cmontheloknow
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Posts posted by cmontheloknow
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My local amateur team, Lochgilphead Red Star, resigned from the Scottish Premier AFA a few weeks back. I haven't spoken directly to anyone involved about it, but I understand from speaking to people around and about that it boiled down to the two main threats to a club's existence - people to run the club after those that had been doing so took a step back, and people to turn up to play, especially following the loss of some players over the summer.
There was also the issue of Red Star going from the weak SAFL where they were strong to the top division of the new set-up and finding themselves losing heavily a few times in the opening games. That led to occasions where a team could not be raised. All of the above compiled led to the decision to fold for 2023-24.
Tarbert had taken time out from the SAFL a few years back and tried to come back last season without luck. They switched to the Greater Glasgow set-up and seem to be doing ok for now.
I understand Red Star will return, but where?
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Prayers answered and a text version was provided:
Johnstone Burgh can today confirm that the club has been taken over by a recently formed consortium, led by investors involved mainly in the healthcare and engineering sectors, both of whom have a love of the game, and family ties to the local area and to the club.Prior to the takeover, there was already a core of outstanding people working tirelessly within the club, some of whom have been involved for over 20yrs. Some recent additions to the committee have brought new energy and ideas, and helped to ensure the club has kept its head above water in recent years.We hope the new investment will allow some of the dreams of long'standing members of the committee, and of the supporters, to be realised.The intention is to build a sustainable community club, which can rise through the football pyramid as quickly and efficiently as possible, into professional football.As part of the drive towards sustainability and progress, the consortium intends to purchase the stadium, redevelop the club-house and stand, along with the installation of state-of-the-art astroturf facilities. Talks have been ongoing in the background for several months now, with a focus on how, and indeed if, the current site can be developed, an issue on which we hope to update soon.This will allow us to start the process of gaining our SFA licence, to run concurrently with the upcoming seasons, allowing us to be prepared as we try to step up each stage of the pyramid.In addition to the purchase of the stadium, there will be investment into the youth set up within the club.The club developed and has run a community club over the past 4-5yrs, with the focus on getting more kids in the area playing football. Presently, we have over 200 children playing, but unfortunately, due to the lack of local facilities, we have had to put the brakes on further growth until we can get access to, or build more, facilities that are usable all year round.As part of our overarching plan to develop the best, local talent, we intend to create an academy that feeds into the development and thereafter first team squad.To achieve this goal, the aim is to have all coaches within the academy holding a minimum of UEFA C coaching licence, with our academy teams working in conjunction with our community clubs to provide everyone in the local area the opportunity to play and enjoy football.The recent signings of Kyle Lafferty and Graham Dorrans have been real coups, and have accomplished the goal of raising the profile of the club. We hope that the additional media coverage which included Sky Sports visiting the club, will bring increased interest in Johnstone Burgh and an increase in crowds with more local people becoming involved in the day-to-day running of the club. This was stage 1 of the project when we first got together and developed a strategy for moving forward.Much has been said about the money involved in bringing these players in, all of it being untrue and coming from individuals with no knowledge of the facts or processes or circumstances involved.These players will give the club a platform to progress quickly and professionally while passing onto the younger players, coaching staff, development team and community club their vast experience of playing at the highest level.People may choose to look at this as overkill for our current level; however we are looking at it as the foundation of the project. Quick progress, allowing us to build a squad, capable of challenging as the club tries to progress through the leagues, is our target. People who know about football at our level will know we have also signed the best young players available. With their huge collective potential still to be realised, and continuing to develop this alongside more established and experienced players in the prime of their career, we will not require wholesale changes each season as we progress, as we have seen other ambitious clubs do.Johnstone Burgh is and always will be a club for all members of the community regardless of age, race, religion or gender.If people want to use previous clubs of our marquee signings as reason to stay away from the club then unfortunately that’s up to them.These were the players that were identified who were available and we negotiated with and struck deals with.They have over 100 international caps between them and played at the highest level in both England and Scotland and abroad, you cannot put a price on that experience.We intend to bring the glory years back to club and give the town a successful club to be proud of which it has sorely missed for many years.The negativity we have received, and the lies posted on social media - based on gossip, only makes us more determined to build this club to be a proper community club where everyone is welcome, regardless of what other colours they may wear or may have worn.We will also continue with the fantastic charity work the club has been involved in, in recent years, partnering up with the local foodbank, arranging Easter, Christmas and fun days for the local kids, creating a boot swap for the kids in our community club teams meaning less pressure on parents to fork out large sums of money and most recently our mental health group that will be up and running very soon.Should anyone like any further information on future plans then feel free to contact the club directly and we will be more than happy to answer any questions.0 -
Is the draw being streamed?
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They might be giants... but we are Scotland.
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On 24/05/2023 at 16:49, Spyro said:
I think the main problem with Pollok was the Entry/Exit situation. There’s only 2 wee holes in the wall for the turnstiles at the opposite end of the ground from the main terracing with little space to move behind the goals towards said exit… so in an emergency, it’s going to be a bit tight. I do agree that 900 is a bit low but I can see why after seeing the ground with 700odd inside
Has nothing to do with that.
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3 hours ago, Jamie92 said:
Edusport have taken over a club in the Maltese pyramid structure instead of their team in the south, Swieqi United now known as Swieqi Braves in the 2nd tier after winning the 3rd tier league this season.
