With bad weather on its way this coming weekend and Scottish amateur cup football on the fixture calendar a bad mix could leave a few clubs in financial peril.

We take a look at the ins and outs of this potentially decisive subject and some potential solutions that could benefit the competition.

The Scottish Amateur Cup has always carried magic. Big away days, the buzz of the draw, the bus journeys, the pride of representing your club against opposition from across the country. But as much as we all love it, there’s a hard truth here: Scottish weather is draining clubs of money they simply can’t afford to lose.

The Costs

When buses cost £500–£700, a postponement isn’t just frustrating — it’s crippling. Imagine planning a journey from Glasgow to Aberdeen, only to be told on the morning of the game, or worse after you’ve set off, that the park is waterlogged. The game might be gone, but the bill still stands.

Why Early Calls Matter

Nobody controls the weather. But we can control the decisions. If a pitch looks doubtful, call it off the day before. Clubs need clarity, not chaos. Leaving it to the last minute leaves travelling sides out of pocket, and that’s not fair on anyone trying to keep amateur football alive.

A Potential Solution

There are fixes that don’t need to be complicated:

If a game involves more than a certain number of miles of travel, the decision should be made at least 48 hours in advance to postpone/Rearrange the fixture.

If a game involves more than a certain number of miles of travel for the opposition, home sides should secure access to a 4G pitch as the game venue.

That way, we protect the competition’s integrity without punishing clubs financially.

The Bigger Picture

Amateur football is built on sacrifice — players giving up weekends, managers working overtime behind the scenes, committees scraping together every pound. The Amateur Cup should honour that, not undermine it with outdated rules and late calls.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about common sense. The truth is simple: no club should be punished for the weather. Until decisions are made with fairness at the core, Scottish amateur football will keep rolling with the punches — but it deserves better

— Hugh Dunnit