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Not necessarily. I’m sure, for example, many Finns are committed to Finland being a nation state. I’m sure many UK nationalists are committed to the UK being a nation state. I’m sure many French people are committed to France being a nation state. These people don’t need a White Paper to believe their country should be a normal, sovereign country. Why should Scots require extraordinary evidence that Scotland should be what most other countries in the world take for granted? Scotland is the exception amongst nations - surely it should be “unionists” who require (and provide) evidence that Scotland is unusual in being unable, unsuited, and unfitted to the international status quo. Surely they should require and provide evidence that Scotland in the twenty-first century, unlike most nations, needs decisions made for it by its larger neighbour; that Scotland, unlike most nations, is better served by having its sovereign parliament located outside of it, by a minority of representatives; that Scotland, unlike most nations, should have power devolved to it from elsewhere rather than having a parliament beholden to its own electorate with powers to be shared decided by that parliament. When pressed, many proponents of the UK seem to think the only evidence they require is that it has been this way since the 1700s.

[emoji471][emoji471]

for thursday

We're safe as houses boys. Absolute piss easy fixtures.

An agreement with Reagan very convenient, no chance. We had a fair bit of dialogue with him before we moved and this certainly didn’t seem the case. How can TJ come out with that one when A - he stated a few weeks ago he never seen this coming and B - it’s now 12 month since we began our move and he isn’t any further forward. Did he have explain a plan and strategy for the SJFA in joining the pyramid? The SFA, SPFL, it’s clubs and the LL have longed for a stronger pyramid and LL for years so Club 42 dropping out go into a 16 club competitive league, having Junior clubs part of the pyramid has been their wish all along. Scottish Cup places being taken away has even been spoken about for non compliance to the pyramid at all levels. The EOS havent canvassed anyone and I would definitely say they are closer to the SFA than TJ and the SJFA so know full well the lie of the land. To diss Club Licencing is going to do the SJFA and TJ no favours in his negotiating with the SFA, how is this not seen as progression for a football club. Hals is right though, clubs have a choice to weigh everything up by staying in the status quo or move to the pyramid.

The point of a pyramid system is that clubs such as yours would end up playing in some sort of Fife/Fife & Lothians league, against existing Junior clubs plus possibly the likes of Burntisland and some of the leading amateur clubs from the area. The likes of West Calder and Harthill would have their own Central Scotland league or something similar. Both of these leagues would lie below some sort of East of Scotland League, which would then lie below the Lowland League (at least in the short term). Not every team in the pyramid has to have aspirations of playing in the SPFL.

Cannae do that! The poor guy's ill. However, I've given him the black mark of death in the league table so everyone knows to avoid him like, er, the plague.

Can the incumbents be trusted to manage 'Jexit'?

Clubs weren't instructed to do anything, they were invited - it was optional. But from what I've been told, given the hostility shown towards the EoS and the sheer arrogance of those at the 'top table', it was probably for the best that some clubs didn't attend. At least a commitment was made to join the pyramid - maybe not next season, or the season after that but the next one again - they'll do their best to try anyway. And don't even think about applying for a Club Licence because it's virtually impossible. Allegedly the SFA, Highland League and SoS are OUTRAGED at the East of Scotland league for canvassing clubs to join. Take home summary: More scaremongering, more vows, the Juniors are Better Together. Blackburn: Go for it - life is short, make the most of it!

You are the site impediment.

The South of Scotland League being where it is, unchanged, is an issue as I see it. It has a very small level of population and almost all its clubs are ran on an amateur basis. It has a third the population of Fife and Edinburgh. There is therefore more justification for Fife to have its own feeder or Edinburgh. What about Glasgow, 6 times bigger than D&G? A small rural league cannot fairly have such a share of the access to the LL.

