fan of the juniors Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 As I have banged on about enough on this thread, we need clubs to have floodlights before we can do much of anything. A full summer season wont work anyway without the ability to play midweek games in September/October/November. That should be the No.1 priority of the SJFA. Start by giving clubs 3 years notice that anyone who plays or wants to be in Superleague needs to have lights. Your opposition last night play in a league that has those requirements. 1 question bud . An all a need us a yes or no answer Di you think Blackburn United could have afforded lights if they hadn't had the new ground built for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTG Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 1 question bud . An all a need us a yes or no answer Di you think Blackburn United could have afforded lights if they hadn't had the new ground built for you? Question back, what is stopping other clubs following the lead of the likes of Blackburn or Kelty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTG Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Or Broxburn, or Petershill? A lot of clubs currently use facilities provided by councils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTG Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Floodlights are a Highland League requirement. That's why they can have full fixture lists and schedule games for catch up right through the season. They're no better a level on the pitch than the Superleagues but their approach to licencing is key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
energyzone Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 How much would a set of SFA-compliant floodlights cost to install, run and maintain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fan of the juniors Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Question back, what is stopping other clubs following the lead of the likes of Blackburn or Kelty? Can answer that. North Ayrshire council We've got a lot of grants upgrading already & all sourced by our hard working committee Only thing the council has ever done is let us maintain & run our ground ourselves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 1 question bud . An all a need us a yes or no answer Di you think Blackburn United could have afforded lights if they hadn't had the new ground built for you? To answer your question, if the club hadn't started the path we've gone down 8 years ago, we simply wouldn't exist now. Too many factors to mention have got us to where we are (and to just point out, the floodlights were already in place on the pitch next door to our old ground, they just needed refurbished). It was the same with Broxburn Athletic who started down the same path a few years before us and ended up with a fantastic facility at Albyn Park. they had the foresight to be the first in the area to put in the hard work and reaped the rewards. Anyway, this isn't about Blackburn, as HTG pointed out, what's stopping everyone else from going down the road of funding floodlights (and other improvements) to drag the game into the 20th (not 21st) century? It's too easy for people to sit back and throw stones whilst moaning "where does the money come from", it's much harder to actually do something about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Floodlights are a Highland League requirement. That's why they can have full fixture lists and schedule games for catch up right through the season. They're no better a level on the pitch than the Superleagues but their approach to licencing is key. The Highland League are well ahead of the Juniors as far as facilities and organisation are concerned. Every club has floodlights, every club has a seated stand, and many of them are smaller clubs than what we have in the West and East Superleagues yet they laugh at the Juniors for still not having a fixture list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 How much would a set of SFA-compliant floodlights cost to install, run and maintain? In our experience, to actually pay the electricity for 2.5 hours for a match its around £12-£15, buttons even for us. To install them I don't know exactly as we didn't need them installed, but I believe you're looking at £50k-80k to get a set of lights up and running. Kelty Hearts have them installed this season, Dalkeith Thistle had them installed in recent years, and I believe Easthouses Lily as well. Clubs at both ends of the Junior spectrum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
energyzone Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I assume the rules for adequate floodlighting include sufficient lights to ensure good visibility for terracing and turnstiles/access routes? Some of the terracing in a few of the junior clubs grounds is hazardous enough, even in the daylight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I assume the rules for adequate floodlighting include sufficient lights to ensure good visibility for terracing and turnstiles/access routes? Some of the terracing in a few of the junior clubs grounds is hazardous enough, even in the daylight. I'm not sure there are any rules to be honest, but common sense might dictate that you ensure adequate lighting in areas of the ground that maybe need them. We don't really have that problem. Last night at Linlithgow they had a couple of temporary lights at the turnstiles, but the toilets were still a bit dark for comfort! