Pyramid Leagues Superthread

[RobboM]

2 hours ago, Newton51 said:

Does the play off spot not go ti Darvel or Auchinleck if beith are ineligible 

No

[EIEIO]

Great news for Lithgae Rose if they don't need a playoff. Darvel and Auchinleck are decent sides.

[Tayside Jambo]

Not that there will be many who care about the Juniors north of the Tay but an update on the leagues with about quarter of the season to go.

 

Midlands League:

Only Lochee United and Tayport are licensed, Tayport are in 8th, 17 points back with 3 games in hand, unlikely to challenge.

Broughty are top with 58, Lochee and Dundee North End both 4 points behind but Lochee have 2 games in hand over them both. Carnoustie, Downfield and Dundee East Craigie (who are having a great run in the Junior Cup) are 53, 51 and 50 points respectively and have games in hand (5, 4 and 3 respectively) so potential for a tight finish. Carnoustie won last year with East Craigie only a few points back. Fancy Carnoustie to win but a lot of games left. If they do then no one in the play off for the midlands.

 

North Region Juniors

None of the teams are licensed. Culter currently 7 points clear of Hermes, and 12 points clear of Dyce. Both Culter and Hermes have 2 games in hand. Culter should win at a canter, but regardless no one in playoffs.

 

North Caledonian League

Fort William and Golspie Sutherland are licensed. Loch Ness currently on 50 points. 14 ahead of Invergordon, who have 4 games in hand. Fort William and Golspie Sutherland on 33 and 31 respectively and can only finish on a maximum of 54 and 52, Loch Ness needing 2 wins to stop mathematically stop either team winning , so again looks like no team from the North Cale will enter the playoff pyramid.

 

So could be in the same position as last year should Lochee United finish strongly, where one team goes straight into the playoff with the losing Highland League side which is as good as confirmed as Strathspey Thistle who have 6 points and a -110 goal difference.

 

Highland League

As said above, Strathspey look as good as confirmed as the bottom side. Buckie lead Brechin by 2 points, albeit Brechin have a game in hand. Formartine 10 off the lead and Brora a further 3 back, but do have 3 games in hand over Buckie. Should be an interesting end to the season there. Could come down to Buckie vs Brechin as a title decider on the last day of the season. 

 

Edited February 27, 2023 by Tayside Jambo

[davemclaren]

17 minutes ago, Tayside Jambo said:

Not that there will be many who care about the Juniors north of the Tay but an update on the leagues with about quarter of the season to go.

 

Midlands League:

Only Lochee United and Tayport are licensed, Tayport are in 8th, 17 points back with 3 games in hand, unlikely to challenge.

Broughty are top with 58, Lochee and Dundee North End both 4 points behind but Lochee have 2 games in hand over them both. Carnoustie, Downfield and Dundee East Craigie (who are having a great run in the Junior Cup) are 53, 51 and 50 points respectively and have games in hand (5, 4 and 3 respectively) so potential for a tight finish. Carnoustie won last year with East Craigie only a few points back. Fancy Carnoustie to win but a lot of games left. If they do then no one in the play off for the midlands.

 

North Region Juniors

None of the teams are licensed. Culter currently 7 points clear of Hermes, and 12 points clear of Dyce. Both Culter and Hermes have 2 games in hand. Culter should win at a canter, but regardless no one in playoffs.

 

North Caledonian League

Fort William and Golspie Sutherland are licensed. Loch Ness currently on 50 points. 14 ahead of Invergordon, who have 4 games in hand. Fort William and Golspie Sutherland on 33 and 31 respectively and can only finish on a maximum of 54 and 52, Loch Ness needing 2 wins to stop mathematically stop either team winning , so again looks like no team from the North Cale will enter the playoff pyramid.

 

So could be in the same position as last year should Lochee United finish strongly, where one team goes straight into the playoff with the losing Highland League side which is as good as confirmed as Strathspey Thistle who have 6 points and a -110 goal difference.

 

Highland League

As said above, Strathspey look as good as confirmed as the bottom side. Buckie lead Brechin by 2 points, albeit Brechin have a game in hand. Formartine 10 off the lead and Brora a further 3 back, but do have 3 games in hand over Buckie. Should be an interesting end to the season there. Could come down to Buckie vs Brechin as a title decider on the last day of the season. 

 

Thanks for the summary. 

[Tayside Jambo]

41 minutes ago, davemclaren said:

Thanks for the summary. 

