Dev

Good News! https://twitter.com/BonnyriggRose/status/1296417618925060098

Good news! https://twitter.com/BonnyriggRose/status/1296417618925060098

Dunbar United aiming to put in their licence application form and fee by the end of August. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1987065764758318&id=186915844773328 Dunbar United F.C. is on Facebook. To connect with Dunbar United F.C., join Facebook today. Join or Log In Dunbar United F.C. is on Facebook. To connect with Dunbar United F.C., join Facebook today. Join or Log In Dunbar United F.C. 13 hrs · DUFC Supporters update. Greetings everyone. We start with a farewell to Ryan Kelly who parts ways with DUFC this week. Many thanks to Ryan for the hours, effort, enthusiasm and commitment he gave to the club. The Club Lottery - The basic life blood of club funds restarted, was drawn and won on Monday evening. Next Monday will see another lottery draw take place at Winterfield Golf Club. It’s not a closed door function - it’s your lottery come and take part if you have a spare hour between 4-5pm. New Countess Park. The Initiative on NCP maintenance by supporters and friends of DUFC continues. Lots of painting/tidying/repairing/weeding and general works have and continue to take place. The covered canopy now looks a lot more respectable and is complete and intact. The next big improvement you will notice is a fence along the car park end of the ground to screen the various containers and storage units that presently sit there. These containers hold equipment for the Hallhill grounds maintenance staff and for the Colts. The Car Park turnstile will soon have to be brought into a useable standard to meet SFA criteria - so we will need help to upgrade and clean out that building. SFA Licence Project: The main stages of the project are : Assessment Application Implementation 1 - Current State Assessment An assessment of the current state versus the relevant sections of SFA LICENCE criteria has taken place - and the although the task is still a challenge - it’s more than achievable. Minor internal building works regarding changing rooms/first aid rooms/ shower facilities are being costed and fundraising activity is underway. Additional areas that are being appraised include the floodlights, disabled spectator access and viewing area, additional toilets an various club documentation and policies, club structure, safety certification and a complete audit trail. 2 - Application Making the initial application to the SFA. This simply initiates the process. Several years can elapse between application and the licence being granted. The club are committed to getting this sent away as soon as they are able to. 3 - Implementation This is the actual physical part of implementing the changes and completing necessary works to achieve the various criteria. WHERE WE ARE JUST NOW :- The initial application only requires 4 simple components which the club is gathering together with haste; A) Club Constitution (copy of) B) Club Accounts for past 3 years C) A very simple letter stating our desire to become a Licence holder within the SFA D) A cheque ( £2K) to pay the SFA lodgement fee. The Steering Group are targeting W/C 24 August to dispatch the application. This will be a major step in the future plans of DUFC. We will update you on the progress next week.

It's a tough situation for any politician, north or south of the border, isn't it? However, if it's OK for pubs in Aberdeen AND elsewhere to be packed out with folk surely the small turn-outs in football below SPFL can be managed, including Scottish Cup ties? Apparently not though!

Looks like it.

News of some progress from south of the Border: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53817206 BBC Sport 18th August, 2020 By Laura Scott Fans will be allowed to attend football in the seventh tier and below, after the government updated its guidance on recreational team sport events. Clubs in the leagues below National League North and South will be able to open their gates to spectators for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. The decision means a distinction has been drawn between the return of fans to recreational sport and elite sport, where pilots are required before an intended expansion from 1 October. It comes after more than 30 MPs wrote to sports minister Nigel Huddleston calling for the "urgent return of fans to non-league clubs". The letter, which was coordinated by former sports minister Tracey Crouch and Dame Cheryl Gillan, warned that clubs "at the heart of our constituencies" could be "lost forever" if an exemption is not granted. BBC Sport can reveal that the government's return to recreational team sport framework was updated on Tuesday afternoon to draw up protocols for allowing spectators in. Fans will need to abide by social distancing rules, and spectator groups must be restricted to "discrete six-person gathering limits". Meanwhile, organisers of events that are likely to attract a crowd will need to put forward a "named person or persons with responsibility for ensuring adherence with these guidelines and ensuring the facility is Covid-19 secure". They would also need to publish a risk assessment limiting the number of spectators, and assist with the NHS Test and Trace scheme by collecting information from spectators. The MPs who signed the letter had said that non-league clubs "tend to be supported by those within the town itself" and that average crowds are "in the hundreds". BBC Sport understands that the Football Association defines elite football as being everything from the Premier League down to National League North and South, which explains why the new rules apply to step three and below. A campaign using the slogan "#LetFansIn" has gained significant traction among non-league clubs in recent days, while two petitions supporting the cause have received more than 6,000 signatures. Crouch posted on Twitter: "Football has many wonderful layers but non-league is often at its heart and soul. With fewer fans it's easier to make clubs Covid secure but without them coming back soon their future is shaky so we've written to Sports Minister calling for non-league clubs to #LetFansIn." She later told the BBC that not allowing fans to attend non-league football "makes no sense". An FA spokesperson said: "We continue to follow government advice with regards to the return of spectators and are working continuously with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, DCMS and Leagues to seek approval for a safe return as soon as feasibly possible." Top of Form

