Brora Rangers crowned Highland League champions despite playing just three games

Brora Rangers have been crowned champions of the Highland League for season 2020/21 – despite playing just three games.

Brora Rangers celebrating their victory over Hearts in the Scottish Cup last week. Picture: SNS

Steven Mackay’s men, who recently pulled off one of the greatest ever Scottish Cup upsets by defeating Hearts, were awarded the title after the Highland League committee called a halt to the campaign.

The final table was decided on a points-per-game basis with goal difference as the additional tie-breaker, enabling Brora to finish above Fraserburgh, Buckie Thistle, Formartine United and Inverurie Loco Works as the other teams with 100 per cent records. Two clubs, Forres Mechanics and Strathspey Thistle, hadn’t played a single match.

The Dudgeon Park outfit will now be put forward to take part in the play-offs to enter the SPFL, assuming they go ahead as planned. Kelty Hearts were crowned champions of the Lowland League late on Monday evening, again on a points-per-game basis.

An introductory statement on the Highland League website read: “The Highland League League Management Committee met last evening to take stock of season 2020-2021 and the prospects of completing the planned fixture programme.

"In view of the circumstances the meeting decided to call a halt to season 2020-2021 because it could not see a viable means to finish it in reasonable time that would allow appropriate preparations for season 2021-2022. The clear hope is that the new season will provide circumstances that enable a return to more normal activity.

"The LMC also decided to honour its obligation to the Scottish Football Pyramid by declaring Brora Ragngers FC the champion club for 2020-2021.”

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.