stanley
-
Posts
877 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Store
Posts posted by stanley
-
-
1 hour ago, Skyline Drifter said:
It's not though. EK have a licence. There will be a relegation playoff and arguably EK will now be better prepared for it than they would otherwise have been. I also acknowledge there's an argument that sitting idle for a fortnight before is less than ideal.
On this occasion, there's one club who can enter the playoff but next season there might be none. It is certainly an extra barrier to clubs being promoted to the SPFL.
0 -
42 minutes ago, jamamafegan said:
I don’t understand how in 2017 Buckie were eligible to participate in the play-off (they lost against EK) but in 2024 they are not. Have the rules changed?
Yes, clubs are now required to have a bronze licence to enter the playoffs. It was previously entry. This is a very recent change. It is probably in reaction to five established SPFL clubs being relegated in recent years.
1 -
1 hour ago, Omnishambles said:
With Cumbernauld Colts and EK being the only two clubs 5th tier or below that meet the bronze criteria (at the moment), doesn't it effectively render the Pyramid playoffs redundant in the (likely) event that next season's LL and HL winners don't meet it?
I think the main point of changing the rules to bronze being the minimum rather than entry was to try to reduce relegation from the SPFL. Scottish football is all about self-preservation. I don't think increasing the standards is the main focus of this at all.
6 -
Even without mergers, it's likely that the number of Saturday afternoon west leagues will reduce naturally as the numbers of clubs continue to decrease. Last season ended with 92 clubs across four leagues (Caley, Central Scottish, Scottish AFL & Greater Glasgow). Now, there are just 76 clubs between Caley, Scottish Premier and Greater Glasgow. Go back ten years and there were 228 clubs across seven leagues (Caley, Central Scottish, Scottish AFL, Greater Glasgow, Paisley & District, North & South Lanarkshire, West of Scotland). The number in the Saturday morning leagues haven't actually increased in those ten years either (they've actually decreased just at a far smaller rate than the Saturday afternoon leagues).
Add to that the Stirling & District which as gone from 45 to just 10 clubs. There's also plenty of Stirling/Falkirk area clubs in the Caley now. Stirling & District only just surviving so far. I got the numbers from years ago from HibeeJibee's old post but it's a useful way of measuring the ongoing decline.
0 -
9 hours ago, Brad Bobley said:
Parkhall resigning at the end of the season. Another gone from SPAFA.
They'll be struggling to have more than one division at this rate.
0 -
9 minutes ago, craigkillie said:
They might still regret stopping at 6, which it somewhat seems as though they have.
Seven now. 93rd minute goal.
0 -
Keith 0 v 0 Brechin at half-time.
1 -
Busby gone from the Scottish Premier. Down to 22 teams (and four of them are confirmed as moving to the Caley in 2024/25).
Bo'ness United Community gone from the LEAFA. The LEAFA has lost 10+ clubs since last season. Down to just 33 clubs.
0 -
What is the general stance from the EoS on accepting reserve sides? I know Stirling Uni are in it but they have been for years and were accepted when numbers were much lower. I'm sure other reserve sides have been rejected since then?
0 -
50 minutes ago, Burnieman said:
Is Amateur football declining simply because there's less players, less people playing "social" football?
There's a couple of good threads in the amateur football section on here about it. Numbers or teams have gone from 800+ ten years ago to 400+ now. I'm not really best placed to comment on the reasons. Certainly fewer people playing in general but various other factors.
0 -
Things are, at least, pretty straightforward in the east. Plenty of spaces in the league if any club wants to join (unlike the closed shop in the west). A regionalised set of amateur leagues below for clubs to apply from (LEAFA, Kingdom of Fife, Borders, Stirlingshire) unlike the west (three Saturday afternoon leagues, Ayrshire league, Saturday morning leagues etc). The only complicated aspect is the Stirlingshire clubs being in various leagues.
I would imagine that, over time, the amateur leagues will continue to shrink. Eventually, perhaps the remaining clubs will join up with the seniors. The LEAFA, in particular, has declined massively in numbers in recent years. The Stirlingshire league is clinging on and unlikely to still be around in a few years as it has lost most of its clubs to the west leagues.