I'll have a bash. EGM - majority vote will prevail. If the survey result is accurate, it will pass. SFA - Regan leaving does not render any discussion irrelevant. He was representing the SFA not himself as an individual. The SFA will need to u-turn. East - the EoS can "resist" but the SFA makes the decision. Not in the gift of the EoS to prevent it. West - teams who don't want to sit at tier 6 drop to a level they are comfortable with. Those not keen on Pyramid accept the decision of the majority or shift to an alternative association. If the teams are going in as is, this isn't going to be a big deal. SoS = same as EoS. Seems they mostly don't want to be travelling to Glasgow anyway so probably welcome non integration. North - not the problem of the SJFA. A matter for the SFA and HFL to resolve because the tier 6 teams will need a pathway. North/East - not insurmountable. Potential to run a tier 6 north and a tier 6 south under the HFL same as for the LL. Teams not wanting to travel go to tier 7 or whatever level suits - same for every region of the country. Lowland - see above. They'll need to make it work because it's not their decision. Decision is solely that of the SFA. Juniors - majority rules as has consistently been the case. Like it or leave (kind of what Kelty did in reverse) or drop to a level you're happy at. Junior Cup and reinstatement are not big issues. I'd go as far as to say none of these are big issues for the SJFA. If the SFA is supportive of juniors in the Pyramid at tier 6, that's where they'll go. Like everything else in life it can be made to work and rationalised over time. Let's not be continually hooked up by the application deadlines for a different league. That lies at the heart of much of this now but only deals with a small number of clubs in a relatively narrow area. If the juniors are going in their top league teams will all start at the same level. If the SFA doesn't approve that, disregard all of this. If they do, it's all valid. In my very personal opinion.

Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes

David Bowie - Underground

Rolling Stones - Mercy Mercy

You forgot about the time ten years ago when they tried to turn themselves into a Rangers tribute act, bringing in puffing 'Rangers legends' to play in Clyde jerseys against Rangers' first team. https://www.clydefc.co.uk/match/report/642/ An absolutely vile institution then. Luckily they were punished with relegation at the end of that very campaign, followed immediately by another relegation to the fourth tier and permanent oblivion. While their big team was also punished with liquidation and death.

Since Lauchlan left EK I have absolutely no beef with them now other than the fact that they're a main rival. The Spartans twitter guy alone would make anybody feel this way. Makes cheeky comments and thinks he's hilarious when he's about as funny as a boot in the baws! Not to mention the years they tried to get us out of the SPFL. Ooooh the post match pint in the cafeteria might be the best one yet!

