kefc

Good game today, Kelty were missing Conrad Courts, Sean O’Neil, Ross Philp, Elliot Ford and captain Shaun Greig, all regular starters who play most weeks. Our Striker playing centre half and 5 U20s players finishing the game so friendly aside its the 1st win in our pre season campaign after 2 games against SPFL sides setting us up for another tough week ahead.

90% of Groundworks done, be complete next week Stand is then being delivered 6th July, 3 weeks to build by the squad and open for our 1st league game on the 28th.

That’s cracking. Well done Lithgy.

For a run of the mill league or cup game they were up. A home game v Peebles this season had more punters than a home fixture against Broughty last season for example. Obviously our games v Boness, Linlithgow, Hill Of Beath would have boosted the seasons average last season but our core home support was definitely up by at least 50-75 due to a number of reasons ie marketing and an improved Matchday experience but the main reason which also had our hospitality selling out at all games was without doubt the fixture list. But don’t read much into that improvement which in turn increased revenue undoubtably helped by the EOS fixture list and being part of the pyramid. We have all just moved to the land of milk and honey for handouts, deary me there’s no handouts what there is though is a better structure to help improve and build a football club at the heart of a community.

Unless Iv missed something I wasn’t pointing to Camelons attendances being boosted by moving, there’s obviously a better chance with fixture lists and however the clubs engages and markets itself. Camelon should be better off with the list of benefits frequently seen on this thread, a boost in attendances would be welcome but not paramount in the grand scheme of things. I was alluding to the short termism of playing with all respect a lower level of opposition for Super/Premier League teams, theres a chance it would be for 1 year depending on how well they do. Season 19/20 once the levels are found will show a truer reflection of the structure in the East, a structure that will continue to improve.

Possibly for one season, the anti pyramid posters on here I feel tend to pick holes on short term situations to back up their view which has to be respected but what will the pyramid look like in 3, 5, 10 years? The Lowland League and the pyramid have been going for only 5 years and look at the strides it’s made, theres even a rumour more Irn Bru Cup places could be on offer from the SPFL in the not too distant future for the LL. The LL, EOS and the pyramid will and are evolving at a fast pace and for the better of non league football.

The fixture man who is on here does an absolutely fantastic job for the LL and EOS, a clever individual who I’d trust 100% to get things right more often than not.

TJ has been going round clubs telling them only 36 will be accepted to the EOS (I’m also led to believe that info is false), clubs have been told those who have resigned won’t get back into the Juniors and they have also been threatened with legal action as a years notice must be given, same tactic we faced last year. Such a shame the leadership and communication couldn’t have been shown years earlier then we wouldn’t have this situation. In life you stand still you get shot, I’m afraid the SJFA as an orginasation have stood still for far too many years, leading to this situation. TJ is on record just a few months ago he didn’t see Bonnyrigg leaving and didn’t see this situation happening, really!!! It was only a matter of time, ambitious clubs wanted to be part of the pyramid and Licencing, its the way forward to improve, a blind man could see it happening as the SJFA continued to disengage and put down the pyramid, it’s still being disrespected. The continual bad mouthing, disrespect and slagging off at AGMs, regional meetings of Kelty, the EOS and the LL which has continued right through the past 14 months which now includes the other clubs leaving it does give a very strong sign the guys in charge still have no respect for the pyramid and Licencing. Some clubs obviously do respect the pyramid and Licencing and are sick being held back. Its not nice to see and obviously no one takes takes pleasure into what’s happening but the blame doesn’t lie with the clubs for wanting to better themselves in a better run setup nor does it lie with the LL who have evolved very well over the years, the EOS is now beginning to evolve. The continual refusal to engage in the pyramid and Licencing from the start up years ago and the failings of fixture lists, youth leagues, floodlights and continual non sensical decisions etc. have now caught up with the Junior grade certainly in the East. The football will be the same, same entry price, same clubs, same grounds, same players, same derbies, same team colours but instead of the weekly fixture chaos, the poor marketing, the no set standards at facilities, the no midweek games under lights, the 3 games a week for 2 months clubs now have a setup with no glass ceiling, a chance to be Licenced and an end to most of the problems they faced in Junior football. Its scandalous that some clubs are being vilified for their actions, especially from those at the top of the SJFA.

Just to clear our situation up, we didn’t apply after the AGM, we applied after a deadline that was changed at a board meeting. I can’t see any clubs being allowed to apply after midnight tonight. We were accepted into the league at the AGM last year.

