Bestsinceslicebread

They are all in different leagues, The U21s are in the West of Scotland 21 league, (saturday afternoon) and the U19s play in the Central Scotland Football association, (first year in existance) - (Sunday afternoon) I think the next age group is the 2004s, not sure what league they are in. Both 21s and U19s have played at different parks are far as im aware, mostly Donald Dewar, U21s have played at Harmony Rows ground which is down down govan, shieldhall way

As I was part of the Pollok academy past couple of years I know how it's run. its been set up as a separate entity by local and ex Pollok players. PollokFc have no control of the academy but last year was the closest its ever been with 5 players, (all U19s at the time) gaining duel contracts with Pollok Fc and 1 went to Partick Thistle, 1 to Stirling Albion, 1 to Livingston, 4 or 5 to BSC Glasgow Development, 1 loaned to Johnston Burgh, 1 to Larkhall and 1 loan to Cumnock and 1 went on scholarship to America. All from last years league winning U19s team. I will say the progression is moving swiftly and really positive and long may it continue, there are a few stumbeling blocks that need sorted but all in all its all good. This year there has as far as I'm aware, no communication between the first team and the youth academy, (well definetly not the wy I wanted), although a few games have been played at Newlandsfield this year, (2006s and U19s ties). The Clydebank academy is being rushed through with purpose by the Clydebank first team and the u19s train beside the first team and at Kirkintilloch the U21s train beside the first team. In regards to Arthurlie moving, this sounds great, where are they moving too and are they preparing for senior maybe on the off chance of is it a direct positive move to progress to seniors.

Yeah sorry I was mainly meaning the effect on the East U21 league and some of the East U19s teams. The academys with Pollok, Kirkintiloch and Clydebank intend to have teams right through all the age ranges

Interesting enough how many teams in the junior set up are getting their academy set up. I know Pollok, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy and Clydebank and now taking this further although all are at different stages. I heard and sure that when a lot of junior teams joined the seniors last year, they all took local boys teams into their set up in a rush as on the east side there were fewer teams playing in the Scottish leagues and fewer teams in the east youth grassroots leagues

Agree, Yes the West is a higher level than the East and North, (this is only my view folks from recent stats in Scottish etc...), But if I was running the SOS league or in a committee or fan of a team in the SOS league and found out a new league was going above us after being years in the SOS league then I would not be happy

I would prefer a West/Glasgow league with the sos league below us. (West/Glasgow league with the sos league below us.) - I do not believe this will happen. As every team in the 'SOS' league would go off their nut and rightly so with new teams joining or league and going ahead of them in the league structure. I can only see possibly a 'West' top division as the equivalent of the 'SOS' league. Then even if that happened, 'West' equivalent or the 'SOS', the others in the top 'East' junior league, they could moan, again quite rightly so that they should be at the same level as the new 'West', (why not say the 'North' can say the same) but then the senior EOS could say that the new east juniors joining should be below the East senior league. In order to get it right, we all have to be or try to be objective. Also, take it this way, if a lot of junior teams wanted to leave the junior set up or the junior set up joined the SFA league structure, where would this leave the junior dignitaries and or hierarchy, are they fearful of their jobs? Lots of politics involved in the workings of it all.

Thanks for that Fairweatherfan I do believe Benburb now have floodlights and their pitch, I'm positive, meets the criteria size. Kirkintilloch Rob Roy I'm sure are going to have the same and they are starting to get their youth academy organized. Renfrew, sorry Renfrew fans but I feel it's unsafe if there was a good-sized crowd at Renfrew's park. I was at a cup semi-final last year I think for Renfrew v Pollok, think Pollok had 2 players sent off and still got through but for me the worrying thing was the fans could only stand on either the south main stand or the east side and due to being a big crowd, there were no steps to stand up to view, except one tier, well away from the railing perimeter but all the fans crammed against the railing with 3 levels and the ones at the front were complaining of being crushed and a few older gentlemen found it really hard to see if they did not get to the front. In general some grounds have been checked for safety reasons, I'm sure, but no one will bother until it might be a big crowd, then again these problems would arise at these grounds if there was a big crowd not from the normal attendance they usually see.

I'm sure there are many teams that have small pitches but don't think there is any clarity or any 'one stop' place to know who has the correct pitch size and facilities to become full members. There may also be teams who have the correct facilities etc... but the fans might not want them to join if based on a vote and I'm sure there are a few teams who don't have the correct facilities where most, committee and fans alike want to join the pyramid system. Yeah floodlights a big problem for Pollok as they would have to apply and there are tons of flats adjacent to the pitch where some tenants possibly won't want the floodlights in front of them

Only looking from the outside in, as I deal with youth coaching part of a junior team in the west but I find it very interesting. I'm lead to believe from rumours and hearsay only, it seems like many junior teams, especially in the 'West' are unsure so waiting to see what is happening. If Cumnock has applied then good for them and hope everything they have in place fits the criteria set down by the SFA to become a member club. I'm sure there is many swithering including Clydebank whom I feel its only time once they jump. Teams like Pollok, I believe won't jump due to the lack of facitlies that the SFA require to become a member club, the size of the park is too small and no floodlights etc... If half of the west junior clubs jumped, wonder if there would be just a WEST league equivalent to the South league and the East of Scotland league. Personally, it would be great if the four west divisions would stay the way they are and become part of the pyramid system and the top division would be the equivalent of the south and east leagues. Anyone know officially which junior clubs in the 3 regions, 'West', 'East' and 'North' are known NOT to have the correct facilities to become a member club ? I know Clydebank are laying a new bigger footballing surface and floodlights and should be ready by April

Think any club who keep it down to £20 a month or less is fantastic and most should take note or ask advice how they do it. I recently tried to hire out Huntershill park, (new astro), for a league match and was told £110 for the two hours and when you add the referee, say £35 to £40 that means say you have to find £140 just to play a match, never mind the training. I know thats one of the dearer parks in East Dumbartonshire, right on the Glasgow boundary. Its such a shame and how can any kids, who comes from a deprived family afford to pay for their kids fees and this means some fantastic potential is never gonna get the chance or help they so need to excel.

Agreed!! Less travelling for the lower clubs is best. I'm just saying that if there is just one tier pyramid system I think it would be best to keep district leagues at the lower level. But on here everyones view of DISTRICT level may be different

Ok it was taken from last years list but you get the drift. I'm not looking at this as a Bens follower as I don't go to their games. I'm looking at it for all the teams in the top half of junior football and the lower half. Yes if reorganisation happens then it should taken in areas, that's what I mean by continuing with district leagues at the lowest level. Every team should be progressing and aiming to get as far as possible in the Scottish league but there are a lot who are not willing or wanting to do so and you would need to delve deeper to find the reasons why. If you think this is not true then im sorry that's what I believe of my experiences of being in junior football, supporting it and playing in it. Feck when I played for a certain junior team that I loved and eventually played for had a committee man, now I never said chairman, who was unemployed but when to the bookies nearly every day to spend £50, you work out the math how he funded his enjoyment. Fans of junior clubs are great they are what keeps them ticking over, well usually, but they always don't know the full facts of how the club is operating or their real vision. I think a pyramid system will come , I just hope its the right one for everyone.

http://Junior football, what is the future? isn't it fun when everyone comes in with information and ideas and then a lot realise its like opening a can of worms but then again, Seagulls and Birds like worms, don't they. but in order to fix a can or worms you have to open it anyway. One thing for sure there always needs to be change if theres been a dwindle or stagnant time and I hope something is worked out that benefits everyone. I need to go, I think I talked some sense there. My head hurts

Why would "Junior" clubs fold if all non-league clubs were in the same league system, more so than now, on what basis do you make that assumption? We've seen Junior clubs go from Superleague to bottom District league and make their way back up again, that's football, that's how it works. Remember, the Junior system is a Pyramid in miniature, and clubs do fold occasionally. Have you looked at the teams in the current format, there is no way teams at the bottom of the junior district leagues could afford to travel to some of these grounds if the lowland or southern teams were relegated. Of course some teams were in the premier league and then ended up in the district league but when they are in the lower district section they don't have to travel that far for games. For your information and I'm sure you know anyways : The lowland consists of (BSC Glasgow, Civil Service Strollers, Cumbernauld Colts, Dalbeattie Star, East Kilbride, East Stirlingshire, Edinburgh University, Gala Fairydean Rovers, Gretna 2008, Hawick Royal Albert, Preston Athletic, Selkirk, Spartans, Stirling University, Vale of Leithen, Whitehill Welfare) and the: Southern league is (Abbey Vale, Bonnyton Thistle, Creetown, Dumfries YMCA, Edusport Academy, Heston Rovers, Lochar Thistle, Lochmaben Mid-Annandale, Newton Stewart, Nithsdale Wanderers, St Cuthbert Wanderers, Threave Rovers, Upper Annandale, Wigtown & Bladnoch) There is absolute no way many of the lower junior teams can continue to play against/travel to teams like those if the senior teams at the moment were to be relegated. Obviously some are close but some are certainly not Yes you are correct the junior system is a pyramid in miniature but the lower district divisions are local Ayrshire teams so its easy to get to these places. If you get relegated, do you think it will be easy to generate sponsorship like you had when you were in the division above, no it would be harder, so less money to use and maybe further to travel in league games. I am not blinkered to the facts but I like to cover all bases to see what ramifications, implications and growth can be made. Obviously if go to a pyramid system it won't be just as straight forward as most will think but there will most definitely have to be district leagues or many lower teams will suffer.

I am not saying do nothing as I've said before its best to look at all ramifications if a pyramid system is adopted then this would help if we look at all avenues and eventualities

Agreed with what you say but away games 10 years ago. Stats are fact and solutions need to be found. Polloks average attendance was 2400 in 1993 now its, I think, 800. The Scottish amateur cup had over 1600 teams in it, now theres less than 700.Theres less youth teams in fooball to 30 years ago or even 10 years ago. Amateur football always produce some fantastic players for the junior ranks but the choice is now limited. It means there is less and less people interested in football or being taken away via other interests and not just playing but in watching football and supporting junior clubs

I'm not stating I'm against the pyramid system I'm just stating ramifications of the purposed. Junior football was set up well over a hundred years ago as a level of football that was supposedly lower then senior football and more towards the community. Times do change and you have to change with it but as like in business you have to look at worst case scenarios and be prepared for them just incase. We all know theres quite a few junior teams who can go to a higher level and do really well but in the past most have NOT wanted to do so. If there is a pyramid system there will be great stories of teams going to a higher level but there will also be stories of teams going to the lower level and maybe folding because of such. I do think that after a few years of the pyramid system, and my mind wont change of this factor that there would eventually a few teams would fold. The only way out that I can see to help the lowest teams as it has been in the west region juniors that there would be a district section at the very bottom, say a west district, an east district, a north district and a southern district. In regards to the " Let’s face it, 99% of clubs receive zero in league sponsorship money or SJFA money, so you’re not losing anything, in fact there is nothing to lose.". The bottom, lowest clubs don't reply on sponsorship money from the league, SFA, (if a pyramid) or SJYA, they rely on the community, social clubs, supporters clubs, local sponsorship. If they start to dwindle then that's where the real threat would lie so you have to see how the pyramid system would effect them. I mean in the lowland league, if some of these teams don't do well, relegated and then go down again , lower then the local smaller teams will have to do long treks to these places and that will definitely hurt them so I can ONLY see a District leagues in order for the lowest to survive if we truly want them to survive. It might mean that some of the lower teams might go to the amateur level but that would create a whole lot of problems for them as in paying support, supporters club money, (well I suspect it would). Also you couldn't have everyone enter the Scottish Cup, there would be too many games at the start, would there be a qualifying round to qualify for the qualifying round to get to the main qualifying round, lollll heaven forbid or could the Scottish Junior cup still be used for certain district leagues, I wonder

