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They will be disappointed with drawing the game after being in a winning position against this diddy club - but nevertheless it is a decent result for St. Johnstone.

This may be of interest. As part of my prep for the piece I'm writing, I asked a couple of questions to representatives from senior & junior clubs as well as the Lowland. I'm sharing the full Q&As before the article comes out Sunday/Monday, so that people can refer to them without my editing clouding any judgments. Full Q&As - Thanks to all that gave me their time and answers.

Only one derby, and it's not this shite. Thank you.

Theres an absolute delicious irony in the Rangers fans in the Ormond screeching for a handball every time the ball went near a Saints player above knee height, before going absolutely mental celebrating a last minute winner, ruled out for handball. And you can absolutely fucking bet I made sure they knew.

Lot of people making a lot of assumptions about how things got here, without actually having been involved, then trying to be smart advising other people against making assumptions. [emoji6] The irony made me smile. On a serious note though, again, your argument cuts both ways. Some clubs prepared for this being the last season of conferences, based on the information available at the start of the season, then fot whatever reason the vote was delayed and now the eventuality they prepared for hasn't come to pass. You'd be arguing the same thing had those clubs who hadn't prepared for this being the last season of conferences found themselves at Tier 8 because 1 club voted a different way (that's how close the vote was). It's an argument that can't lose, because it's true for one side in perpetuity, so not a particularly valid one. Anyway, no one is complaining about the result of the vote. It's not what we wanted personally and we had prepared for a different outcome, but as G4Mac says that's democracy and the process followed is the right one, with the clubs deciding. That's something that has been a hugely refreshing change for us, which we've said before on many occasions. The learning from this is simply that the vote was too late, it should have happened pre season last year. I think we could all concede that had it happened in the summer, we'd be looking at a different outcome. But as I said initially, it's impossible to be critical of anyone at the EoS given how they've dealt with everything that's been thrown at them the last 2 years, so let's just get on with it with an acknowledgement somewhere to say from now on all structural votes happen in the off season, not mid season, to avoid confusion anywhere. Can you imagine the SJFA having to deal with the levels of change the EoS has the last 2 (now looking like 3) years? I think we can all acknowledge the guys running the show have done a brilliant job, but that doesn't mean people can't politely say "think we got the timing of this one wrong", so we can learn from it, otherwise we're into despotism/dictatorship and that's what we all left 2 years ago! [emoji846]

oh yeah stevie fecking may,get it rite ul you bennet and kincardine you couple of mutants

Would just like to point out now that the IIFHS - the well-respected International Institute of Football Historians and Statisticians - recently came out with their annual ranking of football leagues. They placed the Scottish Premiership in 12th best in the World. According to UEFA, the Scottish Premiership this season is the 6th best league in Europe. Our national side is two very winnable matches away from qualifying for a major tournament. Our crowds are the highest in Europe, we have the most full-time clubs per capita in Europe, currently at 22-25 depending on definitions. In England, that number is around 100-105. We have seen clubs open up new facilities at all levels of the game. Maybe we need to be a bit more positive about the game as it is so far. Rather than get annoyed at Elgin or Albion Rovers or Annan because they play football nationwide. Why are people so f*****g negative in this country? Rant over haha.

I’m not even angry. f**k Rangers.

Junior football, what is the future?Just reminding everyone what this thread is supposed to be about. Don't think there's an on topic post in at least the last three pages.

