Formation Of Lowland League

[Guest]

9 hours ago, cmontheloknow said:

I was at Newton v Stirling Uni on saturday. Great wee set up there at Blairmount, have been there in the past but not since the rebuild. Good crowd too. A few pics - need to click for right proportion.

As you are probably aware there are a few clubs down here with a great wee setup. The work they are doing at Creetown for example. That's why we need to get them properly into the pyramid not 'hiding'. (awaits flak from usual suspects).

All the teams that arrive at Meadow Park are massively impressed and greater exposure can only improve the game down here. Re Threave, yes I know they have half the Dalbeattie team from last year and not all clubs can afford to do that.

[FairWeatherFan]

7 hours ago, Spyro said:

It like the crazy application that most leagues get every year, usually some hyperactive kid who has spent too much time playing FM.

They're running at least 3 different teams. This isn't an Elgin United or Merthyr Scottish type venture. It's very much social media driven and came to most people's attention in the same way Loch Ness did, decent looking kits.

The South clearly offers them a better narrative to sell and the attention they otherwise wouldn't get being swallowed up by the WoSFL 4th Division. Where they're just one of many.

 

[cmontheloknow]

1 hour ago, HorseyGhirl said:

As you are probably aware there are a few clubs down here with a great wee setup. The work they are doing at Creetown for example. That's why we need to get them properly into the pyramid not 'hiding'. (awaits flak from usual suspects).

All the teams that arrive at Meadow Park are massively impressed and greater exposure can only improve the game down here. Re Threave, yes I know they have half the Dalbeattie team from last year and not all clubs can afford to do that.

Aye I have been to Creetown a few times, likewise Wigtown and single visits to St Cuthbert and Threave (although that one was way before the improvements). Love the SoS, down here at least a few times a year and always hope it coincides with a game somewhere!

[craigkillie]

On 30/01/2023 at 01:12, Ray Patterson said:

Still think the SFA could have done a lot more to speed up the process, including threatening to the bar junior clubs from the Scottish Cup.

The board of the SFA didn't really have the power to do that themselves. Indeed, there was a proposal made a few years ago to move all qualifying spots for non-licensed clubs (ie the ones for winning Tier 6/Junior leagues and cups), and the clubs voted it down.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, cmontheloknow said:

Aye I have been to Creetown a few times, likewise Wigtown and single visits to St Cuthbert and Threave (although that one was way before the improvements). Love the SoS, down here at least a few times a year and always hope it coincides with a game somewhere!

Planning to go to Alba Cup Final at St.Marys on Friday 3rd and Caley Braves at Meadow on Sat 4th if family commitments allow. Can't beat it.

Would love to see my boyhood team down here in a cup match next year. Pollok born and bred.

Been following Div 4 this season seen most teams, thoroughly enjoying this new addition to the system. If/when Threave go up will probs follow Div 3 next year as Threave are local side along with St.Cuthberts.

[Andy groundhopper]

Would love to see more SOS clubs, all seem difficult when using public transport, or maybe im crap at planning ! Could the Lowland have another division ? 

[Hillonearth]

3 hours ago, Andy groundhopper said:

Would love to see more SOS clubs, all seem difficult when using public transport, or maybe im crap at planning ! Could the Lowland have another division ? 

Depends where you're travelling from, but the X74 bus that goes to Dumfries from Glasgow and Hamilton has been a gamechanger in terms of being able to see the clubs down there compared to travelling by train which takes forever...sure, there are a wee knot of sides in the hinterland - Newton, Wigtown, St Cuthbert's, Creetown - that are difficult to get to, but the likes of Abbey Vale and Lochmaben are short local bus journeys away from Dumfries, while the bus literally stops at the end of the street Lochar play on and also in Moffat for Uppers. Mids and Nithsdale are also both easily do-able by train from Central.

[Guest]

13 hours ago, Andy groundhopper said:

Would love to see more SOS clubs, all seem difficult when using public transport, or maybe im crap at planning ! Could the Lowland have another division ? 

The problem down here is travelling East/West. There is no train line, most bus services are local and stop off at every nook and cranny. The only county wide bus service is The 500 which runs along the A75 basically. It's not a bad service, so if you can get to Dumfries or Stranraer and if you plan it and have time, most grounds are accessible.