The league cup section is not being killed by familiarity, that is your view and im sure a few others, but for too many fans it is a big thing, for example; especially for the clubs like St Antony's, Benburb and at this moment Neilston, getting to play against the big guns of Pollok and Arthurlie and the fans love it, its been like that for at least 30 years that I can remember and its been the same even today when St Antonys played Pollok, The Ants fans loved it, except the score obviously I will disagree about the travelling not to many clubs in the central district division nor the Ayrshire ones, (meaning the teams who know they have no chance of getting out of the lowest league), will enjoy or want this travelling and it will be an expenditure and doing it in midweek will be worse, travelling down to Ayrshire on the A77 with the average speed, feck that. If its in the Scottish Cup for example then many see it as a day out then the fans would be there but in a league when the team know they are only good enough for the bottom division it will be a pain in the ass for the committee, fans and team once the novelty wears off

If that's aimed at me then sorry you picked it up wrong. Theres a reason why I don't make personal remarks at people JUST incase I read they post wrong or intrepid it wrong as I'm sure we all have done so in the past. Revenue is not meant by the top teams earning prize money as in trophies, its aimed at revenue acrewed through supported clubs and social clubs as if the top teams move up the pyramid do you think their revenue and support will go up because they are in a supposedly higher league, well officially, a senior league, I don't think so!, as they will be in a supposedly higher standard of football thus if they cant cope support and money may dwindle after which you are correct 'the novelty factor wears off'. The top teams are at the top of their domain in the junior ranks these leagues they wont be. Christ sake, not many Junior teams wanted to go up to the seniors in the past 30 years that I remember the only ramblings where from fans who don't even know the workings of their clubs including how much money was generated over the years from their social club, supporter clubs and other avenues. Playing in the old Ayrshire Junior league and the Old central league, I never heard one junior committee guy from any team wanting to go to the seniors but I would hear them want a crack in the Scottish Cup. The same has happened nowadays I don't hear any ramblings from any Junior team except on things like this, P&B, which you know yourself you don't take as a given

I have to admit I believe you will see a problem with the new west reconstruction next season as I think its going to a straight forward 4 division league, (no district leagues), so teams at the lower bottom league end could be having to travel far for league games when they don't really have that kind of money even for lots of transport journeys. for example, Vale of Leven traveling to Maybole, Muirkirk travelling to Johnstone Burgh. I might add it was just examples of the teams listed not in the top section but having to travel far if there is no district leagues at the bottom end. Please don't judge me on this lollllllll Regards the future and pyramid system, not too many TOP junior teams want to go to this level, they are happy to stay in the junior section, especially the top half as im sure they make more revenue in the juniors than they would in the senior ranks. Had to add this in below as someone has picked the above post wrong. Revenue is not meant by the top teams earning prize money as in trophies, its aimed at revenue acrewed through supported clubs and social clubs as if the top teams move up the pyramid do you think their revenue and support will go up because they are in a supposedly higher league well official a senior league, I don't think so as they will be in a supposedly higher standard of football thus if they cant cope support and money may dwindle after which you are correct 'the novelty factor wears off'. The top teams are at the top of their domain in the junior ranks these leagues they wont be. Christ sake, not many Junior teams wanted to go up to the seniors in the past 30 years that I remember the only ramblings where from fans who don't even know the workings of their clubs including how much money was generated over the years from their social club, supporter clubs and other avenues. Playing in the old Ayrshire Junior league and the Old central league, I never heard one junior committee guy from any team wanting to go to the seniors but I would hear them want a crack in the Scottish Cup. The same has happened nowadays I don't hear any ramblings from any Junior team except on things like this, P&B, which you know yourself you don't take as a given