It would be for the greater good of the pyramid I feel that all applying clubs can be accepted, wether that’s 3 or 4 leagues if theres enough applications. The 1st season was always going to be the transition season so why not cater for all with maybe a bit more transition added. It could make the following season a bit easier with a strong Premier Division in place with possible regional leagues underneath.

Not that I know of, as you say tier 6 will have to be confirmed 1st I’d imagine.

I wouldn’t have thought much will come out about the pyramid. Everything stands the same as it did 10, 5, 3 years ago, SFA, LL, HL, PWG fully respect and are happy to engage with SJFA in terms of supporting a structure within the pyramid particularly in the West and North but within the existing rules and structure that’s currently in place within the setup. SJFA’s proposal to come in, possibly upset the hard work that’s went into creating the pyramid and keep their association, keep their rules and the way they do things intact, it’s not being entertained and nor should it on that basis. As it stands clubs who want to remain part of the SJFA and regional football can, those that want to be part of the SFA and the pyramid have a choice. That’s probably for the best where clubs have the choice, not everyone will want to be part of the pyramid so they can be catered for also.

Why would it have to be an “SJFA” Superleague serving the West? Why not the SJFA in the West region come in under the SFA at tier 6 following its rules, discipline procedures and being able to be Licenced? Why the need to complicate things by clinging onto a grade that is clearly in decline (not clubs may I add) due to a number of issues. The easy way to do this is have the SJFA come into the structure as 1 where it doesn’t become messy.

Never going to happen. The SJFA don’t want the pyramid, the scaremongering going on at Junior meetings to other clubs are actually making clubs in the East move, it’s obvious they have no grasp or vision for the future. They had Les Donaldson from Linlithgow Rose speak at a meeting warning clubs off getting a licence, a guy pivotal in Linlithgow getting theirs which has let them improve their facilities, I mean really!!! Costs too much, too many hoops, need this need that, utter madness.

I believe the 2 promotion places proposal will be done so 2 EOS clubs have a chance of promotion.

There will be 2 promotion places although not confirmed yet.

What’s the taboo around money to better a club? What’s wrong with being financially rewarded for success?

At 6:30pm tonight Spartans and Cove will feel the reward for their efforts of winning the Lowland/Highland League as they enter the Betfred Cup Group draw. The exposure of being in this competition and a minimum financial reward of £20k plus is huge for any non league club. Another example on where the Lowland League/Pyramid and the SJFA are in the pecking order in Scottish football. Junior clubs should have been at the forefront of the non league game and pyramid but unfortunately the leaders didn’t want to know and they still don’t which in turn can do serious damage to some clubs the way it’s panning out. How blind can you be.

I didn’t mean for it to come over like that, West have a clear path but some of the big clubs and TJ don’t want it. What happens in the East is anyone’s guess, bolting in under the existing working feeder to the LL in the East, same in the North is the logical answer. A Super Duper League might be another option but it was voted out by the clubs in Ayrshire, where does that slot in within the oyramid and under what rules/ stipulations. There’s loads of working out needing to be done which could take years.

We will go for around the same number, 18 supplemented with the new u20 squad. There’s a bit of investment in running a 20s team so we will utilise it for the benefit of the club, the player and the pathway in place. There will be a bit movement in and out to freshen the squad as we have every season but it won’t be a big turnover in numbers as Cyril stated we currently have a competitive squad.

The SJFA is split at regional club level and going by the actions of the guys running the SJFA they don’t want part of the pyramid or Licencing. What the East clubs want or need isn’t what the West clubs want. The West Premier is a very strong league and can probably slot in at tier 6 in a WOS setup worst case in a few years IF a new WOS isn’t formed, in the East it’s cracked in half with the movement of clubs who see change to a senior club and part of the SFA as a progressive move. Decisions really need to be made for clubs in the East who do want to join the pyramid and the seniors at the highest possible tier. I’d be inclined to think TJ and co as has been suggested in the past has more alliegance to the West setup so some of the East clubs putting their trust TJ have to consider is that going by previous actions change isnt to the likeing of the TJ and Co or your Talbots, Glenaftons etc who are happy as things stand. It could take years to sort and by the time it has been the pyramid will probably have a settled working feeder in the East to the LL at tiers 6 and 7 with a new WOS League formed. Some could be playing a fair bit of catch up as others progress.

Kelty’s GM there has been phone calls taken and we have been honest with questions asked. Clubs that do their research, communicate regularly and canvass opinion with all involved including supporters and have a vote then they should be able to look themselves in the mirror in whatever they choose to do.

Im led to believe they voted on an "agreement in principle" for tier 6, this is what TJ promised his clubs but it failed at the 1st PWG meeting.