0 -
Hard to see the S&D still existing in a few years based on current numbers. They even have a Fife club in the league now. So many clubs based in their area now play in the Caley. Merger with the SP seems a bit strange but I guess both leagues are desperate for new clubs.
0 -
4 minutes ago, Gazzah said:
Just seen pather confirm on twitter they are moving from Sunday to Saturday and joining central Scottish league.
You'd think they might know the name of the league they are joining.
2 -
26 minutes ago, Gazzah said:
That can’t leave many of the top league for next year?.
19 teams left in the league. 5 in the Premier (Castlemilk, Oban Saints, Arthurlie, Harestanes and Neilston). Just seven clubs left in the league from the old Central Scottish. What was a merger with the Scottish AFL is basically turning into a merger with the Caley...
0 -
1 hour ago, realmadrid said:
Would i be correct in saying the weekends results now mean that only Gretna or Edinburgh Uni can finish bottom of the league?
Yes. Also important that they are both guaranteed to finish in the bottom two (as between 0 and 2 will get relegated).
0 -
51 minutes ago, Gazzah said:
It’s all over I don’t think it’s just afternoon teams struggling. Over the next 2/3 months will see an acceleration of teams folding imo.
Why the next 2/3 months?
0 -
11 minutes ago, patriot1 said:
The rules state that Rosyth finish the league in 16th so they should have been placed there now.
It'll just be the way the tables on the website are set up.
0 -
12 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:
Logically have to be that; or 1 more promotion from Third - albeit less orthodox especially having fewer clubs.
Slightly unexpected outcome IMO, but at least avoids a barney over picking either now, with majority games played. (Plus occurs to me this now means no scenario where Third could end up with fewer than 10 clubs next season - i.e. even if Broxburn go up but Gretna down).I always prefer more promotions over fewer relegations but I think they'll definitely go for the one less relegation spot option. Otherwise, you'd be looking at 4 or 5 promotion spots from a potentially 10-team league.
I think what you've said about the Third Division potentially being nine clubs next season is also likely a factor in their decision. Although it's definitely a slightly unexpected outcome, I think it's a decent idea.
0 -
6 minutes ago, searchers1963 said:
Also on this the board have decided theirs no change to relegation so the 2nd division will be running with 15 teams next season
How will they deal with relegation/promotion between the 2nd and 3rd divisions next season? One less relegation spot next year to bring it back to 16 teams for 2025/26?
0 -
I hope there will soon be a proposal to automatically relegate the bottom team. That has to be one of the priorities. The bottom placed team could feasibly end up on <10 points and stay in the league. I find it hard to understand why anyone would agree with this.
2 -
Sad to hear. Hopefully they are able to sort something out and return to the EoS in the future.
Does this mean only two teams will be automatically relegated from the first and second division now (depending on Lowland League promotion/relegation)?
0 -
5 hours ago, Passionate said:
Are Hearts liable to sell 4300 tickets ( roughly). For a game at teatime on BBC on a Sunday, if so, hats off. .
Definitely possible especially at a ground some have never been to before.
Edit: admittedly, kick off time is awful and will put some people off but we will certainly take a good number.
0 -
1 hour ago, Amateur Footie Fan said:
I actually think the GGPL are in a much stronger position in terms of numbers (32 teams to a possible 18 in SPAFA) and quality when you see what will remain in SPAFA next season. SPAFA are in serious trouble unfortunately.
GGPL is down to 30 clubs now (two clubs in the table have folded and have 0 games listed as being played). It looks like there quite a few reserve teams in the GGPL too (mainly linked to clubs in the Caley) but certainly far stronger in terms of numbers.
0 -
17 minutes ago, the real shallow dave said:
Anyone know when the draw for th next round of this is, and when the games will be played?
Can't find anything online
Fixtures are here: https://www.scottishamateurfa.co.uk/fixture/cup_id/4
0
New clubs in the East of Scotland
in East of Scotland Football League
Posted · Edited by stanley
It will be 16-16-15 and then the third division number will depend on if Broxburn are promoted or not (11 if Broxburn go up, 12 if Broxburn stay down).