Bored at work 🤣 could have condensed it to about 4 lines. Highland League is guff outwith the top 5/6 teams. North Cale League and 80% of the North Juniors are poor. The Midlands, a bit stronger with 4/5 strong teams and the occasional side that recruits well. Montrose Roselea rejoining the Midlands next season from the North Rejoin might add a bit more competition.

[Prince Buaben]

On 25/02/2023 at 21:26, Footballfirst said:

The way the tier 6 leagues are going, there is a possibility that Linlithgow could get promoted to the Lowland League without a playoff. The Rose are 10 points clear with only 8 games left, although their closest challengers, Jeanfield and Sauchie, have a game in hand.

 

In the WOS, Beith (unlicensed) beat Darvel today to extend their lead to 5 points, although Darvel has a game in hand. Auchinleck remains in the hunt as they have 6 games in hand over Beith, albeit they are 15 points adrift.

 

In the SOS none of the top four sides are licenced (Creetown, Lochar Thistle, Abbey Vale and Mid Annandale), so it  doesn't look if they will be able to put a club forward.

 

@footballfirst have Beith applied for the licence already?

[Footballfirst]

2 minutes ago, Prince Buaben said:

 

@footballfirst have Beith applied for the licence already?

Not that I'm aware of. I don't think they have floodlights either.

[RobboM]

3 hours ago, Tayside Jambo said:

Not that there will be many who care about the Juniors north of the Tay but an update on the leagues with about quarter of the season to go.

 

Midlands League:

Only Lochee United and Tayport are licensed, Tayport are in 8th, 17 points back with 3 games in hand, unlikely to challenge.

Broughty are top with 58, Lochee and Dundee North End both 4 points behind but Lochee have 2 games in hand over them both. Carnoustie, Downfield and Dundee East Craigie (who are having a great run in the Junior Cup) are 53, 51 and 50 points respectively and have games in hand (5, 4 and 3 respectively) so potential for a tight finish. Carnoustie won last year with East Craigie only a few points back. Fancy Carnoustie to win but a lot of games left. If they do then no one in the play off for the midlands.

 

North Region Juniors

None of the teams are licensed. Culter currently 7 points clear of Hermes, and 12 points clear of Dyce. Both Culter and Hermes have 2 games in hand. Culter should win at a canter, but regardless no one in playoffs.

 

North Caledonian League

Fort William and Golspie Sutherland are licensed. Loch Ness currently on 50 points. 14 ahead of Invergordon, who have 4 games in hand. Fort William and Golspie Sutherland on 33 and 31 respectively and can only finish on a maximum of 54 and 52, Loch Ness needing 2 wins to stop mathematically stop either team winning , so again looks like no team from the North Cale will enter the playoff pyramid.

 

So could be in the same position as last year should Lochee United finish strongly, where one team goes straight into the playoff with the losing Highland League side which is as good as confirmed as Strathspey Thistle who have 6 points and a -110 goal difference.

 

Highland League

As said above, Strathspey look as good as confirmed as the bottom side. Buckie lead Brechin by 2 points, albeit Brechin have a game in hand. Formartine 10 off the lead and Brora a further 3 back, but do have 3 games in hand over Buckie. Should be an interesting end to the season there. Could come down to Buckie vs Brechin as a title decider on the last day of the season. 

 

Tvm

Been following the Highland League mostly because of implications for the LL play off and that could ripple down the pyramid below it. Noticed a surprise defeat for Brechin last midweek. The curse of midweek fixtures for part time players I guess

[The Old Tolbooth]

If Rangers B or Celtic B win the LL, does no one get the playoff spot? 

[Mikey1874]

6 minutes ago, The Old Tolbooth said:

If Rangers B or Celtic B win the LL, does no one get the playoff spot? 

 

No. 

 

Top other team qualifies to play winner of Highland League. 

[Tayside Jambo]

1 hour ago, RobboM said:

Tvm

Been following the Highland League mostly because of implications for the LL play off and that could ripple down the pyramid below it. Noticed a surprise defeat for Brechin last midweek. The curse of midweek fixtures for part time players I guess

 

May have been a surprise, but they came up against an in form Formatine away from home. Yeah plenty of implications. If Buckie win, then their manager will really need to reign it in. Had something like a 10 game suspension at the start of the season for losing the rag in a cup final last year.

[The Old Tolbooth]

37 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

No. 

 

Top other team qualifies to play winner of Highland League. 

