[the snudge]

So it looks likely that you will be given a place in the SFL next season so what I'm wanting to know is a little bit about your club. best player, ground, best place to drink before the game, many fans do you have, do you think you could compete next year??

[BerwickMad]

Where is the new ground so I can google earth it?

Can't remember any pubs near City Park when we went up for the cup game. Best thing to do is drink in the city and get a taxi out.

[the snudge]

BerwickMad, on May 30 2008, 12:13, said:

Where is the new ground so I can google earth it?

Can't remember any pubs near City Park when we went up for the cup game. Best thing to do is drink in the city and get a taxi out.

Could get messy!!

[HibeeJibee]

the snudge, on May 30 2008, 12:09, said:

So it looks likely that you will be given a place in the SFL next season so what I'm wanting to know is a little bit about your club. best player, ground, best place to drink before the game, many fans do you have, do you think you could compete next year??

you're jumping the gun a little bit early aren't you? Even if Spartans do bid (which they've never done before IIRC), a whole host of clubs could join them. Annan, Preston, Gala, Edinburgh City, Huntly, Cove, Whitehill, Inverurie, Irvine Meadow have all been mentioned recently. There's no guarentee that any club is a dead cert for it - the best club, on and off the park, will win it.

[the snudge]

I'LL TAKE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF STUFF PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED FROM EACH OF YOUR STATED CLUBS THEN.....

This post has been edited by the snudge: 30 May 2008 - 11:20

[BerwickMad]

Prestons stand is alright, but the rest of the ground is grassbanks, a bit like Gala but a nicer mainstand. We went for a night City Cup game so no idea about pubs. Stenny have been in the cup on a Saturday though so they might know better.

If Meadowbank is getting knocked down I can't see Edinburgh City getting in, unless they have other plans for a new ground?

Whitehill didnt even have seats last time I went and the town was pretty small. Cant even remember the name of the town tbh.

Annan might be alright but ive never been. We played them in the cup once I hear and their fans were running onto the pitch all the time.

[boardroomshuffler]

Has anyone seen this new Spartans grounds?It's getting more like Gretnas eco stadium each passing day.

[Waspie]

WJR, on May 30 2008, 12:42, said:

We are taking nothing for granted as we would have Sir Alan back on our case again.

A bit about our club. Historically ex Edin Uni boys but now we probably have more jiners than students or ex Uni boys. We haven't finished lower than 3rd in the EoS Premier since around 93/94. Have won a good number of titles and a number of cups.

Best player? Tricky one, in my view Keith McLeod is the best strike in the league and that is no disrespect to guys like Hazeldine of the Uni, Scott Gormley and Wayne McIntosh of Whitehill and Robbie Ross of City to name just a few of the other top strikers. It will be a new look team next year in any case as we have at least 4 new signings for next season who we are all very excited about. Glad that BerwickMad doesn't fancy Kevin M as we are very keen to keep him. What a left foot and has played for the Scotland semi pro side for the last 2 years.

Oh, and our co-managers are both mental!

New ground will be great, 500 seater stand, grass pitch and also a Uefa 2* full size astro training pitch plus separate 5 a side astro, also 2*

There will be club rooms which I think will have a bar. Not too sure of the detail on that.

Not many pubs within easy walking distance but I would recommend the Malt & Hops on the Shore in Leith, a bit of a Spartans stronghold. 10/15 mins in a taxi.

Any pictures of how the work is progressing at the new ground? Other than the stand what will the rest of the ground be like...ie will it be 3 flat sides or will there be terracing/cover etc?

And finally how far is it from City Park? There were a few good pubs down near the bottom of the new town/Warriston etc which were within walking distance of City Park, will it be the same for the new place?

