Gunner

I heard the manager of Bengal is a bit mental.

It's nothing to do with the SAFA. I've been party to conversations in which the SAFA have made it clear that they want the dual registration to be opened up to include amateur. It's exclusively the SYFA preventing this happening. I've posted about this a number of times and on twitter - the SYFA want the 'prestige' of a player pathway to junior football. There's nothing stopping registrations being allowed between youth and amateur. I am of the opinion, thats the way that it SHOULD be. More players would stay in the game and play more often - not to mention, those who are better would still make the move to junior if they so want. In addition to this, why are u21's part of the SYFA? They are adults. The u21's should be under the jurisdiction of the SAFA - and I know there's appetite for this within the SAFA too.

Every weekend theres more teams on twitter searching for refs. I cant remember a season like it... more and more.

That's Colville confirmed it on twitter. Best of luck to the guys who have tried to keep them going this season, in particular Joe and Andy.

Blantyre RGM. Cup section. 8pm Dalziel.

Their games on tonight

Seen that. I thought it would take them a little time to settle... RGM who beat them 1-0 are a very good outfit. I had them preseason and was impressed. Then Lesmahagow getting beat by Oban, in oban only 2-1 isn't to bad either.

I agree entirely Gav.

not my place to say... im not interested in casting a bad light on teams or other leagues. It did happen, and I only used it to make a point to EKFootball who seems to be taking his opportunity to put the boot into the central cause they've lost a couple of teams. it shoudln't be this league v that league ffs. Amateur fitba is on the way down across the board and theres folk throwing stones in glass houses.

I've mentioned this a few times, on different forums. But the biggest issue IMO is the player pathway. The structure isnt broken, there's no need for regionalisation IMO. Its simply down to a lack of players - and money isnt the main factor in that either. There's simply nowhere near young players coming in to amateur football. A big part of the solution to this IMO would be taking the u21's and even the u19's from the SYFA. However, they will never let these age groups go. At 18 you are an adult, there's no reason to be playing under the jurisdiction of the SYFA. This 'ownership' is the single reason that youth players can't sign dual contracts with Amateur teams, the same way that they can with Junior teams. It's not forbidden by the SFA... it's only the SYFA that are preventing this. The SYFA see a more prestigious pathway being youth > junior. Than youth > amateur. What happens is guys get to 21's and the majority dont go junior... they have then never been involved with an amateur team, have no link to our game and fall away from it altogether. It's simply all down to power & being in control. And it's seriously damaging our game. The sensible pathway would be youth > amateur. With deeper links and a more realistic pathway put in place between youth teams and amateur teams where players are likely to continue playing. Those good enough, will still move junior. I Think if this pathway can be improved, then we will see greater numbers of new players enter our game. Even the allowing of dual contracts between youth and amateur. Structurally, in our own game. of course there could be some tidying up. I think there's committees for committees sakes. There's people who wear their involvement in our game like a badge of honor yet contribute nothing. It's nice to sway your a part of it and nothing more. But for me, regionalisation solves nothing. Teams make their own decisions to move leagues fully aware of the travelling involved.

wasn't a game involving a caledonian team abandoned due to a 22 man brawl only this week? In a friendly. I agree, that type of incident is worrying. Every league has teams that sail closer to the wind than others.

I ref in the Central, and never had an issue with discipline in any of the 3 divisions. I've covered some friendlies over the close season that have had central teams in them - and again, without any issue. That's only my personal, first hand experience though.

I’ve got that wrong. 1st round ties are September 7th/8th.

Refereed one of the friendlies, and he was excellent at the back. Could hear him talking to the guys around him and he also popped up with a goal right at the end, a nice volleyed finish across goal. I don't think anyone is expecting the Craig Beattie of old, age comes to us all - but at 35, with his experience and fitness he will be a great asset to Stedfast.

round 1 ties will be Saturday 31st august.

Aye that’s a cracker too

Where are the venue's for the semi finals?

Ah. ok, so I guess were getting caught up in manager/coach etc. I asked heepsy if Rab was away. He said no. I didnt think to be so specific to ask if rab was now not manager but a coach. I've not spoke to heepsy since, since I'm not overly fussed. I'm sure CP will find their feet in time - the next ones in the door were always going to be compared to the last few years and clearly have a big rebuild job on their hands.

I know Heepsy who is in at CP with Rab. I asked him yesterday if Rab had stepped away and he said no.

On a Separate note, and as someone who has a genuine fondness for the SAFL having played in it for a number of years it's sad to see how small it's become. Only 5 years ago it had over 50 clubs in it's set up (including a number of B teams). Even 3 years ago it still had over 40 teams. This season, it's starting with 29 teams. That's an incredible drop off and hopefully it slows now. To LOJ's predictions - tipping Strathaven Dynamo is a positive, a new team who i've reffed in a friendly and they are a decent outfit... hopefully a positive for the SAFL if they can bring in good teams.

Castlemilk will surprise some people this year. Have been improving year on year, were very good last season and some of the comments from teams they've played preseason suggest they have continued to improve. Not saying they will win the league - but they might show up better than a lot of teams do coming up from a division below.

Agreed. I played on they parks plenty of times when at Cambria and when playing against strathy uni. They are as good to play on as they are pleasing on the eye. Superb parks.

https://twitter.com/ColvilleAfc/status/1141280528223604736

I know. I was only commenting on the parks though. The rest, time will tell.

No easy way to get sponsorship. Hit the road, speak to all and any local business to see if they can help. If they cant offer money - see if they can offer anything else. I used to get a local greengrocer give us fruit etc for before every game instead of money. A local water company gave us pallets of bottled water instead of money. Try show any business you speak to what you might be able to offer in return, urge your players to use sponsors services etc and promote them on social media / websites etc. Have their names on any club attire. Also, if there's a story or 'uniqueness' to the team - then tell them... are you the only club in the village? Are you a team setup to support a charity or help guys stay out of trouble. Are you a pathway club for a youth team? Then there's fundraising within the club, auctions, raffles, scratchcards, Last man standing games, bonus balls... and so on. The one most seem to be doing these days is the football scratchcard at £20 a pop for local business... winning business sponsors the strips with the money going to clubs.