Source: FOOTYMAD
League Cup Backed By Government
The draw has been made for the first round of the cup. First Minister Alex Salmond and SFL Chief Executive David Longmuir have today launched the new Scottish Communities League Cup and made the draw for the 1st round of the 2011/12 competition at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell.First Round Draw Queen of the South v Stranraer Annan Athletic v Dunfermline Partick Thistle v Berwick Rangers Dumbarton v Dundee Brechin City v Clyde Montrose v Raith Rovers Livingston v Arbroath Albion Rovers v Falkirk Forfar Athletic v Peterhead Alloa Athletic v Morton Cowdenbeath v Stenhousemuir Airdrie United v Stirling Albion East Fife v Elgin City East Stirlingshire v Ayr United Ross County v Queen's Park The ties will be played on Saturday 30th July 2011.The Cup campaign will use cash seized from criminals to encourage positive behaviour and stronger communities, promoting respect, responsibility and tolerance to football fans and families throughout Scotland. It is part of a package of measures building on the commitment made at the Football Summit in March and the ongoing work of the Joint Action Group to expand existing community work and back clubs, authorities, and police in tackling unacceptable behaviour. The £1 million Communities League Cup sponsorship scheme will link SFL clubs to their local communities and supports the role clubs can play in encouraging physical activity, opening up their facilities and through Active Schools and Cashback programmes, as well as promoting positive role models and community ambassadors.First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The partnership between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Football League will promote all that’s good about our national game and put local football clubs back at the heart of Scotland’s communities. The SFL and its clubs already carry out invaluable work across the country and we want to build on these partnerships to encourage positive change in attitudes in our local communities. Our national game is a powerful means of engagement with young people and an excellent means of highlighting key messages to fans and families throughout Scotland. I am determined to call a halt to the kind of unacceptable behaviour that we have seen blight Scottish football and our communities in recent times. Our work with the SFL builds on the £41 million investment that the Scottish Government has committed to CashBack for Communities projects since 2007 with over £12.35 million into football until 2014. I am delighted that we can support the Scottish Football League at an important time for the game in Scotland. With the help of other key players such as the Scottish Football Association, Scottish Premier League and all of our clubs, I have no doubt the Scottish Communities League Cup campaign can help us make an immediate impact in breeding Respect, Responsibility and Tolerance now and in the future."SFL Chief Executive, David Longmuir said: "The Scottish Football League is delighted to receive support from the Scottish Government at this time. Our objectives are firmly aligned – this partnership is one that I believe will result in positive results for the Scottish Government and the Scottish Football League but the wider benefits will be felt by everyone in local communities. Football fans of all ages, young people generally, parents, schools, teachers and our clubs at the heart of their local communities all stand to gain from the focussed efforts of the partnerships the Scottish Communities League Cup will generate."Former Scotland Internationalist and League Cup winner, Murdo MacLeod was on hand to help with today’s draw and commented: "It’s another boost for Scottish Football to have this kind of support invested in the League Cup competition. Everyone associated with football wants our game to thrive and by giving young people the best opportunities to participate and teaching them how to respect the game and each other, football and the wider community will be the winner."