Further expansion of the IRN BRU Cup with Sutton and Boreham
English sides added into the mix with SPFL, Welsh, Northern Irish and Irish
The SPFL has announced a further expansion of the IRN-BRU Cup with the introduction of two English National League side to the competition next season. The First Round Draw for the 2018-19 event will take place on Tuesday the 26th of June.
The announcement comes after the change of format (introduced in 2016-17) which saw two teams each from Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as additional clubs from the Highland and Lowland Leagues and all Premiership U20 teams taking part. This followed the addition of two teams from the League of Ireland in season 2017-18.
Now, following on from UEFA approval, Sutton United and Boreham Wood – the highest-ranked Vanarama National League sides in 2017-18 who are still competing in the division – will join the Irish (Bohemians and Bray Wanderers), Northern Irish (Crusaders and Coleraine) and Welsh (The New Saints and Connah’s Quay Nomads) as representatives at the Second Round stage of the competition.
Last season Caley Thistle beat Dumbarton 1-0 the final at McDiarmid Park thanks to a late goal from Carl Tremarco.
SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: “The IRN-BRU Cup remains an innovative and evolving competition, and we are pleased to now extend a warm welcome to the National League and their representatives, Sutton United and Boreham Wood"
Michael Tattersall, Vanarama National League Chief Executive, added: “We believe our two clubs will benefit from playing in an international competition and we look forward to establishing new relationships with the other leagues involved.”
Bruce Elliott, Chairman of Sutton United, said: “Both manager Paul Doswell and I are excited at taking part in a competition that is new for us, and gives us the chance to encounter new opposition and play against sides that we would not meet in our normal schedule. We are thoroughly looking forward to it.”
Manager of Boreham Wood, Luke Garrard, said: “I think that it will give the players an added incentive and I am extremely excited that we have the luxury of possibly travelling around the British Isles for a fixture, I think that it is a huge achievement.”