HTG Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Having been at Banks o Dee yesterday to attend a game at the only other venue where a Junior team has an SFA entry level licence, I really can't understand the reticence of some Junior teams in the central belt to get on with the job of trying to secure a licence. I realise the commitment to the pyramid element may be a stumbling block for those who don't want change but Spain Park was one of my worst experiences watching football for a long time. It had all the stuff I normally whine about - toilets where you can wash your hands, a covered seating area etc but unless you enjoy a sports centre set up for watching a game you won't find much to redeem the venue. Now, it may be better than we saw yesterday given the restrictions in place whilst work is being carried out but not being able to access 3 and a half sides of the ground is a real constraint. The folk are all really pleasant - officials and volunteers from both clubs I mean. But the pitch looked as if it was slow and had a deadening effect on the ball and the atmosphere is just what you'd get at any sports centre. If those facilities can secure a club licence, I don't know why Broxburn doesn't have one already. The pitch isn't any worse, the club is community driven and you can get round all of the venue. There must be any number of top flight clubs like Kelty, Newtongrange and even the forces of darkness who could/should be licenced if what I saw yesterday is a benchmark rather than somewhere like Prestonfield which is just light years in front. This pyramid pill needs to be swallowed and clubs be allocated the status they deserve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lithgierose Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 a place i would never return too. and for that place to have a reported 2000 capacity.why were the fans not allowed to stand at the dug out side.surely that must come into where some of the 2000 must stand.or are the counting how many the fvckin gym can hold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmontheloknow Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 a place i would never return too. and for that place to have a reported 2000 capacity.why were the fans not allowed to stand at the dug out side.surely that must come into where some of the 2000 must stand.or are the counting how many the fvckin gym can hold. Who says it has a 2000 capacity? Could be a figure that predates the redevelopment of Spain Park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lithgierose Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Banks O' Dee fullname = Banks O' Dee Junior Football Club Nickname(s) The Rechabites or The Dee Founded 1902 Ground Spain Park Abbotswell Road Aberdeen Capacity 2300 President Gordon Christie Manager Doug Baxter League SJFA North Superleague 2013–14 2nd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTBUF Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Never mind the pyramid system. Entry to the Scottish Cup every season must surely be an incentive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaffenThinMint Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Never mind the pyramid system. Entry to the Scottish Cup every season must surely be an incentive. Oh it will be, don't worry about that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTG Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share Posted February 8, 2015 Never mind the pyramid system. Entry to the Scottish Cup every season must surely be an incentive. The current deal is that one aligns to the other. I'm not starting another pyramid thread here. Just making the point that I watch my club playing at better venues than yesterday. Of course I see worse too in terms of facilities and we don't get to see the changing rooms which are a factor. But not a million miles away surely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmontheloknow Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Banks O' Dee fullname = Banks O' Dee Junior Football Club Nickname(s) The Rechabites or The Dee Founded 1902 Ground Spain ParkAbbotswell Road Aberdeen Capacity 2300 President Gordon Christie Manager Doug Baxter League SJFA North Superleague 2013–14 2nd That doesn't mean it is accurate though. Often these figures get plucked from nowhere. Would like to see what the figure given on their club licencing bumph states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 You need someone or more likely a group of people who are retired/semi retired and knowledgeable about all the paper work required plus having 'youth' teams in place. The facilities in West Super Premier will likely be better than Banks of Dee but most teams probably wouldn't know where to start with the paper work and £20k disabled toilets rumours etc may put off others. Teams are just trying to survive and get from one month to the next, trying to get enough income together to pay the wages / bills etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parsforlife Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Pretty sure entry doesn't require youth teams, not that clubs should be running just a first team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicero Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Entry level doesn't require youth teams although we have just recently got Peoples Millions funding to help set up ours. For the license, the paperwork is onerous but not beyond our capabilities (easy for me to say as I didn't do it). The biggest hassle for us was getting all the safety certificates and the general maintenance required to get these approved. We have also found that the duration of these certificates depends in which part of the country that you are in. Each local government authority seem to have their owns rules regarding cost and duration. If you are willing to accept the pyramid then the benefits far outweigh costs. (equivalent to a few sportsmen's evenings a year). There are a couple of teams in the Lowland League that I wonder how they got the certificate by looking at their ground so on that front it cannot be too hard to achieve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooterno9 Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I hate the ground also it is a shithole but they don't want to stay in the juniors they want to join the highland league Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addie Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 ...Spain Park was one of my worst experiences watching football for a long time. It had all the stuff I normally whine about - toilets where you can wash your hands... Shitting Christ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTG Posted February 8, 2015 Author Share Posted February 8, 2015 Shitting Christ. Lol - that didn't come out right! I normally whine like f**k when I have to go to a bog built just after the war where the "facilities" consist of a concrete wall with maximum splashback capability. Spain Park has decent bogs and I still thought it was an awful environment for spectators to watch football. I reckon it's decent enough for the players - apart from the pitch. I've no idea how you assess "spectator experience" right enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbaxters Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I don't know anything about the stadium in question but I agree that any club which has a modicum of, not only ambition, but a desire to supply any kind of service to the paying guests, should be aiming for a licence. I know it has been mentioned before but where can I find a list of requirements?......just for my own nosiness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEWHITEGATES Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 This link might help http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_document_libraries.cfm?page=2570 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cboats Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I don't know anything about the stadium in question but I agree that any club which has a modicum of, not only ambition, but a desire to supply any kind of service to the paying guests, should be aiming for a licence. I know it has been mentioned before but where can I find a list of requirements?......just for my own nosiness! u still pish on a wall doon at ur bit!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyboy Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 u still pish on a wall doon at ur bit!!! And I heard he does the same when he goes to the fitba'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr V Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Having been at Banks o Dee yesterday to attend a game at the only other venue where a Junior team has an SFA entry level licence, I really can't understand the reticence of some Junior teams in the central belt to get on with the job of trying to secure a licence. I realise the commitment to the pyramid element may be a stumbling block for those who don't want change but Spain Park was one of my worst experiences watching football for a long time. It had all the stuff I normally whine about - toilets where you can wash your hands, a covered seating area etc but unless you enjoy a sports centre set up for watching a game you won't find much to redeem the venue. Now, it may be better than we saw yesterday given the restrictions in place whilst work is being carried out but not being able to access 3 and a half sides of the ground is a real constraint. The folk are all really pleasant - officials and volunteers from both clubs I mean. But the pitch looked as if it was slow and had a deadening effect on the ball and the atmosphere is just what you'd get at any sports centre. If those facilities can secure a club licence, I don't know why Broxburn doesn't have one already. The pitch isn't any worse, the club is community driven and you can get round all of the venue. There must be any number of top flight clubs like Kelty, Newtongrange and even the forces of darkness who could/should be licenced if what I saw yesterday is a benchmark rather than somewhere like Prestonfield which is just light years in front. This pyramid pill needs to be swallowed and clubs be allocated the status they deserve. HTG , I know you are a pyramid supporter and you know my view that it is only a very small minority of fans who even talk about it. And I would suggest they are on P&B To further your cause why don't you canvass opinion at an upcoming game and perhaps other supporters do the same so we get an idea of what the fans want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr V Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 HTG , I know you are a pyramid supporter and you know my view that it is only a very small minority of fans who even talk about it. And I would suggest they are on P&B To further your cause why don't you canvass opinion at an upcoming game and perhaps other supporters do the same so we get an idea of what the fans want I do accept that licensing and the pyramid are different issues so probably replying on the wrong thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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