Inverness derby kicks off Highland and Islands Women's League
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The new Highlands and Islands Women’s League kicks off with a bang in the shape of an Inverness derby on Sunday.
Clachnacuddin Women face Inverness Caledonian Thistle Development in the opening round of the season.
Clach Women’s club secretary Rab Mulheron says they could not have asked for a bigger match to kick the campaign off.
“It’s the new Highlands and Islands league, and Clach play Caledonian Thistle in the first game – what a game to start the league with.” Mulheron said.
“It’s two close rivals, two local teams, so it will be an experience.
“I don’t think it differs at any level of football, a derby is a derby, you want to win.
“Caley Thistle will be exactly the same. Like ourselves, I’m quite sure they want to get off to a great start, and three points would be their aim and it’s certainly our aim.”
The two Inverness teams will compete against Buckie, Brora Rangers, Nairn, Lewis and Harris, Kirkwall City and Caithness in the newly-formed league.
Mulheron thinks the formation of the competition is a positive step in the promotion of the women’s game in the region.
“I think it’s great for women’s football,” he insisted.
“It’s a brand new league and eight good teams, so we’ll all be competing.
“We’re all excited, and we’re all looking forward to the first game of the season.”
It may be difficult to know what to expect with so many firsts, but Clach have ambitions of being right at the top.
“Our chairwoman had made it clear she would love us to finish as champions,” Mulheron revealed.
“That’s what we should be thinking, we’re going in there to do well. Our coaches think we could be in the top three, but it’s new.
“We’ve got to find our feet, we’ll do our best.
n The game is on Sunday at Grant Street Park at 2pm.