 

Cheers for that, I did think think this would be very unfair if they done it that way 

[Footballfirst]

53 minutes ago, The Old Tolbooth said:

 

Cheers for that, I did think think this would be very unfair if they done it that way 

It is already unfair.  The B Teams are omitted from the final standings, but their results aren't. 

 

Most of the OF B Team losses/draws have occurred around international weeks when a number of their players have been on duty for the U21s, U19s or U17s. If you happen to be playing them in those weeks then you have an advantage over the rest of the clubs in the LL.  Rangers B also had their U19s playing in a tournament in Morocco last week, before their defeat at Berwick.

[RobboM]

35 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

It is already unfair.  The B Teams are omitted from the final standings, but their results aren't. 

 

Most of the OF B Team losses/draws have occurred around international weeks when a number of their players have been on duty for the U21s, U19s or U17s. If you happen to be playing them in those weeks then you have an advantage over the rest of the clubs in the LL.  Rangers B also had their U19s playing in a tournament in Morocco last week, before their defeat at Berwick.

My laddie told me the smart betting money was on Berwick Rangers because of this

[The Old Tolbooth]

14 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

It is already unfair.  The B Teams are omitted from the final standings, but their results aren't. 

 

Most of the OF B Team losses/draws have occurred around international weeks when a number of their players have been on duty for the U21s, U19s or U17s. If you happen to be playing them in those weeks then you have an advantage over the rest of the clubs in the LL.  Rangers B also had their U19s playing in a tournament in Morocco last week, before their defeat at Berwick.

 

I had someone tell me to back Berwick, but he didn't give me the reasons, they were apparently a decent price, I backed against Rangers earlier in the season when they had a load of players out too, and won. It is very unfair though like you say FF. 

[RobboM]

EXCLUSIVE: Premiership clubs to fund a new 'Conference' fifth tier

 

 

Stephen McGowan

MARCH 9, 2023

 

PLANS for a new ten-team Scottish Conference would see four Premiership B teams join six clubs from the Highland and Lowland Leagues from season 2024-25.

Established as a separate company, distinct from the SPFL, the league would become Scottish football’s new fifth tier.

It would be funded by four Premiership entrants — expected to be Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts and Rangers — and could even be brought in for the start of next season.

At the moment, Celtic, Hearts and Rangers currently field colts teams in the Lowland League, the existing fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid.

With Lowland League sides divided over extending the invitations for another season, however, the Premiership trio asked the SFA and SPFL to come up with viable alternatives for the campaign after next.

A meeting on Tuesday of Scottish football’s Pyramid Working Group came up with three options, to which clubs are to respond by the end of next week. With the primary aim being to offer players between the ages of 17 and 21 a competitive pathway to first-team football, the first option is an SPFL League Three of ten teams, with  top-flight B teams eligible for promotion up to — but not beyond — League One.

 

Young guns: Celtic and Rangers are looking for new ways to challenge their B-squad players

The second is an expansion of League Two from ten teams to 16 — incorporating B teams, plus teams from the Lowland and Highland Leagues. Once again, the Premiership colts would only be permitted to go as far as League One. With both options unlikely to reach the necessary threshold of 75-per-cent support amongst the 42 senior clubs, the third option of a new Scottish Conference with no promotion for the B teams has emerged as the only show in town.

Armed with its own prize-money distribution model, the Conference would seek to exploit commercial rights and have no financial impact on the 38 other teams who currently make up the SPFL.

Crucially, it would also bypass the need for 75-per-cent support across all four divisions by maintaining independence from the current league set-up.

Sportsmail understands the Conference idea will command significant support amongst clubs in Leagues One and Two by offering a ‘soft landing’ to any outfit relegated from the senior leagues.

In recent seasons, Brechin City and Cowdenbeath have suffered a significant loss of revenue after dropping through the trap door of the SPFL. 

A Conference league funded by the  six-figure entry fees of Premiership B teams would preserve their income stream and offer prize money to ambitious sides from the Lowland and Highland Leagues not available in the existing set-up.

While the Conference would require no formal vote of support by clubs, Sportsmail understands the idea will only proceed if it carries ‘overwhelming support’ from clubs.

Earmarked for the season after next, the plan could be fast-tracked for next season if Celtic, Hearts and Rangers Colts teams have nowhere else to play. Lowland League clubs will discuss their stance on the proposals at a meeting on Monday night.

[RobboM]

Honestly puts me in mind of The Simpsons episode where Homer gets to design a car.
 