You are being far too simplistic though. It's utterly moronic to say that we should copy one aspect of the Welsh league system because their national team have had more recent success than ours when, as has already been pointed out, not one player who plays for the national team has ever played in the Welsh league, never mind the regional tiers. We're talking about the semi-professional / amateur game here. No footballing authority with a shred of intelligence thinks that the structure of it's semi-professional leagues is what the success of the national team hangs on. There are currently only five L1/2 clubs outwith the arc of central Scotland that goes from Dunbartonshire, through Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Central Scotland, Edinburgh, Fife and Angus. This is a relatively small geographical area. Certainly smaller than many of the areas covering regional leagues in other countries. Regionalising tiers 3 and 4 wouldn't cut down the travelling time and cost of a lot of these clubs because they're already staying within central Scotland for most away games. I think East Fife, for example, would actually travel further if they were in a regionalised tier 3 'North' compared to the current L1. The clubs who'd see significant travel reduction would really only be Peterhead, Elgin, Cove, Stranraer and Annan. Most Stranraer players are Glasgow based so let's take them out and assume the other four use primarily locally based players. Do you realise how utterly insane it sounds to say that saving Peterhead, Elgin City, Cove Rangers and Annan Athletic an average of around 5 long away journeys per year might lead to Scotland qualifying for a World Cup they otherwise wouldn't have gotten to? Yes, looking at what successful countries / people / organisations do and trying to emulate it is a good idea. But people who do that successfully need to evaluate what others do and put thought into how they can adapt that for themselves. What you're saying is the equivalent of saying "Well Donald Trump is rich and has an orange face. Coincidence? Maybe if I tan the f**k out of my face, I'd be rich too"

Did anyone explicitly say "2019/20 won't be the last season of conferences at Tier 7"? I can play that game too, but it's equally as shit an argument when I do it.[emoji846] This season was the first season of conferences at Tier 7. There had only been one season of conferences prior to that in EoS history (I believe) and that was the season before at Tier 6, those conferences used to create a 16 team Premier League and that was done, in my recollection, without the vote of the clubs to decide it? So, what's your point caller? Again, this was done the right way by asking the clubs, the learning is that the timing wasn't right, should have been decided one way or the other before the season started as no one knew if it was Premier/First/Second OR CONFERENCES till this week, with two thirds of the season done and clubs clearly having different expectations based on available info/previous precedent. And given we had an overwhelming vote in favour of premier/first/second but a vote lost by 1 to start next season it would be naive not to think that at least a couple of clubs will have voted for that structure and the timing deferred for a year based on their current league position who would have voted differently last summer (August/September/October) in the expectation that position would have been different than it is now. You can't expect any different given the timing and that's not a criticism of those clubs who may have voted that way at all it's a criticism of the timing. Surely that's a fair comment, no?

With such an influx of new clubs last season, it was correct to have the 3 conferences in order to establish a Premier division of the top clubs. For this season, conferences were agreed at tier 7 in fairness to further new clubs joining the league. You have to ask, though, what was the point of the conferences if it wasn't to establish the best teams to play in a first division? For next season we should really be looking at a Premier / First / Second set up, with any new clubs joining the Second division, which, depending on numbers, could have the option of being split north and south. Although clubs weren't told at the start of the season whether or not they were playing to establish a First division, surely that is the point of having conferences in the first place?

That’s not even a gif, you stupid, old jakey.

Gerrard must stay

I think that you’ll find that ICT have a valid reason for singing that. Rangers fans are only singing it because they’re losing.

I'm going to make a prediction for tomorrow's discussion... It was somehow your fault.

First point: the league's responsibility is only to the clubs, not to produce players for the national team. Second point: arguing that the national team is underachieving because Elgin play in the national divisions is madness.

It’s very silly that we keep have to talking about how closely linked sides with the same names are. If you want treated as independent sides then have different names. If you want treated as one club then you play under 1 banner and player transfers/suspensions/ registrations are treated the same as the reserve sides. The blurred lines being created here don’t help anyone.

Get it up every single one of the Perth True Blues and their glory hunting Following.

Mmm Kris boyd tears... delicious

Haddington is making good progress in getting their floodlights up in advance of this week's Licensing Board meeting that will review the applications received.

Wales, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Croatia, Costa Rica, Iceland All countries with the letter E or I in their name, or in some cases both. And all countries who have recently played at major tournaments. Certainly something the SFA should be looking at changing if we wish to emulate them.

No, I want want a structure that is there to suit the current members. You on the other hand are just here to troll and have no real idea what the issues are that clubs face. You're an immature Falkirk gobshite who gets kicks out of hanging round forums red dotting people randomly. One worth the watching for sure.

Agreed, if there’s any team to take points from it’s that shower of shite.

Stevie May was a very popular player at Pittodrie who gave his all, so I think most will be pleased that he’s back to scoring goals, just so long as it’s not against us.

