Another team resigns! Seen today a well known and established team Dunoon AFC have folded.

[Redondo]

Dire straits now! Seems like the masses have given up on the Amateur game. Sadly I feel it is close if not already past the point of no return, change was needed years ago and now its too late.

[HibeeJibee]

Looking at the trend over 10 years here's the number clubs that began 2013-14; and numbers still going a few weeks into 2023-24 (which will be a little too high if the most recent withdrawals haven't yet been struck off websites):

Border                         was 31     now 25     fall of 19%
Kingdom of Fife     was 43     now 32     fall of 26%
Perthshire                 was 29     now 21     fall of 28%
Aberdeenshire       was 85      now 60     fall of 29%
Ayrshire                      was 57     now 36     fall of 37%
Glasgow (all)            was 160  now 86      fall of 46%
Lothian & Edin        was 73     now 37      fall of 49%
Midlands                    was 53     now 21?    fall of 60%
Stirlingshire             was 45     now 12      fall of 73%

Clearly the situation is much worse in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee than the provincial parts of Scotland (accepting that lots of clubs quit Stirlingshire for surrounding leagues). That then begs the question... why?

Is it that council or commercial pitches have become costlier in the cities, whereas rural clubs have their own or more sympathetic local authorities? Has counter-attraction of Saturday mornings drawn off numbers in the cities, whereas option doesn't exist elsewhere? Have more players 'gone senior' in the cities? Has nature of young men's employment patterns & hours altered more in the cities over last 10yrs?

Figures certainly make the lack of wholehearted consolidation in Strathclyde even more concerning.

Edited August 19, 2023 by HibeeJibee

[Ginaro]

12 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:

Looking at the trend over 10 years here's the number clubs that began 2013-14; and numbers still going a few weeks into 2023-24 (which will be a little too high if the most recent withdrawals haven't yet been struck off websites):

Border                         was 31     now 25     fall of 19%
Kingdom of Fife     was 43     now 32     fall of 26%
Perthshire                 was 29     now 21     fall of 28%
Aberdeenshire       was 85      now 60     fall of 29%
Ayrshire                      was 57     now 36     fall of 37%
Glasgow (all)            was 160  now 86      fall of 46%
Lothian & Edin        was 73     now 37      fall of 49%
Midlands                    was 53     now 21?    fall of 60%
Stirlingshire             was 45     now 12      fall of 73%

Clearly the situation is much worse in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee than the provincial parts of Scotland (accepting that lots of clubs quit Stirlingshire for surrounding leagues). That then begs the question... why?

Is it that council or commercial pitches have become costlier in the cities, whereas rural clubs have their own or more sympathetic local authorities? Has counter-attraction of Saturday mornings drawn off numbers in the cities, whereas option doesn't exist elsewhere? Have more players 'gone senior' in the cities? Has nature of young men's employment patterns & hours altered more in the cities over last 10yrs?

Figures certainly make the lack of wholehearted consolidation in Strathclyde even more concerning.

292 clubs in the senior pyramid this season, versus 262 in 2013-14 (+half a dozen NCL, don't know the exact number) and with U20s for a lot more teams that will surely have something to do with it as well...

[Pyramid Watcher]

29 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:

Looking at the trend over 10 years here's the number clubs that began 2013-14; and numbers still going a few weeks into 2023-24 (which will be a little too high if the most recent withdrawals haven't yet been struck off websites):

Border                         was 31     now 25     fall of 19%
Kingdom of Fife     was 43     now 32     fall of 26%
Perthshire                 was 29     now 21     fall of 28%
Aberdeenshire       was 85      now 60     fall of 29%
Ayrshire                      was 57     now 36     fall of 37%
Glasgow (all)            was 160  now 86      fall of 46%
Lothian & Edin        was 73     now 37      fall of 49%
Midlands                    was 53     now 21?    fall of 60%
Stirlingshire             was 45     now 12      fall of 73%

Clearly the situation is much worse in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee than the provincial parts of Scotland (accepting that lots of clubs quit Stirlingshire for surrounding leagues). That then begs the question... why?

