Abbey Inn first played Welfare football in Forres in 1987. Based in Kinloss, the team named after the Abbey Inn Bar then didn't play in the league for four years, returning for another one year stay in 1991. The team then returned in 1995 and were members of the Forres Welfare FA, then the Forres and Nairn Welfare FA when the two leagues were combined in 1999, until 2002. In 1996, they were beaten in the final of the Forres Summer League Cup before they claimed their first honour as they beat Carisbrooke 4-1 in the final of the Simpson Cup. They were beaten in the final of the James Birnie Cup in 1998, Red Lion eventually coming out on top after a penalty shoot-out. Abbey Inn made their return to the league in 2006 after a three season absence and marked their return by making history by winning their first league championship, and at the same time becoming only the second team from Kinloss to win the league. They also reached the final of the McIntosh Rosebowl, where they faced Red Lion in a rematch of the Birnie Cup final of 1998. There was no penalty-shoot out required this time as Abbey claimed a league and cup double, romping home 4-0. 2007 was a very tame year after the success of 2006, but 2008 looks to have the Abbey back at their best, as they made it to their first Ally Ross Memorial Rosebowl final, and won it convincingly, beating the holders Newmarket 6-2. They followed on from their Ally Ross success to take the Birnie Cup as well, as they came from 1-0 down to beat Uncle Bobs 3-2 in the final. A week later, they put themselves beyond the reach of the chasing pack in the league with a 5-1 win over Carlton, completing a hat-trick of silverware and keeping them on course for the Quadruple, with only the McIntosh Rosebowl left in their sights.

Carlton got their first taste of welfare action in 1972, and were in the welfare ranks between then and 1976, apart from 1975. In 1974, they competed in their first cup final, but found themselves on the losing side, getting beat 2-0 by the Red Lion in the Simpson Cup. They made a one-year return to the league in 1981, and reached the McIntosh Rosebowl final, but again came away with runners-up medals. This time it was Forres Rovers who took the glory. They left again after that and made another brief return in 1985, before heading out of the picture. In 2001 they returned in the Forres and Nairn Welfare League, and won their first trophy. The Simpson Cup, now a fair play trophy, found its way into the Carlton cup cabinet 27 years after it made its way down the high street to the Red Lion trophy cabinet. Carlton were in the league until 2005, when they decided not to put a team in for that season. They have now made another return in the 2008 season, hoping to make their mark on the season ahead.

Dallas made its debut in the Welfare League in 1993. It didn't take long for the team named after the small town just outside Forres to taste success, winning the Birnie Cup a year after they joined. Following that was the McIntosh Rosebowl in 1995, holding off the challenge of Victoria Hotel to win 3-2 after extra-time, their first of two triumphs in the competition. Dallas made it three trophies in three years, winning the now defunct Summer League Cup by beating Abbey Inn 4-2 after extra-time. The trophy cabinet stayed empty for a year before the Simpson Cup made its way to Dallas, beating Cairn United 3-1 in the final year the trophy was to be played for before it became the trophy for fair play. The McIntosh Rosebowl returned in 1999, defeating Oppos 4-0 in the final. Dallas won the Simpson Cup for having the best disciplinary record in the league, a feat they were to achieve again in 2002. From between 2001 and 2003, Dallas got a hat-trick they would not have liked. They lost three consecutive McIntosh Rosebowl finals, all to the same team. Auldearn picking up three in a row at the expense of the team. In 2003, Dallas were runners-up in the Ally Ross Memorial Rosebowl, beaten by Shambles 2-1. The following year though was to be their year, becoming league champions for the first time. In 2005, Dallas once again fell at the final hurdle in the competition to the village side Auldearn in the McIntosh Rosebowl, but consolation came in the Ally Ross Memorial Rosebowl, as they handed out a thrashing to Jackos, winning 8-2. The 2006 season seen Dallas win their 10th trophy by beating Jackos again in the Ally Ross Cup, this time requiring a last-second equaliser before an extra-time winner to win 2-1. 2007 saw them reach the Ally Ross final again, looking for three-in-a-row. It wasn't to be, as first time cup finalists Newmarket tore them apart, winning 6-0. 2008 will be a season Dallas will hope will bring better fortune, and maybe a cup or two.

Mosset Tavern first appeared on the Welfare scene in 1982. The pub team from Forres nearly began life on the Welfare scene in great fashion as they reached the Simpson Cup final, only to be beaten soundly 6-1 by R.A.F Kinloss. Mosset finished runners-up in the McIntosh Rosebowl in 1984 as well, again defeated heavily, this time 7-2 by Eagle. After another heavy defeat in the Simpson Cup final, 6-1 at the hands of Brig, Mosset Tavern disappeared from the club list for six years, returning in 1991 for a year. In 1993 when they returned again, this time things were to be much different. They won the Treble, the league championship, finishing ahead of Forres House, the McIntosh Rosebowl after beating Celtic Bhoys 3-0 and the Birnie Cup, beating Victoria Hotel 3-1. The following year, they managed to retain the league title but not the cups, finishing runners-up in the McIntosh Rosebowl to Celtic Bhoys who, after a 3-3 draw won 9-8 on penalties the closet they got to retaining either trophy. Mosset then withdrew from the Welfare league from 1995 until 2000, joining the Forres and Nairn Welfare FA. Their 13th year of membership, 2007, saw the Mosset reach two finals, the McIntosh Rosebowl final and the Taboo Cup final. Unfortunately for the Mosset, they were unable to win either final, losing the McIntosh Rosebowl final against the Red Lion, and the Taboo Cup against the Newmarket. They will be hoping 2008 will bring more luck, and a trophy too.

Newmarket made their debut in the Forres and Nairn Welfare League in 2004. They didn't make the best of starts to life in the Welfare League, struggling to get away from the bottom of the table the first two years and being suspended in the closing stages of the 2006 season. But 2007 turned their fortunes around big time. Newmarket won three trophies in spectacular style. Their first trophy triumph of the season was also their first ever trophy, as they hammered Dallas 6-0 in the Ally Ross Memorial Rosebowl. Following the Rosebowl was the Birnie Cup, which they also won convincingly, 6-1 against the Red Lion. Completing the incredible treble was the Taboo Cup, which saw the Newmarket score six goals again. This time Mosset Tavern scored twice, but that mattered little as the Newmarket still strolled to victory. 2007 was a memorable season for the Market, but 2008 won't be as they relinquished their grip on the Ally Ross Rosebowl to Abbey Inn, who beat them 6-2. The Market will be determined though not to let the other two trophies go, not without a fight anyway.

The Newmarket team celebrating the Taboo Cup in 2007.

RAF Kinloss are playing their first season of welfare football since 1983. They first joined the old Forres summer league 1982 and also took part in 1983. They got to the James Birnie Cup Final in 1982 losing 3-2 to Forres House. Also that year the won the Simpson Cup defeating the Mosset Tavern 6-1. They joined the ranks of junior football since then and had played junior level up until the beginning of this season, deciding to pull out. Their third season of welfare football saw them pick up the ultimate honour, as they beat Uncle Bobs 3-2 on the last day of the league campaign to pip the Nairn side to the title.

RAF Kinloss celebrate their first ever welfare league title in 2007.

Red Lion are the oldest team participating in the Welfare League this season, having made their debut in the Forres Summer League back in 1966. They are the most successful club as well in the league, having won 21 honours in their history. The first of those honours came in 1973 when they were crowned league champions, five years after they finished runners-up. They were second to Eagle the following year as they failed to defend their title, and they also finished runners-up in the McIntosh Rosebowl, losing 3-0 to Eagle as well. They did get their hands on the Simpson Cup though, beating Carlton 2-0. Two more cup runners-up positions followed in 1975, with Eagle taking both cups. Red Lion did take the league trophy back from Eagle that year though, and retained it in 1976. They also won the McIntosh Rosebowl, beating Strollers on penalties, that year, the first time they won the double. The McIntosh Rosebowl returned to the "Redder" in 1978, although it wasn't joined by the Birnie Cup or the league trophy. Red Lion had to wait until 1987 until their next success, with the league title making its fourth visit, followed the next year by the McIntosh Rosebowl for the third time. The Simpson Cup was won in 1990 for the second time (in 1991 they played Catering Squadrons but no score is known from that final, although they did win the cup. If you know the score or know somebody that might then email me please.) At the sixth time of asking, the Birnie Cup finally made its way to Red Lion in 1992, beating Kinloss Admin 5-1. In 1997, the club won their second double, taking the league championship and the McIntosh Rosebowl back to the Redder. In 1998, they were the last ever winners of the Forres Summer League Cup, beating Oppos 5-1. Also won in 1998 was the James Birnie Cup, making it back-to-back doubles. But the team of '98 went one better than the team of '97, as they also clinched the league title for the Treble. The club won their seventh championship in 2001 and the Ally Ross Rosebowl twice, in 2002 and 2004, before finishing second to Auldearn in the 2005 title race. In 2006, things weren't too great for the Redder. They finished third and lost out in two cup finals in three days, first the McIntosh Rosebowl in a 4-0 defeat to Abbey Inn, then in a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out against Uncle Bobs for the new Taboo Cup. They made up for that in 2007 though as they won the McIntosh Rosebowl for the fifth time, winning convincingly against Mosset Tavern 7-3.

The Red Lion team celebrating their 2007 McIntosh Rosebowl success

Picture courtesy of John Dolan, the Nairnshire Telegraph

Uncle Bobs made their debut in the Forres and Nairn Welfare League in 2002. Bobs finished fourth in their second season of welfare football in 2003 and finished fifth after a nail-biting finish to the 2004 season when their title hopes were ended by Auldearn only a couple of games before the season ended. The following season was disasterous for the Nairn pub team, suspended from the league near the end of the season after they failed to fulfil some fixtures at the beginning of the season. The decision to suspend them came not long after they recorded their first win of the season in the McIntosh Rosebowl quarter-final against Kinloss. 2006 was much better to Bobs, as it saw Bobs' win their first trophy in their first ever final. They beat Dallas 4-1 to claim the James Birnie Cup, in the process becoming the first team from Nairn to win it. They also became the first team ever to lift the Taboo Cup, a new trophy introduced in 2006, after they managed to triumph in a penalty shoot-out over the Red Lion after a thrilling final. In 2007, they came so close to winning the league title. They won eight league games in a row but could not make the final push as they were pipped at the post by RAF Kinloss, who beat them on the last day of the league campaign. In 2008, they reached the Birnie Cup final again, but standing in their way of their second Birnie Cup triumph were the Abbey Inn, who won 3-2 to deny Bobs' their third trophy.