[seasiders1911]

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This post has been edited by seasiders1911: 28 December 2011 - 14:15

[Stan Petrov]

Good luck with this one!!

Most 'top' amateur players, as you are advertising for, could play in the top junior league with no problem whatsoever. And most top amateur players play with top amateur teams, who have a chance of winning trophies. I don't see the attraction for these guys to be honest.

[GAVT67]

Spot on Stan, speaking as a secretary of an amateur side, I would be absolutely amazed if we lost our best players to all but a few junior sides around our area. We've got quite an experienced squad who know the ins and outs of the game with some having been junior in the past. Having played junior myself back in the mid/late 80s I would never want to put anyone off giving the juniors a go as I absolutely loved it for the 4 seasons I was at The Gow but with the exception of a couple of sides around where we are based I don't think signing for any of the so called lesser junior sides in the area would be looked upon as a step up. I know for a fact that this is the case by speaking to players about the local junior/amateur scene. That's in no way knocking the local junior outfits though as they are run by good people with the best interests of the community at heart and fair play to them for continuing to try and improve their sides. It's just the way it is out our way however and that's fact. When I played junior, there was 4 of us left Wishaw on a Saturday to go to Lesmahagow and I'm sure it's probably the same to this day with good juniors players leaving the Wishaw area to ply their trade further afield. As mentioned I'd be shocked if any of our amateur players left us to go to Wishaw Juniors, Newmains, Forth or Carluke although I take on board that Carluke are having an excellent season. There would be no one happier than me to see ALL of those local sides doing well, especially Wishaw Juniors but it's been the same for as many years as I can remember. Don't know the answer to why these sides never manage to get out the bottom division and I'm sure plenty of managers have wondered as well. Maybe it's a case of those sides just have a stigma attached to them now that they'll be forever one of those sides who finish bottom half of the bottom division year after year and thats why they fail to attract players to get them up battling for promotion year after year. Hopefully the other sides mentioned can take heart from Carluke this season and push on up the table. I wish them all the best.

[retired]

Stan Petrov, on 22 December 2011 - 10:38, said:

Good luck with this one!!

Most 'top' amateur players, as you are advertising for, could play in the top junior league with no problem whatsoever. And most top amateur players play with top amateur teams, who have a chance of winning trophies. I don't see the attraction for these guys to be honest.

New manager trying to attract people to his new club will be thankful for you support, gie the guy a chance,
don't see why guys at top level of amateurs who have the ability won't at least give it a go they can't all win trophies.

[Stan Petrov]

retired, on 22 December 2011 - 13:28, said:

New manager trying to attract people to his new club will be thankful for you support, gie the guy a chance,
don't see why guys at top level of amateurs who have the ability won't at least give it a go they can't all win trophies.

I take ur point on board regarding the new manager trying to build a side. But as GAVT67 has said in his post, the top amateur players could play for the likes of pollok, Arthurlie etc. As much as some of them would hate to admit it!!
I don't want to get into the debate of amateur v junior but the gap is very minimal now with only 6-8 sides who are outstanding.
The best thing to do is to try and get the top 21s players who are too old for next season, and build from there. The best amateur players are the ones who have played junior, disliked it and returned to enjoy football and win trophies.

[DUCKHOOKDAVE]

Stan Petrov, on 22 December 2011 - 16:37, said:

I take ur point on board regarding the new manager trying to build a side. But as GAVT67 has said in his post, the top amateur players could play for the likes of pollok, Arthurlie etc. As much as some of them would hate to admit it!!
I don't want to get into the debate of amateur v junior but the gap is very minimal now with only 6-8 sides who are outstanding.
The best thing to do is to try and get the top 21s players who are too old for next season, and build from there. The best amateur players are the ones who have played junior, disliked it and returned to enjoy football and win trophies.

Yes,agree. We have 7/8 guys in our squad that have played junior in the last few years and have returned to amateur.
Unless players are going to get mega money to play junior i think (IMO) its not that big an attraction.

Most of the guys in our team have been approached to play Junior but all bar 1 have knocked it back.

[voice of reason 2]

Im only guessing that some off them returned because they couldnt get a game?
No disrespect but east linton are no great shakes and east linton would be cannon fodder in the junior league!
Just my humble opinion!

[DUCKHOOKDAVE]

Yes, some of them returned because they could not get a game.some just did not enjoy it.

It's hard to judge what standard East Linton are compared 2 Junior teams . U can only go on friendly games.
I don't think There is much between us and the bottom 4/5 teams in the junior South region

[Talisman]

DUCKHOOKDAVE, on 05 January 2012 - 13:54, said:

Yes, some of them returned because they could not get a game.some just did not enjoy it.

It's hard to judge what standard East Linton are compared 2 Junior teams . U can only go on friendly games.
I don't think There is much between us and the bottom 4/5 teams in the junior South region

what I've seen 1or 2 players would maybe get in a junior squad. None of the amatueurs team could compete consistently, maybe raise there game for the odd freindly