Andy groundhopper

All these splits are confusing eh, I'd like to see the best 6 non lge clubs get into the spfl for a 12-12-12-12 set up , just 22 games and cup matches, have a winter break,prob international breaks too, and bad weather thrown in. Promotion 2 up and down, the HL and LL champions come straight up. Everyone is happy !

It's almost like a Question of Sport or Mastermind where they have so many facts & figures, trying to outdo each other. I just enjoy visiting Scotland,enjoying the games and grounds. A couple of pints adds to the day, as I know most clubs are run by volunteers I couldn't give 2 monkeys if they do a programme, I know it's hard work. I will try to do some LL and EOS next time, interesting people and places await.

Just out of interest, would the Highland, Tayside debates be worse than the farce in England, Truro in the Southern Lge/Conf South - what a journey every week home and away - with Gloucester Inthe National North with those trips all the time ! So long as the NCL becomes a feeder into the HL, at least there's something there to aim for.

The Southern League in England have announced a provisional start date Sept 19 with fixtures coming out end of August. Yesterday's friendlies were meant to be BCD but I know of grassroots games with fans attending, socially distanced around the ground I expect with the clubhouses open - as per the rules on pubs ?

You would think that an ex Premier League club would have their own training grounds, academies to use, unless they've squandered all their Premier Lge riches of course. Why couldn't they go and use St.Georges Park, theFA place, too expensive I reckon.

Did find some bits in the Scottish Referee newspaper around those dates, but difficult to track down. Enjoyed looking through old papers etc, as mentioned, subscription is required most times. Guessing the police grounds are now housing ?

Down here in Bristol we have loads of amateur/parks clubs all from districts across the city. Yes crowds will be small, even the dog doesn't do every game, but you could get 10-20 hardy souls turn up. Much the same over the bridge in the South Wales Alliance.Maybe every club could put one person onto P&B just to make it interesting !

Only 2 leagues fight for the HL, whilst 4 battle for the LL, that shows there's some work to be done yet. Maybe one day we'll get HL, LL Div 2 ? Guess it all depends on the spfl and the trickle down from there, a definite up and down guaranteed must happen. Be good to have a large number of clubs fighting to reach the 'Promised Land'

Ha Ha seen the (real ale) groundhopper argue over the goal times etc, carry enough train timetables to circle the earth, miss goals in the last 10 mins due to train times. When you see them desperate for team sheets etc you know they've lost it ! I just enjoy the games, the grounds, the people, and move onto the next place/game. Groundtastic an excellent mag over the years, Football Traveller another one. Non League Scotland a brilliant source of info for many years

The harsh reality is that the English and Scottish governments do NOT trust football clubs and fans at all. Whether it's safe or not, economy v deaths, and a desperate need to get their furlough money back asap. IF we have to be 100% safe for the game to return, then I can't see that happening anytime soon. As they say ,'wear a mask' but sadly too many are defiant, wanting ',freedom' whatever the F that means

Any news on the amateurs arranging friendlies etc ? Guessing that using council pitches for games makes it nigh on impossible. Hopefully all the clubs will now be patient and await the restart date, nothing to be gained from training and playing too early.

I said the same, how can there be a spike in Aberdeen and nothing in Glasgow, Edinburgh etc where there is folk breaking rules not just in football related circumstances Am wondering that IF the spfl players hadn't been tested regularly, would we have heard about Aberdeen etc ? We could have played 5-6 games already, before a rise in cases emerged, think the ridiculous number of deaths worldwide makes things difficult - if cases/deaths got down really low then maybe,just maybe.

Excellent stuff happening in Scotland, I take it for granted down in England that there will be lights,cover,and seating at grounds from the Hellenic upwards - if that can happen within say 5 years, then a massive amount of progress being made. Hopefully I can get back up north asap.

Yeah down here in Bristol, friendlies galore so far, now mainly BCD with fans being told not to turn up. Plenty of guidelines for them to put in place, guessing that it's worked ok so far, haven't heard anything negative.Time will tell ,not checked websites for fixtures or a start date yet.

Playing devils advocate here, let's say spfl players caught the virus in a pub/restaurant - probably frequented by non lge players - meaning they (non lge players) could already have covid19 or be able to pass it on. Really wish we could test everyone at a decent cost, give us a chance to move on.

Sensible move regarding the dual registrations, contracts are a different topic. So long as the clubs have the manpower to deal with all the paperwork, it has to be a good idea. Think it's ok to sign for one club through differing leagues, associations, so long as they can work together - organised ! ! Fingers crossed for players and club secretaries.

Maybe just me, but I find that a club romping away with the non lge could see things thrown away by playing poorly over the play off games - do you ever think there will be an automatic promotion place for both the HL/LL champions ? then club 41 plays a 2nd place club, easily winnable to retain their spfl place.

Looking from the outside, it seems that firstly the spfl clubs hold the key, frightened to death of relegation to HL/LL and the fact several non lge clubs are stronger than the club 42. Really think that when clubs reach a certain level, the travel,borders,etc should go out of the window. Would be good to reach a two up and down from the spfl without the need of play-offs. Apart from the old fashioned re-election crap in the English League, it can't be good for the game to see clubs struggle year after year.

Best thing I've seen on P&B, sesame Street with the excellent Ernie and Bert, takes me back to misspent youth ! Yeah many types of (grass) 3g or whatever they call it, not my favourite to watch a game on, but understand the financial rewards v costs.

Yeah loads of guidelines to follow, that's why the FA have hammered clubs for allowing spectators,100+ at some games. Game at Bristol Manor Farm v Bristol Rovers,was played BCD but available to stream for £5. Lots of clubs below step 7 (county lge) have played friendlies, led to believe that players all arrived separately, changed, with the local GFA and Somerset FA now on their toes watching games, allegedly

Can remember walking around Scotland and coming across a frisbee golf thing, or something similar ,not sure where it was. Hopefully the new KRR ground won't be a multi sports 3g with different coloured lines all over the pitch. Hideous.

Guessing the NCL crowds aren't expected to be great, anything over 30 is really good imo, going by the Highland geography then I'd say 200 would be a good figure to work with. Suppose the crowd income at these clubs depends on their expenses, and what they consider to be a big att.

I believed all the P&B nonsense until now ! Most times I try to check the club website just to clarify any lingering doubts. Seems the same over the UK, councils bend over backwards for some strange sports ,almost unknown, whilst burying their heads in the sand over the biggest money spinner to most towns, villages FOOTBALL. Good luck Rob Roy

Expect the plans to include finishing the league season, possibilities of bad weather p-p games, and a surge in covid19 cases and what happens next. Can't imagine there being much interest in any of the cups - time permitting.Maybe the following season,one of the cups could be pre season ?

So you've come onto P&B and given an opinion, a reasonable argument about the Uni, then see your dreams shattered by their placing into the 'minor' divisions. Apologies accepted, but why are you still on here I get that every time I see someone quoting me, wonder what the hell I've said now to upset folk ! ! Guessing that any club misplaced will quickly get promoted to their rightful place in the pyramid