 

[Niemi’s gloves]

2 hours ago, RobboM said:

EXCLUSIVE: Premiership clubs to fund a new 'Conference' fifth tier

 

 

Stephen McGowan

MARCH 9, 2023

 

PLANS for a new ten-team Scottish Conference would see four Premiership B teams join six clubs from the Highland and Lowland Leagues from season 2024-25.

Established as a separate company, distinct from the SPFL, the league would become Scottish football’s new fifth tier.

It would be funded by four Premiership entrants — expected to be Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts and Rangers — and could even be brought in for the start of next season.

At the moment, Celtic, Hearts and Rangers currently field colts teams in the Lowland League, the existing fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid.

With Lowland League sides divided over extending the invitations for another season, however, the Premiership trio asked the SFA and SPFL to come up with viable alternatives for the campaign after next.

A meeting on Tuesday of Scottish football’s Pyramid Working Group came up with three options, to which clubs are to respond by the end of next week. With the primary aim being to offer players between the ages of 17 and 21 a competitive pathway to first-team football, the first option is an SPFL League Three of ten teams, with  top-flight B teams eligible for promotion up to — but not beyond — League One.

 

Young guns: Celtic and Rangers are looking for new ways to challenge their B-squad players

The second is an expansion of League Two from ten teams to 16 — incorporating B teams, plus teams from the Lowland and Highland Leagues. Once again, the Premiership colts would only be permitted to go as far as League One. With both options unlikely to reach the necessary threshold of 75-per-cent support amongst the 42 senior clubs, the third option of a new Scottish Conference with no promotion for the B teams has emerged as the only show in town.

Armed with its own prize-money distribution model, the Conference would seek to exploit commercial rights and have no financial impact on the 38 other teams who currently make up the SPFL.

Crucially, it would also bypass the need for 75-per-cent support across all four divisions by maintaining independence from the current league set-up.

Sportsmail understands the Conference idea will command significant support amongst clubs in Leagues One and Two by offering a ‘soft landing’ to any outfit relegated from the senior leagues.

In recent seasons, Brechin City and Cowdenbeath have suffered a significant loss of revenue after dropping through the trap door of the SPFL. 

A Conference league funded by the  six-figure entry fees of Premiership B teams would preserve their income stream and offer prize money to ambitious sides from the Lowland and Highland Leagues not available in the existing set-up.

While the Conference would require no formal vote of support by clubs, Sportsmail understands the idea will only proceed if it carries ‘overwhelming support’ from clubs.

Earmarked for the season after next, the plan could be fast-tracked for next season if Celtic, Hearts and Rangers Colts teams have nowhere else to play. Lowland League clubs will discuss their stance on the proposals at a meeting on Monday night.

 

Being cynical, if it gets off the ground, it will last just as long as it takes the OF to get what they want, which is their B teams promoted to the lower tiers of the SPFL. Will they keep coughing up £100,000+ per year to a league they are no longer part of? What happens then?

 

edit: sorry, misread the piece above. There isn’t any promotion of B teams to the SPFL  under this third proposal. But the OF will keep trying!

Edited March 10, 2023 by Niemi’s gloves

[Bob Loblaw]

A shambles of a proposal and shits all over the clubs in the lower pyramid tiers by adding extra obstacles in their way.

[Footballfirst]

2 hours ago, RobboM said:

EXCLUSIVE: Premiership clubs to fund a new 'Conference' fifth tier

 

 

Stephen McGowan

MARCH 9, 2023

 

PLANS for a new ten-team Scottish Conference would see four Premiership B teams join six clubs from the Highland and Lowland Leagues from season 2024-25.

Established as a separate company, distinct from the SPFL, the league would become Scottish football’s new fifth tier.

It would be funded by four Premiership entrants — expected to be Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts and Rangers — and could even be brought in for the start of next season.

At the moment, Celtic, Hearts and Rangers currently field colts teams in the Lowland League, the existing fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid.

With Lowland League sides divided over extending the invitations for another season, however, the Premiership trio asked the SFA and SPFL to come up with viable alternatives for the campaign after next.

A meeting on Tuesday of Scottish football’s Pyramid Working Group came up with three options, to which clubs are to respond by the end of next week. With the primary aim being to offer players between the ages of 17 and 21 a competitive pathway to first-team football, the first option is an SPFL League Three of ten teams, with  top-flight B teams eligible for promotion up to — but not beyond — League One.

