Dreghorn

I have now completed the History of Dreghorn Juniors which will be published as a pdf at the end of this month. Anyone wanting a copy please send me an email at the following address ginnesfamily@aol.com There will be no charge.

I believe Cove Rangers will gain promotion to the SFL this season at the expense of Berwick Rangers who will drop down to the Lowland League. In that scenario am I right in thinking that only the winners of the EOSFL and SOSFL play off will be promoted with no room for any other applicants such as Linlithgow Rose?

In the 2010 final at Rugby Park, Largs fans outnumbered Linlithgow fans. They will bring a decent support for this one.

It’s not that long ago that Hurlford Utd we’re bottom of the Ayrshire leagues with no points and a goal difference like FortWilliams. It’s the possibility that your day will come that keeps these clubs going.

Don’t get to see Rose match these days but this was a disappointing performance. Rose appeared to be suffering from playing a match poorer standard of team this season than Beith are. They outplayed us in every department. First half was very close and if Rose had taken their chances it could have been tied at half time. However after the keeper selling a second goal and Thom being sent off for dissent the game was beyond us. we still have not faced up to the issue we have had for over 5 years, lack of midfield physicality. Lots of clever footballers but no one to will the ball dominate that area. TC is not at his best without another striker who can hold the ball up and play him in. At full back we are extremely weak. However we should keep faith with MB who remains the best around. Time to rebuild. If I am out of line with these comments I apologise to all my friends at the club who went out their way to greet me yesterday. At least that made my day out worthwhile. Thanks folks. I will be back as will the Rose.

The Rose have drawn the poorest side in the senior game in the first round of the Scottish. The Fort are on the verge of packing it in this season. Losing 7 is a good result. i would not be surprised if they withdraw from the competition. Pity cause they have a very good social club which can have 200 in it on a Saturday afternoon. unfortunately they are still there at 10 past 3!

If these divisions go ahead there will be a mass exodus to EoSL at the end of the season!

The picture dates from the late 50s when Dreghorn played in white. in the early 60s they changed to yellow and black. It was taken at their home ground at Fordside Park on the banks of the River Irvine beside Holmsford Bridge. The ground is now partly beneath the bypass. i am putting together a short history of the club for those interested.

Looks like the writing is on the wall for WoS junior football reading between TJ’s lines. To say he did not see the EastbJuniors’ defection coming is the understatement of the football century. Now that the exodus has started there is no way back. However why can’t the LL be abolished and replaced by a Western League and an Eastern League each of 4 divisions and an enlarged Highland League taking in the Highland and Tayside Juniors. Alternatively allow for at least 4 clubs to gain promotion to the LL, one from each region and a playoff among the runners up.

This will be a transitional season only with next year’s leagues based on this year’s positions. Chances are that Bo’ness and the 2 Roses will be in top section next season. League Cup and othe cups may also pair the top junior cups together. At least Forfar and Broughty are off the travel plans.

The new set up sets a level playing field and a chance for all clubs to qualify for the premier division in season 19/20. That will be a tough league to get out of and into the Lowlands League.

English non league clubs play over 40 league fixtures, 2 national cup competitions and 2 or 3 local cups. How? Floodlights compulsory, full fixture lists and efficient administrators. Motivation comes through a proper pyramid system allowing clubs with ambition to progress, while all can still compete in a trophy leading to a final at Wembley.

If enough clubs from the west joined the Lowland League a separate division for the west would be created. Sign up guys or be left behind with the dinosaurs!

They can’t all fit into the Eof S league without creating another lower division. Existing clubs will have priority over incoming sides. If only 2 clubs are promoted at the end on next season and subsequently it may take some time for clubs to make progress upwards towards the Lowlands League. My concern is that this will be in the hands of the SFA or worse still involve the sjfa May have input! Any new system will not be introduced unreliable 2019. Leaves a question as to what happens to the clubs who have applied this year.

The Simple fact is that the East Seniors are getting stronger and the Juniors in general are now weaker. This will continue with a steady trickle of juniors moving “up”. As a junior fan all of my life I regret what has happened but see a properly organised pyramid system as the only way forward. It will only take one or two of the larger clubs eg Bo’ness or Bonnyrigg to jump and what then is left of the East Superleague for the 2 or 3 clubs which are left capable of winning it. Alas the committees will continue to oppose it in 90% of Junior clubs most of which will either be defunct or simply running youth sides. Even the so called Holy Grail competition can’t attract 1000 fans for its Semi Finals, even though the best competition in Scottish Football.

Could the working party on league reconstruction allow fans their say by publishing contact details?

Poity could you email anything you have on Dreghorn Juniors to me at Ginnesfamily@aol.com? cheers

Junior football has done well to survive in an age where ther are so many alternatives. It us comprised of diehards who will attend each week together with some who will attend the big matches and a few others each season. We are all aware that the best clubs outside the SFL are in the top divisions of the East, West Junior and the Highland League. The Lowland League is not there yet but will get there as more and more junior clubs take the jump. But what are they joining and why? The only real reason is to gain admission by this route to the SFL and the chance of playing Berwick Rangers or Brechin City 4 times a season. Most of these aspiring club owners also see their name in lights with their results appearing on BBC Sport. Financially there is little to be gained. Poor crowds, more expense and dull unattractive fixtures await them. For those that remain junior their is still a very good well supported product to sell. It just has to be packaged better. This includes full season fixture lists. If English non league clubs can arrange these for leagues comprising 24 clubs, therefore 46 games per season plus involvement in the FA Cup, FA Vase and local trophies why can't the Juniors do the same at least in the top divisions of each region. These English Leagues are also completed by the end of April! The major factor preventing this here is the absence of ground improvements, especially to the state of our pitches and the absence of floodlights. This means that Scottish Cup ties and replays are frequently postponed causing cancellation of league games and leaving some teams with a backlog of 9 or 10 fixtures to make up which, without floodlights, cannot take place until mid April. To progress therefore we have to build our leagues with promotions not only depending on league performance but also on clubs meeting specified ground criteria, such as the provision of floodlights. Once specified clubs should be given a reasonable time to bring their facilities up to scratch, perhaps 3 years. It is possible and many clubs already recognise the importance of better facilities enabling the community to become involved in both participating and help raise the necessary funding.

Fantastic junior cup tie brilliantly filmed! recommend watching it but why was the linesman taking part in the Penicuik celebrations after their 3rd goal?

I am researching this former club's history. If anyone has any connections with the club or can remember its playing days could they please post here. I do of course know about the Scottish historical archive. Any pics would be most welcome.