FairWeatherFan

That would have been happening regardless. Ever since early 2018 there has been an ever evolving variety of ideas depending on what the lay of the land was at the time.

Livingston United applying, the creation of the WoSFL and Luncarty getting in should at least galvanise them and everyone else to at least try and get into the EoSFL.

Due to the ground criteria that the North Superleague has, they were hoping/expecting a reprieve from relegation as Lewis United didn't have a suitable ground. Lewis United had played the entire season away from home and what they lined up as a Superleague groundshare wasn't considered good enough for a previous club(?). Something like that.

On FN you'll find the same chat as you'll find on here. Those for Tayside inclusion, those against it. Those with a variety of solutions to how the pyramid should be amended: 3 way split (with Tayside included or not included North), 4 way split (North, Central, West & East), Highland League 2 etc. Those that know the Highland League is open to application so just apply if a club is interested. Its just like here on topics of the pyramid but with a Northern focus. As for why Tayside Juniors aren't including in talks over the pyramid. There's no Tayside league to negotiate with. Most changes down are club driven. The WoSFL only happened because clubs went to the LL. The last Highland League expansion only happened because Formartine United applied after getting annoyed with the North Region over how they were relegated. That triggered other clubs applying. Otherwise the Highland League were happy going along with a 15 team league. Kelty triggered other clubs looking closer at the EoSFL as a viable option.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/245852/new-pyramid-system-for-highland-league/ June 5th 2014 ahead of the first season of the pyramid system being in place. Highland League President: Finlay Noble ...but they never once gave it a moment's thought.

They don't care about that. They care about tier 5 as its the link from the national leagues to "non-league". Its no different than how the Conference down in England went from NPL, Southern League, and Isthmian League all feeding into it. Basically 1 North and 2 South Leagues and then created Conference North & South. Then made them fit into the structure.

That seems to have been the original thought to keep the balance North / South at Tier 5.

Which is something that was recognised in the very beginning. Following 2020-21 its the first time it can genuinely be discussed. As there will be the WoSFL, EoSFL, SoSFL with a number of SFA Licenced members all looking for greater promotion opportunities.

They did actually. The focus was always on tier 5 since that's step 1 and what was required to get the SFL on board. But thoughts went to what went below. Where would the 8 other Highland League clubs have gone otherwise and one of those bodies mentioned is the SJFA. Because the Juniors were involved and considered when it came to the pyramid.

You know what's strange to me considering a lot of people like ripping up Scottish football and starting with a blank slate. That's exactly what the SFA, SFL (yes, SFL that's how long ago this started), the EoSFL, SoSFL, HL did. With the SJFA kept in the loop as well. And with that blank slate of a non-league they came up with 10 team Highland/Lowland Divisions split north & south at the Tay. With the existing leagues below Then as that evolved the North/South split at the Tay remained. That's how Dundee ended up in the Highland area. A blank slate and all the bodies involved going Dundee is in the North.

There was a Dunoon United, Dunoon Athletic, Dunoon Milton Rovers from pre-WW2. Athletic lasting until the mid70s in the Central League.

It was a mistake.

Congrats! And good luck in the season ahead!

Who knew a year ago how important PPG would become to football

I'd probably tip Gretna 2008 to stay ahead of Dalbeattie, Edinburgh Uni & most of the Borders sides for a while.

For 2020-21 there will be one promotion spot from Tier 6 and relegation will be how many is required to get back down to 16. 3 Licenced Champions from the WoSFL, EoSFL, and SoSFL will be a 3 way play-off 2 Licenced Champions from the WoSFL, EoSFL, and SoSFL will be a two legged play-off. 1 Licenced Champion from the WoSFL, EoSFL, and SoSFL would be automatically promoted. No Licenced Champion from the WoSFL, EOSFL, and SoSFL means no promotion. With the number of clubs in the EoSFL Premier licenced its basically guaranteed to have some form of promotion. Roughly looking at 2 clubs being relegated at the very least. Once the majority of WoSFL Premier clubs are licenced i'm sure there will be a push from Tier 6 for additional promotion spots. Its just too early for this year.

Rounding up that's 23 clubs. Quick check of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020–21_West_of_Scotland_Football_League has 20 with floodlights beside them that's obviously through groundshares and has Drumchapel at Donald Dewar Centre, but doesn't include the clubs that are getting them installed this year. Should certainly reach a third or more pretty soon.

Its more to illustrate the wide range of clubs that are looking into getting them installed. Its by no means easy financially, but clubs big and small have been finding ways to get them recently.

Dyce Juniors up in the North Region are getting them installed so they can join the local Aberdeen & District FA.

https://giphy.com/gifs/why-IDGNYvFLkJKLK

What actually changed about the pyramid with the creation of the WoSFL? The SPFL's still the same, the Lowland & Highland League is still the same, the EoSFL is the same, the SoSFL is the same minus one club. Does an addition count as a complete change?

Most of the articles from around the time of the Betfred Cup deal had bottom of the groups at £17k. Its possible there was a £1k bump since then. The articles from 2017 had a Last 16 loser getting £35k https://spfl.co.uk/news/betfred-cup-boost-for-spfl-clubs And this article from last year had Forfar getting £40k for the last 16 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49139250

There is no Superleague in the East Juniors now. There's hasn't been since summer 2019. Which is why Tier 6 would be a Tayside league or a merged North/Tayside league with Tier 7 having a Tayside league below.

That's not the reason. The Highland League has already taken most of the strength of the NCL and North Juniors over the years. Look at how Montrose Roselea have progressed through the North Region into a comforable mid-table Superleague side. Having struggled to in the bottom half of the East Premier when they reached that peak. You've got the existing link between Tayside and the North through the longstanding cup competition they share. In the Superleague re-organisation of the Junior game there was the attempt to merge Tayside & North. Which was long before the idea of the pyramid. Tayside Juniors & possibility of Angus SPFL clubs in the Highland League improves the Highland League. Travel is only highlighted so as not to be used as an excuse for it not happening. What exactly is the compelling reason for putting them in the "South"?

As far as i'm aware league fixtures for the SPFL, LL, HL, EoSFL and SoSFL don't set a ticketing price across the board. Its entirely up to the clubs.