 

Young guns: Celtic and Rangers are looking for new ways to challenge their B-squad players

The second is an expansion of League Two from ten teams to 16 — incorporating B teams, plus teams from the Lowland and Highland Leagues. Once again, the Premiership colts would only be permitted to go as far as League One. With both options unlikely to reach the necessary threshold of 75-per-cent support amongst the 42 senior clubs, the third option of a new Scottish Conference with no promotion for the B teams has emerged as the only show in town.

Armed with its own prize-money distribution model, the Conference would seek to exploit commercial rights and have no financial impact on the 38 other teams who currently make up the SPFL.

Crucially, it would also bypass the need for 75-per-cent support across all four divisions by maintaining independence from the current league set-up.

Sportsmail understands the Conference idea will command significant support amongst clubs in Leagues One and Two by offering a ‘soft landing’ to any outfit relegated from the senior leagues.

In recent seasons, Brechin City and Cowdenbeath have suffered a significant loss of revenue after dropping through the trap door of the SPFL. 

A Conference league funded by the  six-figure entry fees of Premiership B teams would preserve their income stream and offer prize money to ambitious sides from the Lowland and Highland Leagues not available in the existing set-up.

While the Conference would require no formal vote of support by clubs, Sportsmail understands the idea will only proceed if it carries ‘overwhelming support’ from clubs.

Earmarked for the season after next, the plan could be fast-tracked for next season if Celtic, Hearts and Rangers Colts teams have nowhere else to play. Lowland League clubs will discuss their stance on the proposals at a meeting on Monday night.

 

Another 10 team league (playing other B Teams four times a season). Not for me.   I'd probably stop attending B Team games if they go down that route.

[jamboinglasgow]

Its a real mess.

 

Would love a 16-16-16 SPFL with a conference league below (which then splits into regions.) You could include B teams in the conference league.

 

I do wonder if the new league is a threat to others i.e. "go with the other options or else we will go with that plan."

[DETTY29]

Madness.

 

Regionalise verything under tier 2.

Top league certainly, even tier 2 must be grass / hybrid or no promotion.

[Unknown user]

Nope, do not let these ****ers put B teams in the senior leagues, we all know where this is going.

[Hungry hippo]

Surely that 10 team league is a negotiation tactic as makes no sense for anyone apart from the B teams.

[RobboM]

32 minutes ago, Hungry hippo said:

Surely that 10 team league is a negotiation tactic as makes no sense for anyone apart from the B teams.

But this is Ian Maxwell, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association , promoting an approach which expressly designed to ignore the overwhelming majority of the member clubs of the SFA

"3. Conference League

Strengths

If established as a separate company, like the Scottish Women’s Premier League, it would not need the high level of voting support that the other two models require"
In other words we can do this in spite of opposition from member clubs. Who the **** is he working for?

[Mikey1874]

Strong reserve league not a priority clearly. 

[RobboM]

Darvel manager

 

[The Old Tolbooth]

There's already a reserve league for those that want it, but it's only a few teams, but you can see this as going one way only when the OF disappear into some hybrid European makeshift version of a super league, and leave behind their colt teams to play in the senior leagues, absolutely no shame whatsoever and the GFA will push this through as though it's something normal! 

[RustyRightPeg]

I don’t mind the concept of B teams being involved in the leagues - but introducing them should not hinder 200 other clubs. There has to be another way. 
 

Using Germany (a format we should follow from top to bottom including ticket prices) and Spain, it does assist with player growth - there’s no getting away from that. They consistently promote players from B teams into first teams and so on. 

[Niemi’s gloves]

10 minutes ago, RobboM said:

Darvel manager

 

it’s not clear (to me at least) if the SFA can simply override the existing agreement that sees the Highland and Lowland champions (excl. B teams) play off to then face the bottom club in the SPFL. 

 

I suppose one possibility is that this proposed league could be established as separate but in theory parallel to the LL and HL, with a three way play off to decide who challenges the bottom SPFL club. On that basis, there is no relegation of 200 clubs! That would still leave an issue about movement between the HL/LL on the one hand and this new league on the other. But it might allow scope for some degree of voluntarism: for instance a club such as Brora might prefer to stay in the HL for geographic reasons while still having the theoretical possibility of promotion to the SPFL. 

[Mikey1874]

They might as well cut out the middle and place the 4 B teams in an expanded 14 team League One.

 

Just need to wait a bit longer for the Darvel v Aberdeen rematch. 