Is it that council or commercial pitches have become costlier in the cities, whereas rural clubs have their own or more sympathetic local authorities? Has counter-attraction of Saturday mornings drawn off numbers in the cities, whereas option doesn't exist elsewhere? Have more players 'gone senior' in the cities? Has nature of young men's employment patterns & hours altered more in the cities over last 10yrs?

Figures certainly make the lack of wholehearted consolidation in Strathclyde even more concerning.

You just need to look at the amount of teams on socials looking for pitches week in week out to give an indication of why they are going under. There are not enough facilities to go round, and the ones that are available are going up in price. It’s no wonder volunteers chuck it, it’s becoming impossible.

[Basile Boli]

30 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:

Looking at the trend over 10 years here's the number clubs that began 2013-14; and numbers still going a few weeks into 2023-24 (which will be a little too high if the most recent withdrawals haven't yet been struck off websites):

Border                         was 31     now 25     fall of 19%
Kingdom of Fife     was 43     now 32     fall of 26%
Perthshire                 was 29     now 21     fall of 28%
Aberdeenshire       was 85      now 60     fall of 29%
Ayrshire                      was 57     now 36     fall of 37%
Glasgow (all)            was 160  now 86      fall of 46%
Lothian & Edin        was 73     now 37      fall of 49%
Midlands                    was 53     now 21?    fall of 60%
Stirlingshire             was 45     now 12      fall of 73%

Clearly the situation is much worse in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee than the provincial parts of Scotland (accepting that lots of clubs quit Stirlingshire for surrounding leagues). That then begs the question... why?

Is it that council or commercial pitches have become costlier in the cities, whereas rural clubs have their own or more sympathetic local authorities? Has counter-attraction of Saturday mornings drawn off numbers in the cities, whereas option doesn't exist elsewhere? Have more players 'gone senior' in the cities? Has nature of young men's employment patterns & hours altered more in the cities over last 10yrs?

Figures certainly make the lack of wholehearted consolidation in Strathclyde even more concerning.

Expansion of the Juniors leagues east/west has taken players from the amateur game. Every side in those leagues with matchday squads of 18. Most sides now running U20’s sides - majority of young players are now looking at the U20 route as being much more attractive than amateur. 
 

Consider this with a reduced player base in the first place and it quickly becomes an issue. 
 

The lower east/west leagues have improved in quality v the amateur game over the last few years with the exodus of players in that direction - what was the motivation for players? Better organisation, better facilities, pitch quality? Vast majority won’t be getting anything more than expenses. Is it the “prestige”?

Everyone will have differing opinions on why but it’s increasingly looking like the game is in terminal decline and the more established clubs should be looking to position themselves for moves into the junior leagues to avoid becoming an irrelevance and afterthought.

[Beetlejucie]

Rutherglen AFC have folded from Scottish Premier first division! Falling like flys

[Gazzah]

On 18/08/2023 at 16:37, Crazy Feet said:

I don't think it's a time for d*ck measuring and my league is better than yours carry on. The ammy game (particularly in the afternoon) is in terminal decline.

There will be nothing left of it in a handful of years at this rate.

We need solutions asap. 

Decline started 5/6 years ago imo. Can’t do much to stop it either this 20s sham on a Friday night has accelerated it more too. Give it a few years and not be much left. Saturday winter  pm is done and dusted. Friday nights and sat morning only leagues improving.

[stanley]

Danderhall Miners folded from the LEAFA. Now down from 42 at the end of 2022/23 to just 35 teams.

[stanley]

On 12/10/2023 at 20:43, stanley said:

Danderhall Miners folded from the LEAFA. Now down from 42 at the end of 2022/23 to just 35 teams.

And another one gone (Terry McMillan). Down to 34.

[mcruic]

Lesmahagow's Saturday Morning side have followed in the footsteps of their afternoon side and have now resigned from the SMAFA (players joining Royal Albert in the WoS League).  Wonder how Saturday morning players were convinced to play afternoons?

 

 

[Empty It]

LEAFA Sunday morning Haddington Town appear to be folding after a shite run of results then being physically attacked against Lochend at the weekend and not being backed by the league. Looking at the comments it isn't the first time Lochend have done this.

[mcruic]

Dunblane Soccer Club have folded in the Caledonian 1st Division.