A number of the grounds are excellent in terms of spectator facilities. The Alba Cup Final, Lochar v Creetown is at St.Marys in Kirkcudbright on Friday March 3rd if you can make it. Happy to give/get info to get you here if needed.

[Guest]

18 hours ago, Andy groundhopper said:

Would love to see more SOS clubs, all seem difficult when using public transport, or maybe im crap at planning ! Could the Lowland have another division ? 

Although it's not a SOS game Threave entertain Caley Braves in Challenge Cup on Sat 4th Mar. The 500 bus passes top of road down to Meadow Park. Time wise might be a better option.

[PossilYM]

You don't need to go to places on the Solway Firth any midweek night to find public transport is nonexistent.

Try Darvel on a Monday night.

[Andy groundhopper]

Will try to plan ahead, usually stay in central glasgow so i'll try those bus routes. Eagerly await my flight next friday 17th for a week away, hope the weather stays ok.

[Duraglit shareholder]

19 hours ago, Andy groundhopper said:

Will try to plan ahead, usually stay in central glasgow so i'll try those bus routes. Eagerly await my flight next friday 17th for a week away, hope the weather stays ok.

Don't think there's any airports in Dumfries and Galloway.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Duraglit shareholder said:

Don't think there's any airports in Dumfries and Galloway.

Dumfries Airfield at Tinwald Downs, not used much since end of WWII to be fair and RAF West Freugh, might need to join up to use that one. No regular airlines though AFAIK.

 

[Black Pennel]

^^ Just re-open Baldoon Airfield, Wigtown...and is the airstrip at Castle Kennedy not still in use ?

You might be on to something here.

Campbeltown Pupils could use Machrihanish, Threave Rovers could use West Freugh, Andy could use Bristol Airport...they'd all be at a game and then get hame afore teatime !

 

[Andy groundhopper]

Buggar that, was gonna get my old Spitfire up and running and fly around Scotland . Will have to plan my way from central Glasgow then.  If all the SOS clubs jumped into the wosfl, would there be much arguing to keep the South going ? (as it's only a small League) 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Black Pennel said:

^^ Just re-open Baldoon Airfield, Wigtown...and is the airstrip at Castle Kennedy not still in use ?

You might be on to something here.

Campbeltown Pupils could use Machrihanish, Threave Rovers could use West Freugh, Andy could use Bristol Airport...they'd all be at a game and then get hame afore teatime !

 

Castle Kennedy Airfield is still active forgot about that. Think it's just used for private aircraft. Andy could fly to Carlisle Airport, get train to Dumfries, then hitch a ride on one of the many tractors that service the 75. Simples.

Edited February 10, 2023 by HorseyGhirl

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Andy groundhopper said:

Buggar that, was gonna get my old Spitfire up and running and fly around Scotland . Will have to plan my way from central Glasgow then.  If all the SOS clubs jumped into the wosfl, would there be much arguing to keep the South going ? (as it's only a small League) 

Don't open that can of worms. The SOS League is sacrosanct. Have been rounded upon for suggesting that it's wrong to have 2 Leagues servicing the West of the Lowland Terrain

[Spyro]

The SoS league had a golden opportunity when the east officially joined up to become the daddies of the west and seel the league to clubs like Clydebank who were looking for an option. I know they didn't want 1 or 2 clubs on there own and the clubs didn't want to be stuck down thee alone, but you saw how quickly the EoS avalanche happened.

It's a shame because the league has a great history but they've totally been left behind. The NCL (a similar league) has taken a huge jump in the same time as the South has gone backwards with perhaps more obstacles in their way

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Spyro said:

The SoS league had a golden opportunity when the east officially joined up to become the daddies of the west and seel the league to clubs like Clydebank who were looking for an option. I know they didn't want 1 or 2 clubs on there own and the clubs didn't want to be stuck down thee alone, but you saw how quickly the EoS avalanche happened.

It's a shame because the league has a great history but they've totally been left behind. The NCL (a similar league) has taken a huge jump in the same time as the South has gone backwards with perhaps more obstacles in their way

Living down here can't help getting the feeling the SOS are happy flying under the radar. Can't remember any protest when WOSFL was being mooted,  and nothing reported when Threave moved. Doesn't feel they are all that invested in the pyramid, so keep quiet and hope nobody notices them. Wonder what would happen if other clubs jump ship like Threave.