[boardroomshuffler]

Not this forthcoming season but next.As far as i know the ground where they used to play is still used by the amatuer club.

[HibeeJibee]

If this is true - it makes no sense to me. OK Chirnside are an OK standard team (middling Border Amateur 'A' League), and they have a Colts reserve team in the 'C' League, but it is a monumental step up to East of Scotland level. Teams like Duns, Gala Rovers, some of the Hawick teams would deserve it far more on quality of play (although aside from Duns these towns already have EOSFL teams TBF). And Comrades Park is little more than a grass field.

Also - if Berwick 'A' are making EOSFL up to 12-12, will there be a vacancy for them to apply for?

[No8.]

HibeeJibee, on May 21 2007, 16:20, said:

If this is true - it makes no sense to me. OK Chirnside are an OK standard team (middling Border Amateur 'A' League), and they have a Colts reserve team in the 'C' League, but it is a monumental step up to East of Scotland level. Teams like Duns, Gala Rovers, some of the Hawick teams would deserve it far more on quality of play (although aside from Duns these towns already have EOSFL teams TBF). And Comrades Park is little more than a grass field.

Also - if Berwick 'A' are making EOSFL up to 12-12, will there be a vacancy for them to apply for?

I was recently watching a Duns v Eyemouth game and i felt so bad for Duns i was going to offer my services. Eyemouth had 1 player who stood out but the rest were pretty average. The game was played at the pitch at Gavinton....would this be the same Duns team...i also caught the start of Greenlaw v Somebody and they looked to be pretty much the same standard. What league is this as i might try and get a game with Greenlaw for next season...i havent played in a couple of years but have stopped smoking and could pretty easily hold my own at that level.

[HibeeJibee]

You are talking of the Border Amateur League - one of the best amateur leagues in the country in terms of proffessional organisation, maybe not so great in terms of quality of play perhaps. That said, teams from the BAL regularly win the SAFA South Cup, and often challenge at the latter stages of the SAFA Scottish Amateur Cup. They have an excellent website, which may contain contact details if you want to get in touch with some of the clubs:
http://www.bafl.leag...?siteid=9356376

I'm afraid the Duns v Eyemouth clash you saw must have been a friendly, as they have not met ever competitively, this being Eyemouth's first season in the BAL - and Duns likely fielded their squad players. Eyemouth are the reserve team of Eyemouth Utd, who play in the East of Scotland Football League. Greenlaw are a middling side in the middle division of the BAL, Duns are regular title winners, this season they finished second in 'A' League, and will contest the BAL equivalent of the FA Cup Final v Hawick Waverly, on Sun 27 June, 2:30pm, at Greenlaw.

This post has been edited by HibeeJibee: 21 May 2007 - 16:28

[No8.]

HibeeJibee, on May 21 2007, 17:27, said:

You are talking of the Border Amateur League - one of the best amateur leagues in the country in terms of proffessional organisation, maybe not so great in terms of quality of play perhaps. That said, teams from the BAL regularly win the SAFA South Cup, and often challenge at the latter stages of the SAFA Scottish Amateur Cup. They have an excellent website, which may contain contact details if you want to get in touch with some of the clubs:
http://www.bafl.leag...?siteid=9356376

I'm afraid the Duns v Eyemouth clash you saw must have been a friendly, as they have not met ever competitively, this being Eyemouth's first season in the BAL - and Duns likely fielded their squad players. Eyemouth are the reserve team of Eyemouth Utd, who play in the East of Scotland Football League. Greenlaw are a middling side in the middle division of the BAL, Duns are regular title winners, this season they finished second in 'A' League, and will contest the BAL equivalent of the FA Cup Final v Hawick Waverly, on Sun 27 June, 2:30pm, at Greenlaw.

We have a caravan at Greenlaw so i will probably go down for that game...should be a good day for a wee drink in the Blackadder Hotel.

I have to say 1 of the Eyemouth players that day was pretty good...the Duns players did resort to trying to put him up in the air after about 15 minutes. That was quite amusing as they still couldnt touch him....thanks for the details i might just get in touch with Greenlaw....Cheers.

[HibeeJibee]

The Duns team is generally made up of younger players (many of whom were in my year at school), a couple of whom during this season would play for Duns Amateurs FC for 90 minutes, then jump in their cars and race along to the Hardens and come on as subs for Duns RFC (who are plummeting down the SRU divisions at a rate of knots). A very large number of people from Duns play for Chirnside, who have a decent set-up and as I said before, have a reserve team so most of their players get regular games. Duns don't quite have the numbers for a reserve team, so they arrange friendlies with lower-league teams when these sides don't have games - usually during the later stages of cup tournaments, when the lower-league teams have been knocked out. Thus you probably saw the fringe players starring v Eyemouth. I'm afraid I don't know much about Greenlaw, aside from that they finished 5th out of 10 in 'B' League this season, but with the best form in the last third of the season, and lost all their cup games.

[HibeeJibee]

By the way what was the date (roughly) when you saw Greenlaw play? I'll get the opponent, score and competition if you want, might be interesting to see the standard of their opponents. I could try to do the same with Duns friendly as well, as Eyemouth have their own website.

This post has been edited by HibeeJibee: 21 May 2007 - 16:56

[Border Boy]

boardroomshuffler, on May 21 2007, 11:37, said:

Not this forthcoming season but next.As far as i know the ground where they used to play is still used by the amatuer club.

Just following up on this, are Chirnside intending to apply to join the EOS League? How do you know?

[No8.]

