Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, has welcomed assurances given to him which lift the fear that Orcadian hockey players, playing on Scottish National League competitions, were going to have to play all their matches as away matches, unless their competitors agreed to travel to Orkney.

The assurance was given to Liam McArthur when he met the Chief Executive of Scottish Hockey, Brent Deans, earlier this week and it has now been confirmed by Mr Deans in a letter.

Mr Deans has also confirmed that the concerns raised by Liam McArthur, the Orkney Hockey Association and Orkney Council Convener, Stephen Hagan, had been considered by Scottish Hockey’s Management Committee meeting with the result that they are going to review the rules governing their District Cup and Plate competition, which currently deny Orkney the right to home matches.

Commenting, Liam McArthur said;

“I welcome this news that there is now to be no threat to Orkney hockey teams’ right to play home League games at home, something which had been the cause of justified concern. I also welcome the other outcome of the representations to Scottish Hockey. This is that they are to review the current District Cup and Plate competition rule denying island teams their right to home games when drawn at home. I hope that this review will lead to Scottish Hockey’s Management Committee scrapping this discriminatory rule when they meet in August.

“As I tabled a strong motion in the Scottish Parliament when concerns about changes to the League rules were raised with me by Orkney hockey players, I am happy that I can now table another one, welcoming the recent developments. It also predicts that Scottish Mainland teams lucky enough to travel to Orkney or any other islands for a match will receive a warm island welcome which will make the effort of getting there well worthwhile.”

Notes – text of new motion:

Scottish Hockey and Scotland’s Islands

That the Parliament notes the assurances given by Scottish Hockey that it will not impose a rule on its National League matches requiring them to be played on the Scottish Mainland unless both teams agree otherwise; also notes their undertaking to review a similar rule which already applies to their District Cup and Plate competition; welcomes this recognition that island teams should not be discriminated against; and believes that Scottish Mainland teams lucky enough to travel to Orkney or any other islands for a match will receive a warm island welcome which will make the effort of getting there well worthwhile.