{"url":"https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/","title":"Mackay delighted as Brora get play-off final bye","domain":"pressandjournal.co.uk","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/35861268/pexels-photo-35861268.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"Scottish football celebration","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"1fd4d0bf","id":"1fd4d0bf-9da3-45a1-88d3-4d9f3d1948db","description":"Brora Advance: Brora Rangers progress to SPFL pyramid play-off final after Linlithgow Rose deemed ineligible by SFA for lacking bronze licence.[[1]](https:","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **Brora Advance:** Brora Rangers progress to SPFL pyramid play-off final after Linlithgow Rose deemed ineligible by SFA for lacking bronze licence.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)[[2]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000151/brora-rangers-through-to-pyramid-play-off-final)\n- **Manager's View:** Steven Mackay calls it a free pass, delighted despite default progression, haunted by past failures.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n- **Next Challenge:** Face Edinburgh City over two legs on May 9 and 16 for League Two spot.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n\n## The story at a glance\nBrora Rangers manager Steven Mackay expresses delight at advancing to the SPFL pyramid play-off final without playing semi-final against Lowland League champions Linlithgow Rose, who were ruled ineligible by the SFA over licensing issues. Brora, Breedon Highland League winners, now face bottom-of-League Two Edinburgh City in the two-legged final on May 9 at Dudgeon Park and May 16 at Meadowbank. This follows Linlithgow's failed bid for a grace period on their SFA bronze club licence criteria.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)[[2]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000151/brora-rangers-through-to-pyramid-play-off-final)\n\n## Key points\n- Linlithgow Rose, Lowland League champions after 2-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose, ineligible due to six variances in SFA bronze licence criteria confirmed March 31.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)[[2]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000151/brora-rangers-through-to-pyramid-play-off-final)\n- SFA rejected Linlithgow's grace period to June, protecting Brora and Edinburgh City's SPFL participation rights.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n- Brora get bye to final; Mackay watched Linlithgow and believed his side could have won semi-final tie.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n- Past Brora play-off record: lost 2015 final to Montrose (Mackay sent off in second leg while leading), semis to Kelty Hearts (2021) and East Kilbride (2025).[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n- Club prepared off-field for promotion; plans to scout Edinburgh City vs Forfar and play friendly on May 2.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n\n## Details and context\nBrora Rangers won the Breedon Highland League title recently, edging Brechin City by one point with a 1-1 draw at Huntly while Brechin lost 4-1 at Turriff United; their last competitive game was April 11 versus Huntly.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n\nThe pyramid play-offs pit Highland and Lowland League champions in a semi-final, winner facing League Two's bottom side for a SPFL spot. Linlithgow's exit gives Brora rest time for injured players but risks rustiness without a game for a month unless friendly arranged.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n\nMackay stresses club's ambition and readiness: \"We’ve done our business on and off the park... The club is ready off the park.\"[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n\n## Key quotes\n“We’re delighted to get through, even if it is by default, and now we focus on Edinburgh City, which is a huge tie for the club.” – Steven Mackay[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n\n“I’m still haunted by the Montrose game – every time we’ve been in the play-offs since I’ve felt it’s an opportunity to make amends... we’ve got a great opportunity. But the games against Edinburgh City will be very difficult.” – Steven Mackay[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/)\n\n## Why it matters\nBrora Rangers' automatic progression keeps their promotion dream alive without risking a tough semi-final, highlighting strict SFA/SPFL licensing to ensure compliant clubs reach the SPFL. For Brora fans and Highland League, it offers a clearer shot at historic entry to League Two, though Mackay warns it's no gimme against professional Edinburgh City. Watch the two legs on May 9 and 16, plus any pre-final friendly, as past near-misses make success uncertain.","hashtags":["#football","#scotland","#highland","#league","#spfl","#playoffs"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000486/steven-mackays-delight-as-brora-rangers-progress-to-play-off-final/","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/7000151/brora-rangers-through-to-pyramid-play-off-final","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-20T12:43:57.124Z","createdAt":"2026-04-20T12:43:57.124Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-20T00:00:00.000Z"}