Member News: Montrose Bag Company Supports Local Talent as Montrose FC Women Reach Semi-Final

April 7, 2026
Member News: Montrose Bag Company Supports Local Talent as Montrose FC Women Reach Semi-Final

Montrose Bag Company is backing Montrose FC Women with a new set of kit bags as the team prepares for one of their biggest matches in its history.

The Montrose based business, part of Montrose Rope & Sail, has provided the team with both its standard kit bags and bespoke versions, developed to offer extra capacity, all made locally from durable, waterproof PVC. With a practical holdall design, strong carry handles and wipe clean materials, the bags are made to handle training, travel and matchdays, keeping kit protected from the unpredictable Scottish weather. It’s a simple but important boost, helping players stay organised and ready as they continue to compete at a high level. Montrose FC Women, who play in the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL), have built a reputation for competing well beyond expectations in recent seasons. As a small part-time professional club, they’ve continued to push forward, and their run to the Scottish Cup semi-final marks a major milestone for the team. They now face Rangers at Hampden Park on Sunday 3 May, with a 1.30pm kick-off live on BBC Scotland, the first time the club has reached this stage of the competition.

Barry O’Neill, Director of Football at Montrose FC Women, said: “We are always so grateful when a local business gets in touch to say they’d like to partner with us. As a small part-time professional club battling hard to compete with clubs whose budgets and support systems are so much larger than ours, any help and support is massive.

As a team, we’ve punched above our weight for the last 3 seasons and we’re determined to extend our stay in the SWPL. Having a successful cup run this season and reaching the semi-final of the Scottish Cup is a huge achievement for Montrose and we’ll be proud to display the Montrose Bag Company logo on our new kit bags as we arrive at Hampden Park on 3rd May.”

Rudi Wyper, Managing Director at Montrose Bag Company, said: “It’s great to be able to support a local team, especially one that’s doing so well. We’ve been following their progress over the past few seasons and it’s clear how much hard work has gone into getting to this stage. As a local business, it means a lot to play a small part in that and we’re pleased to provide something that helps the players day to day. It’s a big occasion for the team, and we’ll be right behind them as they head into Hampden.”

The support from Montrose Bag Company sits alongside a strong group of other local sponsors including Intermoor, Montrose Port Authority, Upper Dysart Larder, Aquapax, Fotheringham Property Development, Neil Elder & Co, The George Hotel, Rossie, and Charleton Farm, showing the level of backing behind the team across the town. With women’s football continuing to grow across Scotland, Montrose FC Women’s progress is a great example of what can be achieved through hard work, ambition and strong local support.

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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

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