[Watt-Zeefuik]

The Conference proposal is a bit of a disgrace IMO. The need for league reconstruction and reform just grows with each year.

[Swanyl]

6 hours ago, Hungry hippo said:

Surely that 10 team league is a negotiation tactic as makes no sense for anyone apart from the B teams.

It doesn't even make sense for the b teams... they stopped the reserve league to stop playing each other.  now they're going to play each other 4 times a year again?

[part_time_jambo]

8 hours ago, Bob Loblaw said:

A shambles of a proposal and shits all over the clubs in the lower pyramid tiers by adding extra obstacles in their way.

I'm torn. On the one hand all the B teams (including Hearts) should be told to get to, and start a reserve league if they want fringe players to get game time.

On the other hand, Lowland league clubs get no sympathy if any changes negatively impacts them. They shouldn't have encouraged the B teams in the first place, but greed won out. Unfortunately all the teams below the lowland league would be hurt as well. Whitburn, as a good example, were in tier 8 last season. Won the league, but because of reconstruction are still in tier 8 this season. They are favourites for promotion again this season, but would still be in tier 8 if this crazy idea becomes reality.

[Turkishcap]

They will try anything except address the top league boredom of the Sky SPFL.

[Bob Loblaw]

8 minutes ago, part_time_jambo said:

I'm torn. On the one hand all the B teams (including Hearts) should be told to get to, and start a reserve league if they want fringe players to get game time.

On the other hand, Lowland league clubs get no sympathy if any changes negatively impacts them. They shouldn't have encouraged the B teams in the first place, but greed won out. Unfortunately all the teams below the lowland league would be hurt as well. Whitburn, as a good example, were in tier 8 last season. Won the league, but because of reconstruction are still in tier 8 this season. They are favourites for promotion again this season, but would still be in tier 8 if this crazy idea becomes reality.

Why should they have accepted the B teams? It's not good for their league, we don't bring sizeable supports like claimed and there's a very real chance the team that wins the league won't be able to be promoted.

 

It's a terrible setup and these clubs have no obligation to vote for it. Ultimately though they did and shock horror the bigger teams are trying to steamroller them by removing voting rights. 

[Hungry hippo]

1 hour ago, Swanyl said:

It doesn't even make sense for the b teams... they stopped the reserve league to stop playing each other.  now they're going to play each other 4 times a year again?

 

Yeah. I can only think the plan is to say that if something  else isn't agreed, this is the default position which then forces some other form of reconstruction.

[Lone Striker]

I agree with all the criticisms mentioned by other posters, and I'd throw in another one - all the players in these  LL/HL and lower pyramid teams are part-time and paid sweetie money, hence they'll have proper jobs outside football. 

 

Yet here we have a proposal to override the concept of regionalisation (which restricts the amount of travel time for teams and fans), meaning players probably have to take more  time off work (and adjust their domestic responsibilities) to travel much further than their usual to  matches.

 

Another question (not sure if the article even mentions it) -  this "funding" from the 4 Premiership clubs.... what is being "funded" ?        I'll take a wild guess - salaries for a CEO and administrator staff of this new legal entity.   

[Stanley_]

3 hours ago, part_time_jambo said:

I'm torn. On the one hand all the B teams (including Hearts) should be told to get to, and start a reserve league if they want fringe players to get game time.

On the other hand, Lowland league clubs get no sympathy if any changes negatively impacts them. They shouldn't have encouraged the B teams in the first place, but greed won out. Unfortunately all the teams below the lowland league would be hurt as well. Whitburn, as a good example, were in tier 8 last season. Won the league, but because of reconstruction are still in tier 8 this season. They are favourites for promotion again this season, but would still be in tier 8 if this crazy idea becomes reality.

If the strongest non-league teams were in the Lowland League (including many of the ex-junior clubs), the B teams would never have been voted into the league. What we have now is a long process to finally get the better ex-juniors in the league whilst the other clubs cling on to their place - see those same clubs voting against an extra relegation space to save themselves instead. The B teams getting in for "one year only" has turned into two years and is obviously just part of the long-term plan to get the Old Firm B teams into the SPFL.

 

Whitburn, and a few of the other West Lothian clubs, missed several chances to join the East of Scotland League and found themselves stuck in the bottom tier. Similar to when the new Superleagues were created 20+ years ago and Whitburn opted out and took years to climb back up. No-one to blame but themselves. 

[The Mighty Thor]

Scottish Groundhop 2023 starts tonight at Meggetland

 

Dunbar United v Coldstream at 11.15am tomorrow. 

