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The quirky world of summer football

When I was growing up doing the football pools was a weekly ritual in most households who would dream of a big win. The only thing my father ever won was a few shillings on the 'Easy Six' which were anything but easy. In the summer use was made of Australian matches, but most people didn't bother then, arguing with good reason that they couldn't predict what would happen with teams with strange names: Australian football pools.

Australian football has, of course, become much more professional in recent years.

We do have summer leagues in the UK in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Much of it looks like Sunday league football. How else would one account for Top Joes who are bottom of Division Two of the Caithness League, having already conceded nearly six goals a game. Even worse are Uncle Bob's at the bottom of Division Two of the Inverness and District Amateur League who have conceded 50 goals. Culloden Blacksmiths are running away with the division and Loch Ness are topping the premier division.

However, it is the island leagues that I find particularly fascinating. The Lewis and Harris League is sponsored by Specialist Welding and has one team called simply 'Back' and another called 'Loch'.

Good job there aren't big football crowds trying to get down this street in Orkney

The Orkney league is the Cheese League, after the special cheddar cheese produced there. Six of the thirteen teams are from the capital, Kirkwall. 'Isles United' is a self-explanatory title and 'Barriers United' refers to the Churchill Barriers that link a number of islands.

The big deal in Orkney football is the Parish Cup with the 2019 draw being made live on Radio Orkney: 2019 draw

Similarly, in the Shetland League three of the eight teams are from the capital, Lerwick.

Football on Eriskay in the Uist and Barra League

However, my favourite is the six team Uist and Barra League, currently topped by Barra. Aircraft land on the beach on Barra (of Whiskey Galore fame), but teams often have to go by fishing boat to away matches. Barra currently top the league.

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