FairWeatherFan

BSC Glasgow created out of the Broomhill Sports Club based at Broomhill Primary School. Broomhill Primary to Maryhill FC is only a couple of miles away, basically on their doorstep. BSC Glasgow played at Maryhill for the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons. Two full seasons, they never imagined they would of been playing in Alloa. And the reason they never went the Gartcairn route is the obvious answer, they never wanted to be a Junior Football club. If they wanted Junior football they could of simply linked up with Maryhill FC. Just like Cumbernauld Colts could of linked up with Cumbernauld United instead of creating a club of their own. BSC Glasgow, Cumbernauld Colts, Bonnyton Thistle, Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts and now looking like Syngenta. All youth clubs that had existed in some form for quite sometime. Any one of them could of created a Junior side if they wanted, turns out the SJFA isn't that attractive from those that exist outside of it.

Yet you overlook East Kilbride and Cumbernauld Colts. Junior football and Amateur football is already very well catered for within Glasgow, what exactly would be the point in starting a new club at that level? You might as well just try and link up with an existing one. A bit like East Kilbride they were looking to provide their community with a link into Senior football. The Lowland League had the stated aim of reaching 16 members and in 2014 only had 12. With no juniors interested, this left the East of Scotland and South of Scotland in a period of disintegration as members were chasing those 4 vacancies. South of Scotland = 11 members, amateur in all but name. Well and truly outwith their geographic area. East of Scotland = 20 teams but 4 of them are reserve sides and they are also split into 2 divisions. Outwith their geographic area. This is also the league with the most members chasing Lowland League membership (Edinburgh University, Civil Service Strollers and Hawick Royal Albert would all join). The Lowland League was the only real and stable option for a club with a long term set of aims.

Haven't seen it mentioned, but you might recall Fort William looking for more help behind the scenes. Turns out they announced a new chairman and board member in the past week. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-oban-times/20181018/283472142211611

I'd actually say it was the lowest tree possible. They'd been in youth football for a while and presumably involved in the likes of the SFA youth schemes. Gotten to a point where they could provide an adult side their obvious regional options were Junior, Amateur, Lowland League. I know which one I would of chosen.

Part of the problem with licencing is that it may of tied those clubs into multi-year tenancy agreements. Which is why they are still there until they can get their own facilities in order.

Keep in mind BSC started in Maryhill and Edusport started in Hamilton where they are located. Alloa and Annan ended up being short or mid term solutions (depending on your point of view) Neither were the original or long term plans for either club.

Hindsight's a wonderful thing. The approach to applications and format of the leagues is the only reason we're having this discussion. Otherwise the 13 clubs that applied after the 31st March deadline would be calling up TJ asking what's the latest news from the PWG about SJFA integration into the SFA pyramid.

It was Stirling University putting out a reserve in the East of Scotland that helped keep the league viable for the past 5 years. There's also the obvious difference between them and jumping up leagues/grades. It's kind of hard to jump anywhere when you started at the bottom and are still at the bottom.

I was having a look at the numbers of clubs beneath the SPFL, especially in light of the HL/LL boundary potentially moved to accomodate East Region clubs. Kept it to the 3 rough regions the leagues usually get divided up into: Juniors preference: Existing HL/LL boundary:

Took that as a saviour that survived last season's finale. Pretty sure the shot followed Eugene talking, so a way to remind everyone he's now amongst a group of people he's betrayed/maimed. Presumably whoever has it has better supplies and storage. Maybe Im misremembering another zombie movie or did a woman in a van not trade information/knowledge at some point last season. They'd be my pick.

Every club in the Lowland League is meant to have access to a ground with floodlights. It's the league's assurance of getting games played. I also think it's a good enough common sense approach for now. Only once the entire league has floodlights and most promotion candidates from tier 6 are likely to have them (or means to purchase them) does it need changed. Floodlights at this level is a bit like the 10,000 seater rule for the SPL back in the day. Nice to have when needed, but not actually required 90+% of the time.

Saw a new to me poster on the way to work this morning. The Coffeys facing off in the centre, Kenny Williams and Wolfgang on the sides with British Strong Style above. #ICWNXT

The way it's phrased in the Lowland League's rules is that the relegated team is relegated into the "League which will have been decided by the Boards of the three leagues prior to the start of each season."

First chance i've had to look at some of the East Super League tables. No one left in the East Region has been much of a power this past decade compared to those that have left:

I'd say less than 3,000 at the minute. Maybe between now and then they can create some extra buzz to go over that. NXT UK starting up finally could help generate a bit of interest.

Whatever the set up is in 2019/20 it won't be like that in 5 years. That's the only bit of hope I have long term. SJFA Scottish Cup fundamentally changes to fit into the senior calendar for league playoffs. Big Junior clubs that get promoted won't be replaced weakening the top junior leagues etc.

Since they've managed to win it in the past, Tayport.

I think some clarity over the licensing embargo would swing the discussion. Getting licensed was often used as one of the main reasons for East Region clubs moving to the EoS. If the SFA puts up too many roadblocks it would likely entrench the Juniors where they are.

I'm doing this from my phone. So I've not had a thorough look, but groundsharing looks to be allowed. I'm sure any candidate club will ensure to meet the specific requirements to allow it to happen.

East Super League, West Premiership, South of Scotland and East of Scotland champions in a playoff for one Lowland League spot. Seems all very 2013 to me. I wonder why it never happened

Forgot about them, but then I was focusing on two SPFL/SFL clubs at the same time.

Most of them are historical at this point I suppose. East Stirlingshire, Clydebank, Hamilton and Clyde off the top of my head. As for the secrecy I'm sure they don't want to tip their hand or deal with the stick from a hypothetical scenario of a Glasgow team playing out of Alloa on their big stage debut.

There's been plenty of groundshares in the national leagues at this point. Why wouldn't BSC just continue on with the Alloa arrangement if they got promoted?

And yet that's exactly what was going to happen to Montrose and 5 years later nobody has bothered to change the boundary.

The SJFA spin on this is obviously that the West Region Premiership and East Region Super League already are the West of Scotland and Tayside Leagues. No need for new entities, we'll just rearrange some admin.