[Spyro]

1 hour ago, mcruic said:

Dunblane Soccer Club have folded in the Caledonian 1st Division.

Were they not looking to joining the EoS or Juniors not too long ago? And/or they ended up joining with… (was it Syngenta???) before joining the EJ League? Or just didn’t go fully through with the application? My memory is shocking

[GNU_Linux]

2 hours ago, Spyro said:

Were they not looking to joining the EoS or Juniors not too long ago? And/or they ended up joining with… (was it Syngenta???) before joining the EJ League? Or just didn’t go fully through with the application? My memory is shocking

Bo'ness Athletic iirc?

[Spyro]

18 hours ago, GNU_Linux said:

Bo'ness Athletic iirc?

That rung a bell but I thought the were the old Linlithgow ammys... Sorry, I mean a pAtHwAy to the uNiTeD sQuAd aNd a ChAnCe FoR pLaYeRs tO sTiLl PlAy JoOnYrS

[GNU_Linux]

Lawthorn gone from the Ayrshire Sunday AFA

[Andy groundhopper]

Going by things around Bristol : don't think youngsters can commit to playing 20-30 weeks anymore - the closure of pubs show a change in their lifestyles too - maybe some will work on Saturday so why not play on Sunday ? The costs have risen, but possibly the behind the scenes work done by the secretary etc isn't being shared around enough. When the older guy's die off, someone needs to step up and help. Maybe players are taking the jump into the WOS and EOS to play now, and possibly earn some £ along the way. The pool of players has definitely shrunk lately.

[guinness]

On 20/10/2023 at 20:44, Andy groundhopper said:

Going by things around Bristol : don't think youngsters can commit to playing 20-30 weeks anymore - the closure of pubs show a change in their lifestyles too - maybe some will work on Saturday so why not play on Sunday ? The costs have risen, but possibly the behind the scenes work done by the secretary etc isn't being shared around enough. When the older guy's die off, someone needs to step up and help. Maybe players are taking the jump into the WOS and EOS to play now, and possibly earn some £ along the way. The pool of players has definitely shrunk lately.

The internet has killed the influx of players I played Sunday league in the 80's & going back to the pub was the highlight of the day. Usually after a defeat which was quit often

[Gazzah]

On 19/08/2023 at 12:57, HibeeJibee said:

Looking at the trend over 10 years here's the number clubs that began 2013-14; and numbers still going a few weeks into 2023-24 (which will be a little too high if the most recent withdrawals haven't yet been struck off websites):

Border                         was 31     now 25     fall of 19%
Kingdom of Fife     was 43     now 32     fall of 26%
Perthshire                 was 29     now 21     fall of 28%
Aberdeenshire       was 85      now 60     fall of 29%
Ayrshire                      was 57     now 36     fall of 37%
Glasgow (all)            was 160  now 86      fall of 46%
Lothian & Edin        was 73     now 37      fall of 49%
Midlands                    was 53     now 21?    fall of 60%
Stirlingshire             was 45     now 12      fall of 73%

Clearly the situation is much worse in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee than the provincial parts of Scotland (accepting that lots of clubs quit Stirlingshire for surrounding leagues). That then begs the question... why?

Is it that council or commercial pitches have become costlier in the cities, whereas rural clubs have their own or more sympathetic local authorities? Has counter-attraction of Saturday mornings drawn off numbers in the cities, whereas option doesn't exist elsewhere? Have more players 'gone senior' in the cities? Has nature of young men's employment patterns & hours altered more in the cities over last 10yrs?

Figures certainly make the lack of wholehearted consolidation in Strathclyde even more concerning.

Be interesting to see this now the season is well underway. Be a fair

few casualty’s already this year.

[LongTimeLurker]

On 16/10/2023 at 20:51, Spyro said:

Were they not looking to joining the EoS or Juniors not too long ago? And/or they ended up joining with… 

Think a Dunblane team wound up being Sauchie's short lived reserve team in the juniors or something along those lines. Linlithgow Thistle were the amateur club that duped Bo'ness United's membership into believing they would be part of their development pathway. Syngenta were taken over by a Falkirk amateur club called Pennys after the Grangemouth youth club lost interest and the same people have now done much the same to Camelon.