifth out of nine teams in the North Caledonian League and are 13 points behind leaders Invergordon FC, having played three games fewer than their rivals.
It would not be the first time a club has picked up two wins in quick succession.
In April 1916, Celtic had to play two games on the same day.
The club beat Kirkcaldy’s Raith Rovers 6-0 before rushing down to Motherwell for a 6pm start, which they won 3-1.