Mr.Albert

To all those elitists out there who think the juniors only revolves around a few teams think again, those of you who know Bill Robert and Alex and others know how much work they have put in over the years at times just to survive but as time goes on move the club forward to the heady heights of the Scottish Cup semi-final. To other smaller clubs take note what can be done by hard work and determination. Good Luck in the semi final and mind my ticket for the final.

The future of the junior game in my opinion is 1 Junior Football is not regarded to level it once was because of the football academys set up by the SPFL Clubs players who used to be loaned out to the Juniors are put through the academy system. Amateur teams are now attracting players who would have went to junior clubs, there is not the same regard for Junior Football as there used to be. 2 The profile of junior football is at an all time low through lack of interest we struggle to get a sponsor for our flagship competition which is one of the oldest cup in the world. It is stagnating through lack of investment, lack of leadership, the saying we have always done it this way is rife. 3 Most clubs have small committees of a certain age and there is no younger people coming through to replace them so there will be clubs but no people to run them. 4 Crowds are dwindling due to lack of interest early kick offs on the telly. 5 But there are positives that the Juniors can bring and can develop, Junior football is the peoples game, best value for money, for a tenner you can get in to watch the game, pie and a Bovril, watch good honest guys giving the best they can, and also the people you meet home and away at the game. There are clubs who have got forward thinking guys on their committees who the SJFA should be approaching for ideas and help to promote and move the game forward, clubs like Gartcairn, Wishaw, St. Rochs, St Anthonys and I sure there are more who if you look at there Facebook, websites, Twitter are always coming up with ideas be it for sponsorship or using social media. These clubs are also investing in the community also getting back to were the juniors started from. We need investment, leadership, open conversation on how the juniors move forward, leave your egos at the door and bring the game into the 21st Century.