[boardroomshuffler]

Can the new Spartans ground be located on this map?


http://www.louisvuitton.com/web/flash/ inde...1=ebou_entry_gb

[HibeeJibee]

I'm not prepared to discuss the strength of any clubs players or peripheral facilities, but for the ease of people consulting the thread these are the facts (from SFL Review) for all rumoured clubs:


EAST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE

ANNAN ATHLETIC Galabank - 2,000 capacity (500 covered seats, 1,500 standing: mix of grass/concrete open terracing IIRC). No floodlights, but planned by autumn. Pitch 110x65 yards.

EDINBURGH CITY FC Meadowbank Athletics Stadium - 13,841 all seats (7,500 covered). Floodlights and electronic scoreboard. Pitch 105x72 yards. Will be demolished soon, and a new stadium (with a capacity of 5,000 seats, all covered) constructed adjacent to the current stadium.

GALA FAIRYDEAN Netherdale - 5,500 (495 covered seats, 5,005 grass open terracing). Floodlights. Pitch 110x72 yards. Plans for joint stadium with rugby ditched after The Borders folded.

PRESTON ATHLETIC Pennypit Park - 4,000 (313 covered seats, 3,687 grass open terraces). Floodlights. Pitch 110x70 yards.

SPARTANS New Ainslie Park (?) - new stadium under construction off the Ferry Road. Will be finished by the autumn, apparently. Includes floodlights, a covered stand holding about 450 seats, and several thousand capacity in uncovered terracing - not sure if that is concrete or grass.

WHITEHILL WELFARE - Their current ground holds 4,000 on grass and concrete terracing, with a small covered area. Their bid would presumably be based on the construction of a new stand and floodlights, possibly at a new site? Previous bid proposed renaming Midlothian Welfare.

Hawick Royal Albert have a covered, seated stand and floodlights currently, but I don't think they would bid. Heriot-Watt Uni also have floodlights, as do Lothian Thistle. Selkirk intend to fit them in future. Dalbeattie and Peebles have old seated stands, Vale of Leithen a covered terrace.


HIGHLAND LEAGUE

COVE RANGERS Allan Park - 2,300 (200 covered seats, 2,100 concrete terraces including a small covered enclosure). Floodlights. Pitch 104x65 yards. Plans for new stadium also in pipeline.

HUNTLY Christie Park - 4,500 (270 covered seats, 4,230 terracing - mixture of grass and cement - with a small covered section). Floodlights. Pitch 105x72 yards.

INVERURIE LOCOMOTIVE WORKS - 1,925 (125 seats, 1,800 standing around pitch edges which is concrete but not inclined). Floodlights. Pitch 103x71 yards.

All 12 other HFL clubs have covered seated stands and lights, but only these 3 are linked with bids.


SOUTH OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE

St Cuthbert's Wanderers have a seated stand and lights; Threave have lights and a covered area of terracing; Stranraer Athletic have lights; a few more have small enclosures. However, I can't see any SOSFL clubs putting in a bid - though Annan Athletic are former members, now in EOSFL.


JUNIOR FOOTBALL

IRVINE MEADOW XI - 5,200 (700 covered seats, 4,500 open terracing on a mixture of concrete and grass). No floodlights, but rumours they intend to get some. Pitch dimension is ??.

A host of other Junior clubs could apply, but Irvine are the only one rumoured to be considering it (and even then, some say they have ditched the idea). Other clubs playing in the top divisions of the 3 Junior regions, who have covered seated stands (which is pretty essential to a bid) are:
Banks O'Dee (also lights)
Hillhead (have lights too)
Glenrothes
Linlithgow Rose (plus lights)
Auchinleck Talbot
Glenafton Athletic
Petershill (plus lights and astroturf)

The Junior details came from: http://nonleaguescotland.co.uk/


Don't rule out someone coming from a more unusual location either. In the past, clubs from as far as Gateshead have applied to join the SFL. However, bearing in mind the timescale (8 weeks till the new season starts), I think the only bids that can get taken seriously will be clubs who have seated stands in place; who can get lights in place quickly; and who can finance works on the terraces, turnstiles, exits, dressing rooms, car parking, social club etc. etc. very quickly. I think it is wrong, however, to presume that any club has got it in the bag - the SFL clubs will be looking for the overall package, not the best cup run, the nicest stand, the largest bank balance, etc. etc.