To cover a few things as a Montrose Roselea "expert" there has been little change in crowds since move North, they were sparse before and are still so. Like most small "Junior" clubs it is mainly Committee, parents of players and odd ex player and interested football neutral who makes the crowd up. For us 30-50 swelled by the occasional Hospitality which is near on impossible despite our magnificent reputation for doing so at a reasonable cost it has never kicked off due to lack of forward fixtures, We don't do YouTube highlights after our Committee shrunk and our Media youngster signed for Brechin Vics! Hence in 2008 our club bravely or stupidly put forward a proposal which would have seen the end of replays in the Scottish Cup Rounds 1-4 (see attached doc from then). This would have led to a very big potential for an almost full but not guaranteed fixture list. This was spoken against by a club who were "invited" by the top table to do so and basically ripped it to bits citing the "holy grail" of the SJC could not be blighted by this sacralise proposal. Spin forward 8 years after this and TJ himself mentioned it as a possibility and also spoke about dare I say summer football. In my opinion this would have gained the Junior grade so much professionalism in the terms of people would have a decent idea of future fixtures etc as well as doing away with long distances replays (Dunbar v Inverness two buses shared with little crowd) and creating interest in the early rounds (eg Gartcairn beat holders Auchinleck on penalties instead of being beaten 7-0 in a replay). Anyway what is done is done and we move on (or backwards). To forward that further and our proposal why is the 1st Round of the Cup not played in Sept when clubs have had 7-8 games under their belt and weather is better? In fact draw two rounds and be a month ahead (The World Cup does it!) Our club took a decision to move North and it was the right thing to do. As a club we are now struggling for a Committee and are not alone so are looking to groundshare with Montrose FC from season 2018-19 and it is a must for us to survive. A lot going on at Montrose FC and maybe no coincidence that the top team is doing well when you look at this http://www.linksparkct.org.uk/ 1400 people engaging with the Trust on a weekly basis from a population of 14,000. Massive work going on behind the scenes to make this work and Montrose Roselea want to be part of this as well as passing on our own great facility to the Amateur and Youth set ups in the town. My take on the Pyramid? Has been long overdue. I have always thought that without picking on a certain team (East Stirlingshire) that why did they deserve to retain their Senior status and the door should always be open for progressive clubs. My take on the perfect set up would be and afraid no numbers but pointers included Full Time SPFL (16 Teams would you believe have to be full time, 6,000 seated stadium) Benefits Dundee Utd, St Mirren, Morton etc would be in there and the League would be more open & less pressure to play youngsters (like the 1970s) and then the National Team would benefit by more players moving south to top clubs. Eg Morton sell a player to Championship club for £200,000, Teams would open up to open football and less pressure like current Premier League North and South- Processional Part Time Clubs- Brechin City, Stenhousmuir, Stranraer Elgin City, Berwick - Clubs P/T but based on North/ South Geography, Feed into SPFL but meet criteria or can refuse (at start of campaign) Regional- Professional P/T Clubs- Highland League/ Lowland Leagues but split by Geography again Regional Non Professional (Amateur which would include Montrose Roselea), Feeders to the Regional Non Professional Clubs Youth football (almost do away with Pro Youth but keep it for the elite.boys clubs being raped on talent aged 6-8 only for them to be dumped at 10! Let players play with their local clubs at least until 12 and then go to Pro Elite clubs through the week for training and play games like the old "S" signing basis. You learn a lot growing up with your peers I would add that promotion would be on a self certify basis and clubs should announce at the start of the season if they are willing or able to make the move and be to the standard or expected to be so by the end of the season so clubs know what they are playing for. And how do you make this happen? Everyone in a true Pyramid as their place and should be able to accept or reject promotion. You simply take all the clubs and their abilities/facilities and throw them in the air (seeded) but that does not guarantee they will land in the right place however that is what seems to be happening! It will all settle down but surely the powers that can be eg the SFA could have made it more organised? Away the Lea! 2008 AGM Proposal.pdf

Happy Birthday to me...come to Papa..

Whatever happens, a tier six of EoS, SoS, East juniors and West juniors would be absolutely ridiculous and should be avoided at all costs.

Big Country - Girl With Grey Eyes

The Saints - Big Hits On The Underground

Merle Haggard - Big City

I would like to see cove come up just for the dilemma it puts the HFL in. Do they stick with 17 teams or do they invite a team in? Cove going up might spark a bit of interest in some north juniors into thinking of taking a chance on moving over.

I wish people would stop spouting this nonsense. Look at the league table. Even if we lost all four of our remaining matches, Dumbarton need to win three of their four to overhaul us. The chances of both happening are on a par with Rangers fans admitting that their club died and that newco have never won a major trophy.

Incredible String Band - Mercy I Cry City

This. I would expect that at the very least those who have applied and were in attendance last night would also be looking to attend the EoS meeting to compare and contrast, doing their due diligence on both options. Would be surprising if any of the clubs who have applied were swayed at this stage by only listening to one side of the debate. Perhaps suggests they weren't fully on board pre application to begin with and maybe looking for reasons to hold off. Which is fair enough I guess, but you'd hope that anyone applying had already looked at the pros and cons well in advance and had applied based on those, in which case the meetings don't really change anything.

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Some aberdonian tight arse postie just took the minus offer on the chase, cuntery of the highest order.

Btw, these circumstances... title-race down to wire, heavy pitch, grumblings over KO times, the fate of bitter rivalries... takes me back to Rosewell on the wet night of Friday 18th May 2012. No signs of a certain Tadg Moriarty making another cameo for Whitehill this evening?

