HibeeJibee

Seriously though... what if say Falkirk Council (who own stadium?) can't or won't tear up pitch, evict 'Shire/women/youth games, lose that income, etc. Falkirk can't go up? Have to groundshare?

There are 6-7 weeks from playoff ending to LC starting. Even if finance + contractors readied... is that doable? at least to get a good grass park? If not it may drive them from tier 2 too, if nobody aspiring to promotion dare risk using them - or block promotion, if do.

Tbf whole situation is bizarre... Iran spends 10s of billions of £ on defence and are close to Russia/etc. Surely they can source spares for their President's own chopper - or else 'obtain' a Russian helicopter?

Quite... they should publish the explanations and evidence for this (plus cost implications - this could result in a promoted club having to spend over the odds to get their plastic park replaced ASAP... potentially repaying grants depending how it was originally financed... whilst also losing major income streams, having to obtain a new first-team training facility, and leaving a number of youth and community teams homeless). Btw still don't see why only Premiership clubs are voting - it palpably affects members in other tiers who could be promoted?

... and despite being in groups twice, which only OF + Aberdeen have. Only qualified once in 20yrs mid-1960s to mid-1980s, and only once in 10yrs to last season. Only once won more than 1 tie (1988-89).

60yrs ago tomorrow! No fewer than 3 different Scots appeared for Europe - with Denis Law scoring - in a 4-2 win over Scandinavia at what is now the Parken in Copenhagen, to celebrate the DBU's 75th anniversary. (Alex Hamilton of Dundee has to miss their 5-1 win over St Johnstone in the Summer Cup to play; while Willie Henderson of Rangers had also been called-up for Europe but did not feature). (Carl Bertelsen and Jens Petersen the Danes featuring for Scandinavia signed for Morton and Aberdeen in the closed season; plus Roald Jensen the Norwegian joined Hearts the next year). Highlights: https://cutt.ly/Ker7HGv8

Cupar Hearts retained Scottish Amateur Cup on Thursday. So unless there are any surprise licensees Extra Preliminary will - depending on Arthurlie - consist of 6 or 7 clubs and 2 ties/2 byes or 3/1: Bo'ness Athletic Beith Invergordon Dundee North End Culter Cupar Hearts Arthurlie

Down the decades 21 clubs have represented Scotland in European competitions (22 if you count Clyde in Anglo-Franco-Scottish Cup). However it'll now be at least 10yrs since a new club debuted - ICT in 2015. Ross County did reach Scottish Cup Final in 2010 and won League Cup in 2016 but are playing-off for top tier status again - Hamilton only other to play top tier since 1980s. Who will be next to make it? County? Hamilton? Ayr? QP? Somebody else?

Whitehill U20s and Heriot-Watt Uni U20s prevailed... the latter with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Blackburn. Jeanfield got their win; but Dundonald can snatch it by avoiding defeat to Camelon tomorrow.

For sake of completeness this is an equivalent ranking of the 'original' EOSL clubs, with the same colour coding - except since the league itself and the divisions were that much smaller both are split into top halfs and bottom halfs: Duns, Eyemouth and Kelso went defunct/etc. during initial 5yrs. In relation to each other there has been comparatively little rising or falling (though in real terms of course they are now spread across 4 tiers rather than 1 or 2)... CSS notable having gone into LL and thusfar stayed there. Whitehill and Vale of Leithen descended from longer LL stays; Dunipace came from west; Bo'ness Athletic, Edinburgh College, Edinburgh South, Inverkeithing and Linton originated from amateur football/etc.

If we assume that Broxburn aren't going to blow a 3 goal lead at home to Dalbeattie on Friday night then next season's divisions are now all known. With it being 5 seasons since the large-scale movement of clubs into the EOSL (allowing for 2020-21 having been abandoned!) it intrigued me to see how those clubs had got on compared to the previous 5 seasons in their old east region. This is a ranking of each of their average finishing positions during those 5 years (colour coded for super, premier, top halfs of districts and bottom halfs); and then their actual divisions for next season (similarly colour coded for Premier, First, Second and Third divisions): There are several clubs not on the chart who went defunct during initial 5yrs (being Bankfoot, Ballingry, Falkirk and Steelend). By far the biggest riser have been Tranent who've gone from being a top-end district side to ascending clean out of EOSL into Lowland... Dunbar and Whitburn have also risen into Premier... it's also interesting to note the top 5 in this ranking have also all ascended into Lowland at least, or SPFL2 in Bonnyrigg's case and SPFL1 in Kelty's... over in Fife the trio of Crossgates, Lochore and Kirkcaldy & Dysart have risen from bottom-end district sides into First Division (and indeed Crossgates were Premier until now)... Haddington and Glenrothes have also made noticeable rises. By far the biggest faller have been Fauldhouse who've gone from being a bottom-end superleague side to Third Division... there have actually been few other noticeable fallers though Dalkeith and Armadale have gone from top-half premier sides to Second Division... and Edinburgh Utd have gone from top-end district to Third Division (albeit only this year). Certainly comparison of Fauldhouse and Tranent is the starkest: 9yrs ago Fauldhouse finished 10th in super while Tranent came 3rd bottom of south district a couple of levels below them; this year Fauldhouse are 5th bottom of Third Division (with 1 game left) while Tranent came 5th in Lowland a quartet of tiers above them.