HibeeJibee, on May 21 2007, 17:56, said:

By the way what was the date (roughly) when you saw Greenlaw play? I'll get the opponent, score and competition if you want, might be interesting to see the standard of their opponents. I could try to do the same with Duns friendly as well, as Eyemouth have their own website.

Sorry i did nt get back sooner...it was the first week of easter holidays...that was 1st week of April i think.

[Border Boy]

Going back to the original thread, can anyone throw any light of the Chirnside situation? Perhaps someone associated with Chirnside FC. A further question springs to mind, how many years is it since Chirnside were actually in the EOS League?

[bmccoll]

Border Boy, on Jul 4 2007, 12:31, said:

A further question springs to mind, how many years is it since Chirnside were actually in the EOS League?

Chirnside's EoSL membership reads 1931-1939, 1966-1968, 1976-1979

Scottish Football History

[Border Boy]

bmccoll, on Jul 4 2007, 16:09, said:

Chirnside's EoSL membership reads 1931-1939, 1966-1968, 1976-1979

Scottish Football History

Thanks for that, wasn't aware they were in as recently as 1979. Had a quick look at your site. Very interesting, its in my favourites!

[boardroomshuffler]

I think it is something to do with Coldstreams promotion and Eyemouths vast improvement over the last 2 seasons.They want to compete in the league as they dont want there better amatuer players going to other teams,

[Border Boy]

boardroomshuffler, on Aug 13 2007, 19:18, said:

I think it is something to do with Coldstreams promotion and Eyemouths vast improvement over the last 2 seasons.They want to compete in the league as they dont want there better amatuer players going to other teams,

Hope your right I'd like to see it happen. Have you any idea, will it be next season , beyond that or when? Where did you hear the idea from originally?

[boardroomshuffler]

http://www.chirnsidefc.co.uk/index. htm

[Border Boy]

boardroomshuffler, on Oct 7 2007, 20:47, said:

http://www.chirnsidefc.co. uk/index.htm

Cheers Bob, no mention of applying though thatI could see

[heedthebaa]

boardroomshuffler, on Aug 13 2007, 19:18, said:

I think it is something to do with Coldstreams promotion and Eyemouths vast improvement over the last 2 seasons.They want to compete in the league as they dont want there better amatuer players going to other teams,

near enough all the chirnside players are local lads and are content where they are. a few venture away but are back sharpish(within a season). there's absolutely nae danger from eye utd signing any, the usual ones are asked at the beginning of every season and coldstream have had the odd one or two but never for long. havent heard if their looking to re-apply but i'll ask a man that will know. as for only being a decent team, there a bit more than that, with their current squad they could hold their own in the eos 1st

[HibeeJibee]

No reason why Duns or Chirnside couldn't hold their own in the EOSFL. In the formers case they have a large population and good facilities behind them, but perhaps a lack of vision and the problem of losing players to Coldstream (whose managers, Colin Gracey, is a teacher at The Berwickshire High School in Duns); in the latters case they have an excellent backroom staff and a strong development & reserve system, but lack a population base and the ground is a bit dodgy. Both were of course former EOSFL members, and if some kind of spectator provision (toilets, terracing) could be installed, both would likely obtain EOSFL membership.

It can also be argued that a team of senior standard should be able to thrive calling on the resources of the Earlston-Lauder valley area. However, both of these towns BAL teams don't even have reserve sides - I guess they lose too many players down the road to Galashiels?

[Border Boy]

HibeeJibee, on Oct 8 2007, 00:34, said:

No reason why Duns or Chirnside couldn't hold their own in the EOSFL. In the formers case they have a large population and good facilities behind them, but perhaps a lack of vision and the problem of losing players to Coldstream (whose managers, Colin Gracey, is a teacher at The Berwickshire High School in Duns); in the latters case they have an excellent backroom staff and a strong development & reserve system, but lack a population base and the ground is a bit dodgy. Both were of course former EOSFL members, and if some kind of spectator provision (toilets, terracing) could be installed, both would likely obtain EOSFL membership.

It can also be argued that a team of senior standard should be able to thrive calling on the resources of the Earlston-Lauder valley area. However, both of these towns BAL teams don't even have reserve sides - I guess they lose too many players down the road to Galashiels?

Agree entirely. I watched Duns in their EOS days and surely what could be done then could be done now. Chirnside were very similar. IMO it takes a few individuals with a little bit of vision and drive to push it through. It would be healthy for the Southern Borders and East Berwickshire football scene

[boardroomshuffler]

They are not the brightest

[HibeeJibee]

boardroomshuffler, on Oct 8 2007, 10:45, said:

They are not the brightest

Watch it!!

[Old Albert]

Chirnside are better than a decent team? they are average at best. They haven't won the Border Amateur league for ten years, surely they should try and win that first before they dream of punching above their weight and making on they are good enough for EoS football? There are far more teams in the Border Amateur setup who deserve a chance before the mediocre Chirnside. Give Earlston or Greenlaw a chance!

[boardroomshuffler]

Has Chirnside not got a better set - up?

[Border Boy]

boardroomshuffler, on Oct 9 2007, 19:05, said:

Has Chirnside not got a better set - up?

Interesting question, who has the best set up in the BAL? I said earlier I thought Greenlaw were the only club with floodlights. As for basic facilities not sure if many clubs have much at all. I know Duns put up changing rooms/showers at Gavington a few years ago. Don't even know if Chirnside have any facilities or where they play. Is it still at the Crosshill? I presume Coldtream's team share at Home Park.

[boardroomshuffler]

Chirnside still play at Croshill.Coldstream Ams play at home park.