Less outsiders now, more community focused for south clubs. Clubs don’t have the money that gets chucked around the West.
I have no idea if this is parody. That is where we are in Scottish football
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where are Le CB Edusport playing in 23-24 or has the French Connection hit the buffers?
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Main signed for Lok
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17 minutes ago, lithgierose said:
IMO if a club like yours spends money and jumps through the hoops put Infront of you. To gain a licence, "ground improvements etc " to meet these requirements should earn a vote ?.
Not sure current rules but new members often have to wait a few years for voting rights.
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https://www.pollokfc.com/2023/05/27/club-statement-on-proposed-conference-league/
Having now received full details of the SFA’s plans for a new “Conference League” at Tier 5 of the Scottish football pyramid, Pollok FC wish to make it clear that we are totally opposed to this proposal. Whilst we accept the intent to improve the development pathway for footballers is sincere, this proposal is not the solution.
We believe that this proposal would be to the detriment of the vast majority of the remaining 200+ clubs in the football pyramid and at the same time is highly unlikely to achieve its stated aims.
The main purpose of a football pyramid system is to allow its member clubs, through promotions and relegations, to progress towards a level at which they are competing more or less equitably, and this proposal completely undermines the integrity of that structure.
In recent years a significant number of non-SPFL clubs, including Pollok FC, have shown their commitment to the pyramid philosophy by pursuing and acquiring a SFA club licence. To do so they have developed and improved the facilities at their grounds, trained staff and implemented policies required to show that they are ready. This has taken a huge amount of work, mostly by unpaid volunteers, and has also cost considerable sums of money. To then have another League hurdle imposed is needlessly insensitive to those efforts.
We are more than ready, should we earn promotion, to move up from our current Tier 6 to compete at Tier 5 for another promotion to Tier 4 and League 2 of the SPFL, continuing to develop and improve our infrastructure as necessary along the way.
The proposal would place four Lowland League and two Highland League teams in the new Conference League, the criteria for this selection has not been specified, alongside four B teams. This is not an attractive proposition for the six “competing” teams who would receive £40,000 compensation for having to play almost half of their matches against ‘B’ teams of youngsters along with increased travel and fewer competitive rivalries. Also, depending on what positions the ‘B’ teams who cannot be promoted or relegated finish in at the end of the season, a non-B team in 5th place could find themselves in either a promotion or a relegation play-off. It is entirely possible that after a couple of seasons were the two Highland League teams to be relegated, this Conference League would look like the present Lowland League but with fewer teams.
Recently Aberdeen FC have said that they are not going to put a B team into this League and Rangers manager Michael Beale has said, “I don’t think the Lowland League is a good bridge, so we need to look at other games,” and yet the Conference League would look just like the Lowland League but smaller. Unless there is a hidden agenda, which may not be that well-hidden when the office bearers for the company behind this new League are taken into consideration, then on the face of it this proposal is without merit.
It is overtly the only option that does not require a vote that would be against the self-interests of the majority of SFA member clubs eligible to vote at the AGM on the 6th June. Because it is the only option is not good enough reason for it to become a reality.
Pollok FC is wholly opposed to the formation of this Conference League and although, as a recently licensed SFA member, we are not ourselves able to vote at the SFA AGM, we would urge as many other voting clubs as possible to reject the proposal.
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I would have thought Stranraer's SoS side to be fairly stable. They use a separate squad of players and unlike the 1st team, use local players - all of whom are amateurs. Especially using Stranraer Academy's facilities rather than Strair Park, I would imagine the costs are no more a challenge than for Wigtown to play.
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30 grand a week for years to keep this quiet (and even then it was an open secret).
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To the part-time SPFL clubs: you grasping leeches. Engage with your community and fundraise, attract sponsors. Do what the 200 clubs below have to do. If we can do it, so can you, you cancerous bulge suffocating our game.
Elsewhere I see Celtic B's Corr has made the first step towards international honours by signing for Raith Rovers
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To the Johnstone fans... you have taken a key player from us, with two years on his contract, paid a fee and made an offer too good to refuse when he was already in receipt of an offer from us that was very good... how is this sustainable on the limited means of clubs in our set-up?
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you will get what you want on Soccerway but not sure about filter
https://uk.soccerway.com/national/scotland/play-offs-23/20212022/s20160/final-stages/
change year in top right
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they were also very loyal to last season's side, a good number of whom were there a good while already.
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17 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:
Can someone in the know please post the actual votes for and against.
Good cnuts (x) Boaby suckers (y)
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Sadly not Beith:
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When the score is spelled out, you know it's bad.
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2 hours ago, Casey Jones said:
Think the reason was purely down to travel/time issues. Am sure Charlie stays in/near Perth and maybe could not commit any longer to travelling to Edinburgh three times a week. So, when the Scone position became available - much closer to home.
aye I assumed there was a Perth connection somewhere - I know he was with St Johnstone when he was younger but didn't know if that was a maintained connection. He and his brother have Edinburgh links and his brother ex Mussey yeah?
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What's the script with Charlie King quitting Tynecastle on 14th March (immediately replaced by assistant Robert Hart) and popping up at Scone Thistle a week later?
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Caley Braves vs Berwick a few seasons back.
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Do you make your own music?
in The Music Forum
Posted
My band are going to be releasing our first EP this next month or two. This is one of the tracks off it.