Robert James

29th March : Thurso 2 Golspie Sutherland 0 Thurso off the bottom of the NCL.

9th April venue ?Are you having a laugh ?.

We already know about one new club in the EoSL next season - Vale of Leithen relegated from the Lowland League. Regarding the HFL/LFL champions play-off, Fraserburgh, Buckie & Brechin is "too close to call", whilst Bonnyrigg can watch with interest to see which club they will face. .Interesting.

The new floodlights will show you the way !

And will the refurbished Meadowbank Stadium be ready for the start of the 2022/23 season ?

Yes Duns are the obvious choice for an additional border club in the EoSL., Outsiders could be Selkirk Vics who have strengthened in recent years, and could be looking to fill the void left when Selkirk FC folded. Interestingly Eyemouth United are not competing in the Border League this season, but there is an amateur club : Eyemouth United Amateurs FC ,who are keeping football alive in the town (as a possible successor/phoenix club ?).

Thurso docked 3 points following win over Nairn Co: ineligible player apparently (?)

Good news for me as no more hay fever in April

Important 3 points tonight but not the best match. Playoffs still on though.

Culter or Bridge of Don appear to be progressive clubs. Assuming Banks O'Dee win promotion this season, there needs to be some licensed clubs for 2023/24 ?

Progress at last - good news. 2025/26 is a long way off though. which is disappointing

I agree. What some posters seem to ignore, is that the pyramid is supposed to incorporate all regions of Scotland. Ask the the leading North clubs in the North Region if they want to play clubs in the north highlands and islands on a league basis, The answer is no ! The NCL is a competitive league as is demonstrated by the current league table. It presents no 'threat' to the promotion of clubs like Banks O'Dee, Culter, etc , unless of course an NCL club (when licensed) defeats them in the HFL play-off. It does however provide pyramid football for Highlands, Islands & Moray clubs if/when they are relegated from the HFL. Similarly, I can't see many/any South of Scotland League clubs defeating WoSL or EoSL clubs in the immediate pyramid play-offs, but (like the NCL) it still operates as a genuine senior league.

SFA licence in 2022, or later ?

If you read my original post about "Skye United", i suggested that whilst the Isle would be capable (IMO) of entering a team in the NCL, although it was unlikely in the foreseeable future. I did encourage Skye footballers to enter a club in one of the NCL cup competitions. None of my posts have ever referred to Ness or Pont !!!. By all means, disagree with my opinions, but don't attribute my opinions to being facts. And by the way, it was me who first posted on this forum, that Loch Ness, Nairn U23's, Alness, & Scourie, were joining the NCL. If you check back, you will see it was an information post. And don't put me in the same category as "The Lurker", who has regularly presented his views as facts, on this and other P&B forums, and then changed his mind when they are proved to be incorrect.

Thanks Asim. Yes I agree, and will watch future developments with interest.

Wake up son. If you check back, you will see that I was the first person to advise P&B about 4 clubs joining in 20/21, and about 2 other clubs making an enquiry about joining for 2020/21. If Skye footballers could unite, they should enter a winter team in a North Caley cup competition. It would provide an outlet for younger/developing players to further their experience, without any on-going commitment. Sadly, this is probably unlikely at present. I also highlighted the likelihood that Lewis & Harris would (re)enter an NCL cup this season. They did.

The SFA updated the list of licensed clubs, as at August 2021. However, Banks O'Dee and Golpie Sutherland were still listed under the "Other Clubs", whereas they are now in the North Regional 'Junior' and the North Caley Leagues, both pyramid clubs at Tier 6. As we are now in December, can any one give an update on their own club's progress in applying for a licence in 2022 ? For example : * Armadale Thistle * St Andrews United * Hill of Beath Hawthorn * Irvine Meadow * Lochee United * Tweedmouth Rangers and possibly Creetown ? What is the deadline for submitting an application for 2022 ?

Yes, Skye could enter a club into the North Caley League, but it would be more likely that they would enter 1 or 2 of the NCL cup competitions first, as a way of testing the water. Lewis & Harris have done so in recent seasons, but won't consider joining the league whilst covid flourishes. More likely new NCL applicants would be Nairn St Ninian (struggling in the North Region league), Clachnacuddin Reserves/Under 23's, a (unified) a Black Isle FC, Buniliddh Thistle (rejoining),, Muir of Ord, and/or Ullapool (possibly within the next 2-3 seasons)? Watch this space.

Thanks for asking a serious question. What is the official reason for the delay at Lesser, and have the Spiders issued any recent statements about it ?

0-13 tonight. Will VOL be able to complete the season, or will they fold ?

Early in 2021, two clubs made enquiries about joining the NCL for 2021/22, but didn't submit applications (probably decided not to apply because of the ongoing Covid situation). They may apply for entry next season, if the situation becomes more stable becomes ? In addition, Fort William face potential relegation to the NCL, and Bunillidh may decide to re-activate their league membership. However, I consider that it would be unlikely for the NCL to accept more than 14 clubs in a single division, because of weather and fixture problems, and I think it's unlikely that the league would split into two small divisions again. As an aside, I notice that Lewis & Harris have entered the NCL's 2021/22 Football Times Cup after a few year's absence, although they are very unlikely to join the league in the future.....unless there is a serious benefactor/sponsor, out there somewhere ?

Hawick RA Utd 0 Golspie Sutherland 2

- apologies for my typo error above

Yes disappointing that Scourie FC has withdrawn from the NCL. However today's opening results suggest that the league will be very competitive this season, if today's results are anything to go by : Alness Utd 2 Invergordon 3 Golspie 3 Inverness Ath 3 Nairn " A" 3 St Duthus 2 Halkirk Utd 3 Thurso 0 Bonar Bridge, Loch Ness, and Orkney kick off their season next Saturday,