Johnstone Burgh face two simultaneous cup ties on same day
Johnstone Burgh must field two squads on Saturday, 21 November, with Scottish Communities Cup and Lowland League Cup ties kicking off half an hour apart, after attempts to reschedule both fixtures failed.
Johnstone Burgh, the Scottish fifth-tier club promoted from the West of Scotland League Premier Division, have been left needing two teams on the same afternoon after being unable to move either of two cup ties scheduled for Saturday, 21 November. One side must travel to Tayport for a Scottish Communities Cup third-round match at 14:30 GMT, while another faces hosts Dunipace, 65 miles away, in the Lowland League Cup first round at 15:00.
In a statement posted on X, the club said neither opponent nor any other club due to meet Burgh on later weekends would move from Saturday afternoon kick-off times. Burgh said it had tried to rearrange league fixtures and South Challenge Cup ties, travel to Tayport midweek, play Tayport on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon, and stage the Communities Cup tie directly before or after the Lowland League Cup fixture. It also offered to give up its share of gate money to cover any inconvenience, but no solution was reached.
Burgh, eighth in the new Lowland League West, said it would have been considered favourites in both ties with a full-strength side. The club won the Communities Cup two seasons ago, when it was the Scottish Junior Cup. Dunipace sit second bottom of the new Lowland League East, while Tayport are sixth in the Midlands Premier League, the tier below.
All three clubs have had fixtures postponed because of progress to the second round of the Scottish Cup. Tayport lost to Stranraer and Dunipace were heavily beaten by Largs Thistle on Saturday, while Burgh's home tie against Highland League side Formartine United was postponed and rescheduled for this Saturday.
Burgh said it was extremely disappointed not to be able to compete in both games with its strongest squad, thanked Tayport and the other clubs for considering its proposals and acknowledged that clubs want to keep traditional Saturday afternoon kick-offs. The club told supporters every avenue had been explored.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
