from highlandleague.net:
For the first time in the history of the Semi Professional Four Nations tournament Scotland will face the Auld Enemy in the second round of matches, which will take place on Friday May 25th at Victoria Park, Dingwall.
As has become the norm the Scots will face Wales in the first match however the switch of the Ireland and English matches will test the theory that the fitness levels of the full time players in the English team has proven to be a key factor in the Dark Blues inability to defeat Paul Faircloughs side.
The Scottish FA has joined forces with Highland 2007 to formally announce the
staging of the Four Nations Semi-Professional Tournament in Inverness, Dingwall and Brora during May as part of, Scotlands Year of Highland Culture.
The annual tournament, involving Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, will be played between the 22nd and 27th May, with all Scotland matches being staged at Ross County F.Cs Victoria Park.
There has been a radical change to the normal playing schedule, with Scotland taking on England in the second of their three games as opposed to being the final encounter in recent years. That game will take place on the Friday night at 8.00, three nights after the opener against Wales while the final match against the Republic of Ireland will be staged on the Sunday afternoon.
The Scotland Semi-Pro team comprises players from the Highland, East and South of Scotland Leagues, and will be managed by Jim Fleeting, SFA Director of Football Development assisted by Neil Mackintosh who has extensive experience of Highland League football as a player and in recent years as a respected SFA Community Coach covering football in the Highlands and well beyond.
The full Tournament schedule
Tuesday, 22nd May, 2007 Venue Kick Off
Scotland v. Wales Victoria Park, Dingwall 7.45 p.m.
Republic of Ireland v. England Grant Street Park, Inverness 7.45 p.m.
Friday, 25th May, 2007
Scotland v. England Victoria Park, Dingwall 8.00 p.m.
Wales v. Republic of Ireland Dudgeon Park, Brora 6.00 p.m.
Sunday, 27th May, 2007
England v. Wales Grant Street Park, Inverness 2.00p.m.
Scotland v. Republic of Ireland Victoria Park, Dingwall 2.00p.m.
Speaking on the eve of Scotlands UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying match against Italy in Bari, SFA Chief Executive, David Taylor commented, It is a pleasure for the Association to host the Four Nations Tournament in the Highlands, during Scotlands year of Highland culture, and we are delighted to be working with Highland 2007 in the valuable promotion of the Highlands of Scotland.
Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007, said: We are delighted to welcome the Four Nations Semi-Professional Tournament to the Highlands as part of the Highland 2007 programme of events in this special year. The tournament is sure to attract interest both locally and with football fans from further afield.
Chairman of the Tournament Organising Committee, Alan McRae, was similarly enthusiastic, I am sure that the players, officials and supporters of England, Ireland and Wales will be inspired by the hospitality, friendliness and scenery in the Highlands.
Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture, aims to promote the Highlands as a great place to live and to visit through showcasing the unique and special nature of Highland culture past, present and future. The project is a partnership between three principal funding agencies: The Highland Council, the Scottish Executive, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The year long celebration of Highland culture in 2007 will incorporate an exciting range of major and community events, as well as capital projects and The Highland Promise for young people. See
www.highland2007.com for full details.