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Rob Roy 4-3 Cumnock Troon 2- 0 Glenafton Whitletts 1-2 Shotts Perthshire 0-1 Kilsyth Rangers Bellshill 1-2 Threave Glenvale 2-1 Saltcoats

fair enough post - I don't see the SJC as something that has an absolute right to exist at all costs and I'd be surprised if there are many left that really feel that it is a hill to die on in terms of returning to the Juniors as a way to preserve it. It should always be as flexible as possible IMO. The arguments for keeping it are still more compelling than the arguments for scrapping it at this point, especially when a lot of the "scrap it" camp are unabashedly motivated by an unhealthy dislike of the Junior grade with the SJC being the preeminent symbol of that. The question of why so many people are desperate to essentially vandalize a competition that still gets a great level of fan engagement at the turnstiles is the one I always like to try and get answers to because football is all about the fans and getting shot of a product they are demonstrably still attached to really doesn't feel like the "good guy" argument in this. So if we are going to get shot of it any time soon the arguments need to be far stronger than the stuff on 99% of this thread and should include attractive alternatives to the SJC to gain some buy-in from the SJC participants because that would be walking the walk in terms of being progressive.

not sure of the exact figure mate. was certainly over 1k.

I'm becoming convinced many of them don't know themselves and just toe the party line on the topic. there will likely be about 6k over the four semi-final games - a healthy figure that you will seldom anywhere else at non-league level.

That's a cracking crowd

Again, I'm aware of what is sensible good faith argument v's foot stamping spoiled wean level stuff. I can't really list the extent to which particular clubs or committees are anti Junior, I'm commenting on the collective sleep of obfuscation and speculation on this thread. This is all stuff I've said umpteen times on this very thread.

Not hysterical enough.

Well it seems to be a vote that only exists in the minds of people of a certain viewpoint. There's way too much hypothetical it's and buts masquerading as solid information on this thread. All we really have is Pyramidy sorts catastrophising about a future that very likely won't come to pass.

I really really do appreciate how the competition is viewed elsewhere.

A vote aka a democratic process. I don't see the problem with that. It also seems varnishingly unlikely that a majority would go for it.

No real insight into why people think that the answer to the manageable inconvenience experienced by a few ideologically driven anti Junior clubs merits the complete cessation of a tournament that brings benefits to other clubs. Other than that you've only provided strawman points that I've given my thoughts on earlier.

A fair point. I think that compromise is vital but that most of the Pyramid Karen types on here aren't particularly interested in that as a solution because it doesn't pan out with them getting absolutely everything they want. Reasonable concerns about the impact of the SJC are one thing, entitled whining is another. The former can usually be dealt with more easily than the later however we seem to be at a point where only the latter will be good enough for some.

Yes, I know the feelings of the Pyramid Karens. they want to speak to the manager.

I'd love it if Arthurlie cuffed them.

Most teams will take whatever income they can get; that's just good, responsible stewardship. Cynics can't be applauding Talbot, etc for being self-sustaining and then criticizing those same teams for exploiting a completely fair and merit-based source of income. We've seen excellent crowds at the Talbot games (and other clubs games) in the cup in the post-COVID seasons. The reduction of the competition's geographical scope has arguably helped in this regard as we have had consecutive derbies against Cumnock and a couple of local grudge match ties v Darvel which have got the fans out. Apart from the crowd at an end-of-season league decider, you can guarantee that a Junior Cup crowd will be significantly bigger and feel like more of an occasion than a league game v the same opponents. I don't know what that translates to as money in the bank but it must be worth it. Most of the obsession about the SJC you mention comes from the "progressive" gang rather than the participants. I strongly suspect that most teams in the Junior Cup are there for pragmatic reasons now and fully realise that it is a shadow of what it was in the recent past. Many would most likely drop it in a minute if a more lucrative alternative cup was on offer - but there isn't, so if you're given melons you make melonaid. Whether it's one game or half a dozen, it represents income that would otherwise be closed off to teams if we didn't participate - yes you get more the further you go; that's not an unusual way to distribute prize money, but it's worth the gamble that you could do a Yoker and get to the final. If some clubs don't want a slice of this then that's their prerogative but they probably need to accept that other teams are getting on with doing the best for themselves. The fixtures could probably be managed better but it's not an impossible task to accommodate the SJC in its current, truncated form.

You don't get more ambitious than putting your club badge on the ceiling.

People will be along to say you should never write off Talbot in the Scottish but we don't usually leave ourselves needing to overturn a two goal deficit. I'll be stunned if we manage to pull it it off; we've struggled in the last four games and the wheels have come off the season a bit now. The outcome boils down to Darvel being clinical enough to finish the job.

That was a strange one. We were distinctly second best but could still have had a few goals. Darvel should have had more than two and played well. The penalty looked like such a needless challenge. One of those that a clever striker will always make the most of and go down. Apart from the game that was a terrific crowd and occasion tonight.

2-0 Darvel, Wilson penalty

1-0 Darvel, Moore. Nearly HT

Away to the gemme mate. Seethe you later.

Ambitious. Progressive.

Possibly the most pitifully small time thing ever posted on here. Enjoy your big seethy night in the house getting raging about a fitba tournament mate!

Talbot v Arthurlie final please. The whole shebang doesn't usually get interesting until the second leg unless someone builds up a big lead in the first leg.