Queen's Park fury at ban from Scottish Cup defence

Jun 26 2009 By Fraser Wilson

QUEEN'S PARK officials say they are determined to defend the Scottish Amateur Cup despite being told by the SAFA they are to be banned from the tournament.

The Spiders were outraged this week when SAFA beaks decided new rules should bar the country's oldest club from the competition.

Queen's Park have consistently stayed true to their amateur status despite playing in the Scottish Football League since its inception.

But amateur association officials said new rules regarding registration of Saturday players mean the club won't be allowed to enter the competition as of the new season.

That is because Queen's players remain registered with the SFL as they don't play in an amateur league.

The fact the club won this year's tournament, beating Hurlford Thistle 3-1 in last month's final, has added to their sense of injustice.

Jim Hastie, Queen's Park president, said: "I will be in discussions with SAFA about this as it hurts both our club and their competition.

"We were delighted to win the cup and are determined to defend it next season."

Queen's dropped out of the amateur cup in the 1960s and only re-entered eight seasons ago, entering a side comprising mainly their under 19 players.

Explaining the new development, SAFA president Angus McKay said: "We are obliged to fall into line with an SFA requirement to have all amateur players registered on a national registration system.

"Our volunteers will collect this information and populate the database from affiliated clubs as the record of amateur players in Scotland.

"It was agreed at the agm it will only be players on that list from Saturday teams that can compete in the Scottish Amateur Cup.

"As Queen's Park players are registered to the Scottish Football League and do not play in an amateur Saturday league they will not appear on the database. As it stands they cannot be allowed to enter."