 

 

we're looking forward to seeing all the Groundhoppers at New Countess Park to watch the league leaders. 

 

£7 entry and the steak pies are outstanding 👌 

[RustyRightPeg]

15 minutes ago, The Mighty Thor said:

Scottish Groundhop 2023 starts tonight at Meggetland

 

Dunbar United v Coldstream at 11.15am tomorrow. 

 

 

we're looking forward to seeing all the Groundhoppers at New Countess Park to watch the league leaders. 

 

£7 entry and the steak pies are outstanding 👌 

Used to love playing at Dunbar. Absolute bowling green. 

[Footballfirst]

Maurice Ross sacked by Cowdenbeath.  His replacement in Colin Jack who was Hearts U16 coach not that long ago.

 

http://www.cowdenbeathfc.com/index.php?act=viewNews&id=3374

[Tayside Jambo]

North Pyramid Playoffs

 

Highland League

 

Brechin won 10-0 against Wick, Buckie winning 3-0 against Nairn. Looks very much a two horse race. Brechin with some big games coming up, still having to play, Fraserburgh home and away, Brora and then Buckie on the final day. Buckie with the easier run in. Could be a close finish, for who wins and enters into the HL/LL playoff.

 

Strathspey look consigned to bottom, even with 6 to play but will need a miracle to get off the bottom but might just stave off relegation as non of the leagues below look likely to have the requirements for promotion.

 

North Caledonian League

 

The North Caledonian League is now a two horse race between Loch Ness and Invergordon. Loch ness are 11 points ahead with 2 games left to play themselves, Invergordon still have 6 games to play, so if they both win all their games then Invergordon will win by a point. However as only Golspie and Fort William are the only licenced teams, and neither can win the league there will be no promotion.

 

North Juniors

 

Culter are 7 clear at the top and realistically only Hermes can catch them. Non of the league are licenced so will be no promotion this year.

 

 

Midlands 

 

The Midlands is a bit more interesting in terms of who could win. Carnoustie came from 2-0 down against Dundee Violet to win 3-2 with the last kick of the ball. Broughty won 9-0 against Forfar West End to keep a hopeful title push alive. Downfield won 6-1 against The Harp to keep up with the pack and North end beating Lochee Utd 4-1 again keeps very slim hopes for them alive. Carnoustie the favourites with their games in hand, and have just signed Kirrie's striker and the leagues 3rd top scorer, which will help them for the run in. Whilst not mathmatically eliminated, Lochee and Tayport stand little to no chance of winning, and as the only licenced clubs in the league there will be no promotion from this league also.

 

 

[RobboM]

23 minutes ago, Tayside Jambo said:

North Pyramid Playoffs

 

Highland League

 

Brechin won 10-0 against Wick, Buckie winning 3-0 against Nairn. Looks very much a two horse race. Brechin with some big games coming up, still having to play, Fraserburgh home and away, Brora and then Buckie on the final day. Buckie with the easier run in. Could be a close finish, for who wins and enters into the HL/LL playoff.

 

Strathspey look consigned to bottom, even with 6 to play but will need a miracle to get off the bottom but might just stave off relegation as non of the leagues below look likely to have the requirements for promotion.

 

North Caledonian League

 

The North Caledonian League is now a two horse race between Loch Ness and Invergordon. Loch ness are 11 points ahead with 2 games left to play themselves, Invergordon still have 6 games to play, so if they both win all their games then Invergordon will win by a point. However as only Golspie and Fort William are the only licenced teams, and neither can win the league there will be no promotion.

 

North Juniors

 

Culter are 7 clear at the top and realistically only Hermes can catch them. Non of the league are licenced so will be no promotion this year.

 

 

Midlands 

 

The Midlands is a bit more interesting in terms of who could win. Carnoustie came from 2-0 down against Dundee Violet to win 3-2 with the last kick of the ball. Broughty won 9-0 against Forfar West End to keep a hopeful title push alive. Downfield won 6-1 against The Harp to keep up with the pack and North end beating Lochee Utd 4-1 again keeps very slim hopes for them alive. Carnoustie the favourites with their games in hand, and have just signed Kirrie's striker and the leagues 3rd top scorer, which will help them for the run in. Whilst not mathmatically eliminated, Lochee and Tayport stand little to no chance of winning, and as the only licenced clubs in the league there will be no promotion from this league also.