O'Hara was given plenty of chances at Falkirk and was found wanting. Loaned to Stenhousemuir and found wanting. That he's scoring a few goals for Alloa changes nothing. Wasn't good enough for us. And as supporters don't decide the future of players, presumably that was also the opinion of paid professionals. Zero relevance to our current squad situation. Trying to link him emptying him to our having a tiny squad in the most crucial period of the season is bizarre.

The "sliding" bits on these photos are pretty cool, albeit depressing. https://onthisspot.ca/blog/glasgow

There's any number of reasons why folk couldn't spend a full day away or the expense of a long trip to Aberdeen. In fact, the same actually applies to any home or away game. Fair enough if you're in the position to do so, but it's really needlessly snide to have a dig at folk in that way.

Stevie G at getting a draw with St Johnstone.

Stop it [emoji85]

In dreadful weather conditions we played really well yesterday- particularly offensively. Morrison’s pace and energy gives defences trouble. Also thought Denholm puts in a lot of hard work - and Dowds led the line well. Our only worry is the silly goals we let in- stop that we don’t get beat. Higgy( who i really like) needs to take a leaf out of Dunlops book( since he made his mistake a few weeks back -he takes no chances at the back now- if in doubt put it out!) We need to keep winning ( or not losing) as others around us are playing well also

The facilities you will encounter at tier 6 in the EoS Real gold fittings. Out the cold tap comes milk, and out hot tap honey. No word on the bidet.

I want to thank fauldhouse utd for taking the chance on me being their manager and supporting me in my 3 years in charge (exactly 3yrs to the day) Derek will confirm my decision wasnt based on what was happening next season. I want to thank Derek for stepping in to resolve a few things last few days and his support to me since day 1. After a few days I dont feel its appropriate I go into details of exactly what happened. I want to wish fauldhouse utd every success going forward anyone close to me knows I mean that the club was my everything everyday for the last few years and some will say probably to a fault where I couldn't switch off. Raw emotions are still of disappointment and frustration but my overall time at the club was enjoyable and worked with great people from my management team to players committee guys and girls also the fans. A couple of tweaks away from the playing side fauldhouse utd have the potential of being a big club. I'll be looking on supporting the boys the rest of the season. For me now personally I'll look at offers (if any) and see what's best for me either in management or goalkeeping coach. At the moment it's still surreal I wont be at fauldhouse utd but it's a decision I had to make in the light of a few issues but I'll leave it at that and thank everyone for the support

Don't be silly, who is to say Blackburn wouldn't have come back to earn a draw or win? The game will be replayed and it's not really up for debate. Our last abandoned game was about 10 years ago when up at Fauldhouse we were leading 2-0 with about 10 mins remaining when a Hoose player suffered a bad leg break. Took the ambulance so long the referee had no choice but to abandon the game. The game was correctly replayed and we lost. That's fitba.

No, the question is Junior football, what is the future?

Good to get opinions but opinions need to be challenged. The Ants position for example ignores that the EoS/LL will not sanction the SJFA in the pyramid therefore it is not a 'simple but strong solution'. It is a deal-breaking failure.

The local team thing is wrong. The rule should be "don't be a glory hunter". You can grow up with a connection to a team through no fault of your own, but once you reach adult age you should be capable of reasoning why you support a certain team. If you continue to support the biggest teams in a country because the rest are pish then you're a certifiable simpleton.

Look at the way she guards that wall!!

Arbroath, off their own back, should have organised an inspection, for wind, 5 hours before the game?

As was I, the big man is up there with those guys, can't do more than dismantle the best about, that's him out boxed Wilder and Wlad, now he's skelped Wilder about like a toddler.

Actual information! [This is the kind of thing this thread is for.]

Pretty cute of @19QOS19and @JamesP_81to think that brownie points last beyond breakfast time...

