Spectator registration is now open for agricultural charity RSABI’s farmer football fundraiser, with a line-up of well-known farming personalities – including stars of BBC’s This Farming Life – set to take to the pitch at McDiarmid Park on June 7.
The seven-a-side tournament will be hosted at the home of St Johnstone Football Club in Perth, where spirits are high following the team’s Scottish Championship title win return to the Premiership. It will bring familiar faces from across Scottish farming together as they swap wellies for football boots in support of RSABI.
Adding to the excitement, a team from the hit BBC series This Farming Life is confirmed to take part in the first-of-its-kind event, giving fans the chance to see some of the programme’s best-known names go head-to-head. Spectators can expect to see familiar faces including Callum Lindsay, Ally and Noah Williamson, Rob Smith and Adam Johnstone from Series 8, alongside Ben Imrie (Series 7) and Ewan Irvine (Series 4) on the pitch.
They’ll be joined by a host of well-kent names from across Scottish agriculture, including farmer comedian and RSABI #KeepTalking ambassador Jim Smith, YouTube star Crawford Niven with the Crawford Farms team, and Scottish Farmer’s Glen Barclay, who will be playing with Kirriemuir Thistle AFC. Teams representing leading rural organisations such as Bell Ingram, Gillespie Macandrew, Galbraith and United Auctions will also be competing, making for a highly anticipated and competitive day of football.
Generously supported by programme sponsors Hamilton Ross and ball sponsors Gillespie Macandrew, the tournament, which is free for spectators to attend, has already seen a strong response from across the farming community, with team entries now full and a waitlist in place.
With preparations well underway and excitement building, supporters can now sign up to attend and enjoy a day of football while helping raise funds for RSABI. Attendance is free, however spectators are encouraged to register in advance to help with catering logistics.
The event will bring together farmers, crofters and others involved in Scottish agriculture, with participating teams already training in the lead-up to the tournament. As well as building anticipation for the matches themselves, the initiative is highlighting the mental and physical benefits of coming together, staying active and supporting one another.
RSABI hopes to draw a strong crowd of supporters for the tournament, cheering on fellow farming folk and their teams, while shining a spotlight on the importance of wellbeing across the agricultural community.
For those looking to elevate their spectator experience, a limited number of hospitality packages are available, with hospitality suites offering views overlooking the all-weather football pitch.
A range of sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses and organisations wishing to support the event, including a headline sponsorship opportunity.
Pauline Macmillan, Head of Fundraising at RSABI, said: “We’re delighted with the level of interest in the tournament, and it’s been great to see team entries fill up so quickly.
“With spectator registration now open, and the event free for all to attend, we’re looking forward to welcoming a strong crowd along on the day. Having well-known faces from This Farming Life and across the sector involved really adds to the occasion and we hope it will encourage even more people to come along and be part of it during what we know will be a very exciting summer of football.
“As well as being an enjoyable event, it’s an important opportunity to bring people together and raise awareness of the support RSABI provides across the agricultural community.
“We’re grateful to those supporting the event through sponsorship, and there are still opportunities available, including for a headline sponsor, so please get in touch to find out how you can get involved.
“We’d also like to extend a huge congratulations to St Johnstone FC for their recent Scottish championship title!”
Please email football@rsabi.org.uk for more information about sponsorship opportunities or call 0131 3644205.
For spectator registration, visit the events tab on the RSABI website or social media for the link.
Spectators can also register their interest via Eventbrite.
RSABI offers free practical, financial, and emotional support including counselling services, delivered quickly after receiving the initial enquiry. Its free confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 (calls won’t show up on phone bills) or through a confidential webchat service, available on RSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk.