Football in Shetland

Football is a hugely popular sport in Shetland, played outdoors in the summer months, with league titles and cup competitions settled in September. Now the Shetland outdoor football season is over, what better time to take a look at the sport's health over the past seasons and towards the next? The men’s senior league and cup competitions seem a natural place to start.

Alongside the men’s game, women’s and girls’ football is in the healthiest situation it has been in for many years. Shetland’s two women’s clubs have recently joined under one banner.

They are moving forward with an eye on next year’s Island Games competition in Orkney. Shetland Women have a great desire to be competitive in Orkney.

The girls’ section of the club continues to grow. Notably, several Shetland Girls’ sides are involved in mainland competitions with the under-18s, under-16s and under-14s sides all active on the Scottish mainland over the last year.

At a junior and juvenile level, football demonstrates that the game is in good shape for the future. The 2024 season saw more festivals at under-6, under-8 and under-10 levels than ever.

Competitions at 12s and up to under-14s, under-16s and under-18s continue at pace and although once players and teams reach the older age groups and team amalgamations are more commonplace, most Shetland clubs can field teams in most age groups.

Youth player and team development is so important to the continued success of our senior leagues and onwards to the Shetland select sides.

Playing for one of Shetland's select sides offers the culmination of playing for many footballers in the isles. Shetland can boast select sides at under-11s to seniors in the boys' and men’s games, alongside those already mentioned in the girls' and women’s.

The keenest rivalry for many involved in Shetland football is with our island neighbours Orkney, with the Milne Cup competed for annually. The venue switches between Shetland and Orkney each year and attracts big crowds.

Shetland Men also regulalry compete in the International Island Games, and the side recently discovered they had been drawn in a group to play Jersey, Guernsey and Gozo, when the games are hosted in Orkney in 2025. It will be a challenge, but one that manager Neil Fenwick and his team will no doubt be relishing.

The Shetland Women’s side will also be in Orkney in 2025, competing at their first Island Games since their home games in 2005. They will be joined in their group by Jersey, Bermuda and the Isle of Wight.

Setting the local context is easiest when we look at how Shetland football is fairing in a regional or national context.

Let’s start with George Robesten. The former TSB and Scalloway player became the first former Shetland player to feature in a top-flight Scottish league match when he made his Premiership bow from the bench for Ross County against Dundee United.

Robesten has made a move following his Premiership debut to Highland League side Brora Rangers on a season-long loan, but his future at County seems very bright.

Also plying his trade in the Highland League is Robesten’s former Scalloway teammate John Allan. Allan signed for Peterhead before moving to Turriff United in the Highland League where he wears the number 9 shirt.

The latest player to make a move to a Premiership side is young Krissi Tulloch, who has signed on with Aberdeen. Tulloch has joined the Aberdeen Girls under-13s and will be hoping to make her move up through the club structure to the top of the National ladies game.

Another Shetland player to break into the National scene is Shetland Goalkeeper Katie Anderson. Katie has recently signed on at SWF Championship side Dryburgh Athletic, a team competing in the second tier of Scottish Football’s Women’s football.

This Shetland football ‘off-season’ has also seen some Shetland players link up with teams on the Scottish mainland in a bid to continue their football through the winter months. Among these are Spurs players Lewis Harkness and Henry Oldbury who have signed with Golspie Sutherland.