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fan of the juniors Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 To answer your question, if the club hadn't started the path we've gone down 8 years ago, we simply wouldn't exist now. Too many factors to mention have got us to where we are (and to just point out, the floodlights were already in place on the pitch next door to our old ground, they just needed refurbished). It was the same with Broxburn Athletic who started down the same path a few years before us and ended up with a fantastic facility at Albyn Park. they had the foresight to be the first in the area to put in the hard work and reaped the rewards. Anyway, this isn't about Blackburn, as HTG pointed out, what's stopping everyone else from going down the road of funding floodlights (and other improvements) to drag the game into the 20th (not 21st) century? It's too easy for people to sit back and throw stones whilst moaning "where does the money come from", it's much harder to actually do something about it. Not criticising bud just asking a question Had a look myself & licence required floodlights would set a club back from £50k upwards No doubt what you are doing is the way forward for a lot of clubs & will never criticise any club that does it that way Just stating that not all clubs can or will go that way & that costs have to be included Hopefully a few years down the line Ladeside will get our floodlights back but we had to address the pitch & stand issues 1st Rome wasn't built in a day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Not criticising bud just asking a question Had a look myself & licence required floodlights would set a club back from £50k upwards No doubt what you are doing is the way forward for a lot of clubs & will never criticise any club that does it that way Just stating that not all clubs can or will go that way & that costs have to be included Hopefully a few years down the line Ladeside will get our floodlights back but we had to address the pitch & stand issues 1st Rome wasn't built in a day It was just a general comment, not having a dig. Actually, the entry level licence required for LL and Scottish Cup entry doesn't include floodlights. I think if the SJFA are serious about pushing the game forward, they need to take action on introducing a basic such as a fixture list. Without that, we make no real progress. It is expensive initially to install floodlights, but again this is where the SJFA need to take a lead, speak to contractors, speak to the SFA, speak to Councils, speak to grant providers, speak to potential sponsors and supply clubs with the information they require. Help them as much as they can, deals can be done, funding can be secured. Then give Superleague clubs two seasons to install lights (and make it a requirement on promotion), at which point a fixture list can be produced, midweek games can be played and the game can then take a positive step forward. Give the level below that 3 seasons, level below that 4 seasons etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertha/BJFC1938 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 It was just a general comment, not having a dig. Actually, the entry level licence required for LL and Scottish Cup entry doesn't include floodlights. I think if the SJFA are serious about pushing the game forward, they need to take action on introducing a basic such as a fixture list. Without that, we make no real progress. It is expensive initially to install floodlights, but again this is where the SJFA need to take a lead, speak to contractors, speak to the SFA, speak to Councils, speak to grant providers, speak to potential sponsors and supply clubs with the information they require. Help them as much as they can, deals can be done, funding can be secured. Then give Superleague clubs two seasons to install lights (and make it a requirement on promotion), at which point a fixture list can be produced, midweek games can be played and the game can then take a positive step forward. Give the level below that 3 seasons, level below that 4 seasons etc. Excellent post and floodlights can help enormously to give us a right good fixture list and scope to plan ahead . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmontheloknow Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 If clubs lopped 5k off their annual spending and put it aside, they'd have the money in a decade on current prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clash city rocker Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 If clubs lopped 5k off their annual spending and put it aside, they'd have the money in a decade on current prices. ...peanuts to Muirkirk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parsforlife Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 It is expensive initially to install floodlights, but again this is where the SJFA need to take a lead, speak to contractors, speak to the SFA, speak to Councils, speak to grant providers, speak to potential sponsors and supply clubs with the information they require. Help them as much as they can, deals can be done, funding can be secured. etc.This document would be a good start https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.thefa.com/my-football/football-volunteers/runningaclub/yourfacilities/~/media/A924A1682B334D3DB00C53AD02136584.ashx&q=fa%20advice%20on%20floodlights&ved=0ahUKEwi1h6qct_LJAhVFsxQKHfXIBHEQFggbMAA&usg=AFQjCNGxZ3HhZ7sBsZKVgeLeIx3T4JknFQ&sig2=6zhLILjVhNUGqDNrFegG1Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 This document would be a good start https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.thefa.com/my-football/football-volunteers/runningaclub/yourfacilities/~/media/A924A1682B334D3DB00C53AD02136584.ashx&q=fa%20advice%20on%20floodlights&ved=0ahUKEwi1h6qct_LJAhVFsxQKHfXIBHEQFggbMAA&usg=AFQjCNGxZ3HhZ7sBsZKVgeLeIx3T4JknFQ&sig2=6zhLILjVhNUGqDNrFegG1Q Interesting, cost estimates appear to be £35k - £50k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertha/BJFC1938 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 If clubs lopped 5k off their annual spending and put it aside, they'd have the money in a decade on current prices. Exactly and nowadays the wages are first and the setup is secondary , of course to stay competitive you need to try and challenge wage wise but how good would it be if every club at the top agreed to freeze wages for a few years to accomodate floodlights and other ground criteria. We do moan at the fixture guy lots but floodlights would help him so much in terms of scope for midweek fixtures all season long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTG Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 ...peanuts to Muirkirk. The key target area should be super league clubs in the first instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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