stanley
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I think the main point of changing the rules to bronze being the minimum rather than entry was to try to reduce relegation from the SPFL. Scottish football is all about self-preservation. I don't think increasing the standards is the main focus of this at all.
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Even without mergers, it's likely that the number of Saturday afternoon west leagues will reduce naturally as the numbers of clubs continue to decrease. Last season ended with 92 clubs across four leagues (Caley, Central Scottish, Scottish AFL & Greater Glasgow). Now, there are just 76 clubs between Caley, Scottish Premier and Greater Glasgow. Go back ten years and there were 228 clubs across seven leagues (Caley, Central Scottish, Scottish AFL, Greater Glasgow, Paisley & District, North & South Lanarkshire, West of Scotland). The number in the Saturday morning leagues haven't actually increased in those ten years either (they've actually decreased just at a far smaller rate than the Saturday afternoon leagues). Add to that the Stirling & District which as gone from 45 to just 10 clubs. There's also plenty of Stirling/Falkirk area clubs in the Caley now. Stirling & District only just surviving so far. I got the numbers from years ago from HibeeJibee's old post but it's a useful way of measuring the ongoing decline.
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Seven now. 93rd minute goal.
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Keith 0 v 0 Brechin at half-time.
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New clubs in the East of Scotland
stanley replied to Moses McNeil's topic in East of Scotland Football League
What is the general stance from the EoS on accepting reserve sides? I know Stirling Uni are in it but they have been for years and were accepted when numbers were much lower. I'm sure other reserve sides have been rejected since then? -
New clubs in the East of Scotland
stanley replied to Moses McNeil's topic in East of Scotland Football League
There's a couple of good threads in the amateur football section on here about it. Numbers or teams have gone from 800+ ten years ago to 400+ now. I'm not really best placed to comment on the reasons. Certainly fewer people playing in general but various other factors. -
New clubs in the East of Scotland
stanley replied to Moses McNeil's topic in East of Scotland Football League
Things are, at least, pretty straightforward in the east. Plenty of spaces in the league if any club wants to join (unlike the closed shop in the west). A regionalised set of amateur leagues below for clubs to apply from (LEAFA, Kingdom of Fife, Borders, Stirlingshire) unlike the west (three Saturday afternoon leagues, Ayrshire league, Saturday morning leagues etc). The only complicated aspect is the Stirlingshire clubs being in various leagues. I would imagine that, over time, the amateur leagues will continue to shrink. Eventually, perhaps the remaining clubs will join up with the seniors. The LEAFA, in particular, has declined massively in numbers in recent years. The Stirlingshire league is clinging on and unlikely to still be around in a few years as it has lost most of its clubs to the west leagues. -
Hard to see the S&D still existing in a few years based on current numbers. They even have a Fife club in the league now. So many clubs based in their area now play in the Caley. Merger with the SP seems a bit strange but I guess both leagues are desperate for new clubs.
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You'd think they might know the name of the league they are joining.
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19 teams left in the league. 5 in the Premier (Castlemilk, Oban Saints, Arthurlie, Harestanes and Neilston). Just seven clubs left in the league from the old Central Scottish. What was a merger with the Scottish AFL is basically turning into a merger with the Caley...
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Yes. Also important that they are both guaranteed to finish in the bottom two (as between 0 and 2 will get relegated).
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First Refusal: the EOS First Division 2023-24
stanley replied to HibeeJibee's topic in East of Scotland Football League
It'll just be the way the tables on the website are set up.