 

 

Thanks for the update

Do you know if any of the feeder league teams are in process for SFA licensing especially looking ahead to the prospects for next season?

[Tayside Jambo]

17 minutes ago, RobboM said:

Thanks for the update

Do you know if any of the feeder league teams are in process for SFA licensing especially looking ahead to the prospects for next season?

The North and the Cale, no idea only see them (well the north) when they play the inter-regional cup with the midlands teams. 
 

Montrose Roselea are joining the Midlands next year and might want to try and licence, currently ground sharing with Montrose FC, so a licence would be easier if ground share was accepted. A few other clubs had/are looking into it but it is quite a cosy for clubs in the long run to set up and should they get into the HL. 
 

The likes of Carnoustie and Broughty United perhaps, but just need to weigh up the cost. Expensive on bus trips up north every second week, neither club has great scope for hospitality huts currently etc to get money in that way. also Carnoustie would need floodlights which ain’t cheap. Lochee have theirs in but are 30/40k in debt as a result.

 

Lochee’s cup game in Wick this year coat the club about 3/4k in travel, they recouped a bit of that with appearance fee in that round. You don’t get that in the league. 
 

Also the players, know a few who were highland league now playing at junior level in the midlands who like the fact they can play their game and be home

by 5/6 as the furthest they need to travel is to Perth, and that’s only a few times a year. 

The pyramid offered a bit of scope for promotion but doesn’t really benefit teams south of Brechin from a financial perspective. The Midlands sides are on the whole better than the other two leagues on the same tier as any good players in the north will play at highland league level anyway. 

 

Edited March 28, 2023 by Tayside Jambo

[Footballfirst]

I attended the East of Scotland Cup Final between Gala FR and Linlithgow on Sunday. It was a good game for the neutral. Linlithgow should have been out of sight by half time, 1-0 up and Gala down to 10 men. Rose doubled their lead after an hour, but then made a series of substitutions in the belief that they had the game won.  A penalty gave Gala hope with 20 mins left and it was no surprise when the borderers equalised in stoppage time.

 

Straight to penalties, which proved one of the most bizarre shoot outs I have ever seen. Gala won it 4-3, but the Rose keeper had saved three of their penalties, however was let down by four of his team mates hitting their penalties over the bar.

 

League action yesterday saw Linlithgow bounce back with a win away to Jeanfield, one of their closest rivals. That leaves Linlithgow 7 points ahead of Sauchie with a game in hand and only 7 games left to play.

 

Results elsewhere this week have increased the possibility of Linlithgow gaining promotion to the LL without the need for a playoff.  The SOS will not have a licensed winner, while in the WOS, unlicensed Beith remains 7 points clear of Darvel with both clubs having 8 games left.  Auchinleck remains in the race, but lost last night at home to Clydebank. Talbot are 17 points behind Beith but now only have 5 games in hand.  Their backlog of games means that they will be playing twice or more per week for the remainder of the season, so could well drop more points. 

Edited March 30, 2023 by Footballfirst

[Chuck Berry]

On 28/03/2023 at 16:54, Tayside Jambo said:

Lochee’s cup game in Wick this year coat the club about 3/4k in travel, they recouped a bit of that with appearance fee in that round. You don’t get that in the league.

 

 

Did they charter a plane?

[Tayside Jambo]

16 hours ago, Chuck Berry said:

 

Did they charter a plane?

Went up the night before, so includes cost of hotel for team and committee members. Say about 25 people at £60-£80 a head, that’s about £1,500-£2,000 and hire of a bus overnight will be about £750-£1,000, then meals on top breakfast probably included but would hazard a guess that would have 2 evening meals and lunch as well, that’s say another £30-£50 a head so another £750-£1,250.  Maybe not £3/4k on travel alone, but all the elements for the trip north. 

[Tayside Jambo]

On 30/03/2023 at 17:46, Footballfirst said:

 Talbot are 17 points behind Beith but now only have 5 games in hand.  Their backlog of games means that they will be playing twice or more per week for the remainder of the season, so could well drop more points. 

Noticed the Talbot result. Still a long way to go but with that many games a lot of chances to slip up. They still have to play Beith twice in their remaining 13 fixtures, which the winner of those games will probably will determine who will win the league. 

[Footballfirst]

Beith and Darvel both won their league games today, so their relative positions are unchanged with 7 games left. Auchinleck lost in the q/f of the South Challenge Cup to Caledonian Braves, so are now 19 points adrift with 6 games in hand.