It's not entirely off-topic, it is interesting and relevant - because ultimately this whole discussion is about the ongoing enhancement and structuring of the 'non-league' game in Scotland, and the effect it is already having on the leagues above. The 1960s is seen as something as a glory era for Scottish Football. We had world class players, yet the national team did not qualify for world cups. It is the next generation of players that came through and got us to consecutive tournaments in 78, 82, 86, 90. How to explain this? One possible answer is understand what the crop of players from 78-82 were doing in, say, 1967. Well, they were playing lots of football, inspired by their idols. I'm leaning on the principles behind studies in Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything which examines statistical quirks (eg a sudden drop in crime rate in New York) and seeks to attribute them to historical data / socio-economic circumstances / changes in law etc. In 1967 Kenny Dalglish and Joe Jordan were 16; Souness, 14; Hansen, 12; Leighton, 9; Willie Miller, 12; McLeish, 8; Strachan, 10 and so on. What was the environment like when they were growing up and loving football as kids? Inspiring, because of all the top players and great teams to look up to, plus all the success. BUT a key factor was the amount of hours they played as youngsters. There are various empirical studies that have been carried out to back this up. Another environmental factor: there were very few cars on the roads (<1m in ‘67, >3m in 2015) particularly in less affluent areas. This meant that the boys would be kicking a ball around day and night in the street, in the parks, wherever, with their pals. There was a football pitch in every street. They got their 10,000 hours practice* without even realising it before attaining 'genius' level by the time they served the country so well. They learned to improvise themselves, with their pals. Alan Hansen said he was never coached until he signed for Liverpool. *See Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers) and Mathew Syed (Bounce) for reference. Fast forward to 1989: Scotland u16s reached the World Cup final at Hampden, beating a Portugal side in the semi-final containing Luis Figo, Xavier and Paulo Santos. The Scottish players went on to enjoy professional careers and some gained full caps, but the senior national team has not been successful at all. There are other examples in more recent years such as the u21s at Toulon and there’s apparently a good crop of youngsters coming though now according to Eric Black - great. But what club environment can we expect them to thrive in when they become adults and make the transition? Why does our apparent success in youth football not translate into actual success at senior and international level? Well I think it is partly to do with the league structure, and it should change. And I think every club in Scotland has their part to play to help create the next world-class player. Most importantly for me, regionalising it at tier three will free up valuable quality time, and therefore money that can be channeled into more productive things, like training and playing. Time is the most valuable commodity: we need to provide the right platform for kids and elite youth players to dedicate the adequate amount of it to practice for that 10,000 hours. It tends to be structured now rather than organically occurring because there are many different competing priorities on people's time nowadays, and the street environment is not conducive to playing football. Increasing playing time and activity is where more of the focus and rewards for the non-professional clubs should be. By reducing the number of clubs in the professional game to 26? (12+14), you focus best v best at the elite level: GOOD. By regionalising the structure at Tier 3 you free up TIME for every single club and player, and change the focus from solely being a team your town supports, to a club that supports your town and the people in it. The balance shifts towards your club increasing participation, and away from the cut-throat nature of the 10 v10 league set up we currently have. To use that fabled trip to Elgin from the central belt - it has to be paid for by every club in time and in money. Lets say that is 12 hours per person, of which only 2 are spent playing football, plus warm up and cool down. 18 players + 5 coaching staff @£8 per hour ave(?) = £2208, plus the cost of transport, meals and possibly accommodation. Add in the money spent by supporters, and of course the carbon footprint : an expensive day, twice a season. Every club has a budget: a finite amount of money, it is scarce and valuable. That trip, be it to Stranraer, Brechin, Peterhead, Berwick, Annan etc from the opposite end of the country is disproportionately expensive for small clubs, and over the course of a season I just think the resources would be better utilised on the training ground, and cash invested in facilities instead. Money has been invested in facilities in Scotland over the past decade or so and the number of qualified coaches has increased - but this will only get us so far because other countries are doing exactly the same – see Holland / Iceland / Nordic region for example where the number of full size 3G pitches and quality indoor facilities per head of population is higher than ours . There are a lot of good things happening in Scotland, but we must improve the transition from successful youth structure (performance schools, pro-club academies etc) to senior football – we've not done it well enough over the last 20-30 years and the national team has suffered. I think converting T3 to regional would serve development of young players better than the current set-up: more time training, and more opportunities to play at a competitive level where the fear of relegation / financial pressure for promotion is less stark. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

I couldn’t give a f**k about Falkirk, it’s all about what we do

Yes, I'm sure the fact that Caersws and Tywyn Bryncrug play in a regional third tier rather than nationally is the reason that a national team containing precisely 0 players who have ever played in the Welsh league are qualifying for things.