It’s scheduled for 7.30. Please try and keep up.

Prostate problems you should go immediately. Fucking just go.

Agree to a point but you need a team capable of scoring on the park. It's maybe nothing to do with the stadium atmosphere maybe it's our support who don't get involved the way they should. I bet the Dunfermline supporters thought there was little wrong with the atmosphere at the TFS on Saturday, they looked as if they were having a great time. Maybe we are just a very hard support to please... There was nothing wrong with the stadium atmosphere the night we beat Hibs in the play offs but that atmosphere was generated by the excitement of the team on the park's Remembering the SPL years, our supporters were fairly quiet then too. We never really raised the roof then. The marketing people do a great job, the young team do their best to get the songs going etc to try to lift the stadium mood but I feel the feel good factor for me is winning games and playing well.

Other stadiums are worse (some much worse) but let's be honest we made a f**k up of the design of that stadium. We probably have the worst new stadium. Pie in the sky pish about hotels and sports villages and something like a 12000 capacity. The focus should have been smaller stands, 4 of them and completely enclosed to help with the atmosphere. You are correct, quality on the pitch would boost the atmosphere and is the most important thing, but a complete stadium that wasn't souless, open to the elements and one of the coldest places in the world would help as well.

Anyone holding off based solely on last nights meeting are really rolling the dice on their clubs future more so than moving to EoS.

Yup the guy from Dundonald said that they could be swayed to stay Junior. The arrogance and lies from the top table only strengthened my clubs resolve to leave.

There is a difference between people at the top table scaremongering and punters on an internet forum doing so.

Che’s post was a pretty accurate account from where I was sitting. Bluebell, or any of the other clubs moving...can you confirm at what point the EOS canvassed your club about making an application. This was a complete lie from TJ. The disparaging comments from TJ about the standard in EOS was really disrespectful as were the comments regarding distance of travel....I mean who wants to go to Tweedmouth!!!! try going from Dunbar to Kirriemuir for example. What’s the difference. The juniors have a great product at a competitive price and the most coveted trophy in the land .....so good that TJ can’t even get a sponsor for the cup. TJ can’t be trusted to deliver anything.

Seriously, you don't understand why Blackburn weren't there? Dear god.

Have aunts and uncles younger than themselves.

Pronounce 30 as “therty” rather than thirty.

On a topical but sad note

Apparently the Aberdeen set used Genuine Lego Bricks, I don't know whether they were able to source official Maroon bricks for this project. Serious builders seem to be into custom bricks from 3rd party suppliers, or even 3D printing them at home. A bit like boy racers with their custom car parts only less likely to kill themselves or other road users in a blazing ball of twisted steel.

Can't see why anyone could possibly be positive going into the last 5 games, we've lost by 3 or 4 goals to three of the sides we face, haven't beat another one and can't score goals! What the f**k are some people seeing that makes them hopeful? Finishing ninth would be massive and a miracle!

Fever Ray - Mercy Street

Early morning near Ullapool. iPhone shot

I think it just that. BSC and Cumbernauld Colts have at least one fewer game because they're not in. And yes, a new WoSL would likely have its own cups etc. I'm fairly MOR in terms of the pyramid, not quite take it or leave it but not a full on convert. There is so much potential if it's done right. Countrywide knockout cup for all teams outwith SPFL. SJFA currently has about 160 members. Add in 13 from SoS, 12 from EoS, 16 from LL and 18 from HFL, you'd have approx 220 teams competing. The potential additional teams are not enough to mean an extra round in the present Junior Cup format as we currently have 35 ties or so to give 2nd Rd of 128. The above would mean maybe 90 or so ties in R1 - less byes, more ties. Add in regional cups and maybe one legacy KO such as an Ayrshire or Central Cup, or in east the ones they retained, it's appealing.

The Lego bus for 79 nicker