This post has been edited by HibeeJibee: 30 May 2008 - 12:09

[Waspie]

WJR, on May 30 2008, 13:00, said:

I don't think there are up to date pictures on the Academy website Waspie bu the stand has been up for a while as has the block containing the club rooms and changing rooms.

There was talk of bankings behind the goals but the Council were worried about our 7' plus supporters being able to look into people's gardens, not entirely sure where the discussions have reached on that point.

The architects drawings on the Spartans website will be very close to the mark (except the floodlights won't be doubling up as corcer flags!)

About 2 mins from CP - just the other side of Pilton Drive.

Cheers WJR. From the architects drawings it looks very good but it does suggest 3 flat sides of terracing which isnt ideal. Maybe they could look at building up some kind of terracing on the side opposite the stand. And if its that close to CP then it should still be ok for a pre-match pint in Clarks then wonder down Ferry Road .

[caledoniaman]

As a relatively new Spartans fan (2005-2006 season), I can hopefully shed some light on why I've kept on going back since my first match.

I was a Hearts season ticket holder who got fed up with Romanov and his cronies so decided to adopt another team. Obviously Hibs were not an option so decided on Spartans.

In my experience I've found the whole of the Spartans organisation to have a progressive, winning mentality (some of the more vehement anti-Spartans posters on here would say too much of a winning mentality). You get the feeling that the people involved really care about the club, most of them having been Spartans players at one time or another.

The new ground looks like it will have superb facilities as well which will be good. Hopefully the catering policy at the new ground will be the same as at City Park. It was unusual, but pleasantly refreshing to find Swiss Roll on the menu at half time in some games.

How Spartans would compete at a higher level remains to be seen. I'd say though that they would give it their best shot and their presence would enhance the league, even if only by introducing the SFL's first sombrero wearing fans.

[Sir Alan]

Oh WJR you won't have me on your back. I got upset when Spartans tried to buy Gretna (deny all you like - we all know you did) and achieve league status by the back door. However, if as looks likely, Gretna fold and you emerge victorious from an open contest, then best of luck to you.

Mind you, that letter about the Shire might come back to haunt you - that's one vote you won't be getting!

Don't know if City will bid, uncertainty over Meadowbank may prove a killer anyway.

[City Fan]

WJR, on May 30 2008, 14:17, said:

Any more word of a move for Robbie R? He looked very good on Wednesday night.

Really?? i thought he was pretty poor on wednesday (despite scoring again)

I've personally not heard anymore about a move, i know Linlithgow have asked to sign him (but i do not expect him to go).

Anyone else heard anymore rubbish rumours?

[Sir Alan]

"I didn't exactly deny we had explored options in relation to Gretna (not quite the same as buying them)"

Let me guess, you are either a lawyer or a councillor with denial, counter claim and comment twisting talents like yours. Am I correct?

Not on my hols, just losing interest in football a bit.

[Tams bird]

Whitehill didnt even have seats last time I went and the town was pretty small. Cant even remember the name of the town .

Rosewell is the place. Whitehill are 100% NOT applying.. Probabily go to a Highland league club.... IF Gretna go out next week...

Spartans go on like they will be owning 'their' new ground. Council is it not..??

[tamthebam]

If you think Edinburgh City Council will knock Meadowbank down and build a new stadium I'll sell you some magic beans that will grow into a giant beanstalk...
I suppose the council could last some trams together, grow a pitch on top of that and have scotland's first mobile football stadium.

[Berwick_Canary]

I have not the Irvine Meadow one, no rumours in the West about that but they have massive financial backing (probably on a par if not better than most SFL Division Two clubs) and good facilities although they would need to install floodlights.

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