Bo'ness Newtown Park Association - Making Newtown Park a Community Hub Newtown Park Association (NPA) have taken another huge step forward in their bid to establish a £3m community hub at Newtown Park. The NPA have finally submitted their planning application to Falkirk Council, hoping that they will get the green light to move forward with their ambitious proposals. It was back in 2018 that the NPA started to pull together the brief for the hub and set the ball rolling with the initial surveys, consultations, reports and advice. However, Covid slowed down the process with the delays only adding to the overall cost of the project. Earlier this year the NPA applied to the Community Choices Capital Grant Fund for the sum of £44671, the sum needed to cover the cost of presenting the architectural drawings to Falkirk Council for planning consent. The NPA were successful in their grant bid thanks to the support of the public of Bo’ness who were asked to vote for the community project they deemed most worthy. Following on from taking Newtown Park into community ownership from Falkirk Council, the NPA are looking to expand on the existing facilities — with its recently upgraded 3G pitch — to grow their community beyond sport and create inclusive and flexible spaces for all people and all ages in the wider Bo’ness community. Robert Snedden, chairman of the NPA, said: “The modernisation of Newtown Park has proved to be a huge success and the ground is being utilised seven days a week by all ages from age six years through to senior adults, both male and female. “Following on from this success, the NPA now wish to proceed with phase two of the project which is the creation of a community hub within the stadium grounds. “NPA are now fully focused and committed to delivering the hub. “It will serve an area of the the town which currently has no facilities that cater for the needs of the community in the densely populated areas of Newtown, Maiden Park, and Deanfield as well as the new residential areas being created at the southern extremities of the town.” He added: “At a time when the population of Bo'ness continues to grow, and with several new housing developments in progress as well as others others in the pipeline, and with Falkirk Council seeking to reduce recreational facilities, it is more crucial than ever that the Community Hub at Newtown Park goes ahead.” NPA’s vision is to provide an inclusive destination that offers facilities and services that will improve its community and enhance the lives of the people who live in Bo'ness. Newtown Park Stadium has a fantastic history and by transforming it into a community resource, the NPA are aiming to ensure that its future will continue this legacy. The site for development is within the boundary of Newtown Park Stadium, re-purposing a narrow strip to the west of the site for the use of the community. The proposal is in close proximity to Kinneil Primary School and — having reached out to the Parent Council and acting head teacher — the NPA are keen to form a partnership moving forward. The proposed hub can be broken down into three key elements: the public square, community spaces, and shared spaces. The public square on Jamieson Avenue will support both the hub and school, and offer a place to gather for parents and children, which could ease the busy school drop-off /pick up times. The community element comprises a multi-function hall, flexible spaces, and cafe, while the shared spaces centre around supporting the pitch with changing facilities for professional and amateur players and are accessed directly from the pitch side. To engage with the wider community, NPA hosted a consultation event in February. The event was attended by local residents, and representatives from Kinneil Primary School, Bo’ness United Football Club, and Bo’ness Rugby Club. Attendees completed surveys about facilities in Bo’ness and the proposed hub, and offered suggestions of what they would like to see. Discussions with school staff centred around how they use the green space adjacent to the proposal, and concerns about overlooking when both are in use. Many felt frustrated by the closure of the Recreation Centre and were concerned about the limited community space in Bo’ness, issues which the establishment of a hub would help to address. Should the planning application be successful, the NPA will seek the estimated £3m needed to complete the project from a variety of funders. The timescale for completion of the hub is dependent upon having all consents and getting the funding, and is estimated to be between 12-24 months. The actual construction process from start to handover is programmed to be between 12-18 months.

Bo'ness Athletic have won Second Division, Third Division, Alex Jack Cup, Cup-Winners' Shield and League Cup over last year. (Not the King Cup interestingly). Many will tip further honours in 12-months.