News of some progress from south of the Border: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53817206 BBC Sport 18th August, 2020 By Laura Scott Fans will be allowed to attend football in the seventh tier and below, after the government updated its guidance on recreational team sport events. Clubs in the leagues below National League North and South will be able to open their gates to spectators for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. The decision means a distinction has been drawn between the return of fans to recreational sport and elite sport, where pilots are required before an intended expansion from 1 October. It comes after more than 30 MPs wrote to sports minister Nigel Huddleston calling for the "urgent return of fans to non-league clubs". The letter, which was coordinated by former sports minister Tracey Crouch and Dame Cheryl Gillan, warned that clubs "at the heart of our constituencies" could be "lost forever" if an exemption is not granted. BBC Sport can reveal that the government's return to recreational team sport framework was updated on Tuesday afternoon to draw up protocols for allowing spectators in. Fans will need to abide by social distancing rules, and spectator groups must be restricted to "discrete six-person gathering limits". Meanwhile, organisers of events that are likely to attract a crowd will need to put forward a "named person or persons with responsibility for ensuring adherence with these guidelines and ensuring the facility is Covid-19 secure". They would also need to publish a risk assessment limiting the number of spectators, and assist with the NHS Test and Trace scheme by collecting information from spectators. The MPs who signed the letter had said that non-league clubs "tend to be supported by those within the town itself" and that average crowds are "in the hundreds". BBC Sport understands that the Football Association defines elite football as being everything from the Premier League down to National League North and South, which explains why the new rules apply to step three and below. A campaign using the slogan "#LetFansIn" has gained significant traction among non-league clubs in recent days, while two petitions supporting the cause have received more than 6,000 signatures. Crouch posted on Twitter: "Football has many wonderful layers but non-league is often at its heart and soul. With fewer fans it's easier to make clubs Covid secure but without them coming back soon their future is shaky so we've written to Sports Minister calling for non-league clubs to #LetFansIn." She later told the BBC that not allowing fans to attend non-league football "makes no sense". An FA spokesperson said: "We continue to follow government advice with regards to the return of spectators and are working continuously with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, DCMS and Leagues to seek approval for a safe return as soon as feasibly possible." Top of Form

News of some progress from south of the Border: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53817206 BBC Sport 18th August, 2020 By Laura Scott Fans will be allowed to attend football in the seventh tier and below, after the government updated its guidance on recreational team sport events. Clubs in the leagues below National League North and South will be able to open their gates to spectators for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. The decision means a distinction has been drawn between the return of fans to recreational sport and elite sport, where pilots are required before an intended expansion from 1 October. It comes after more than 30 MPs wrote to sports minister Nigel Huddleston calling for the "urgent return of fans to non-league clubs". The letter, which was coordinated by former sports minister Tracey Crouch and Dame Cheryl Gillan, warned that clubs "at the heart of our constituencies" could be "lost forever" if an exemption is not granted. BBC Sport can reveal that the government's return to recreational team sport framework was updated on Tuesday afternoon to draw up protocols for allowing spectators in. Fans will need to abide by social distancing rules, and spectator groups must be restricted to "discrete six-person gathering limits". Meanwhile, organisers of events that are likely to attract a crowd will need to put forward a "named person or persons with responsibility for ensuring adherence with these guidelines and ensuring the facility is Covid-19 secure". They would also need to publish a risk assessment limiting the number of spectators, and assist with the NHS Test and Trace scheme by collecting information from spectators. The MPs who signed the letter had said that non-league clubs "tend to be supported by those within the town itself" and that average crowds are "in the hundreds". BBC Sport understands that the Football Association defines elite football as being everything from the Premier League down to National League North and South, which explains why the new rules apply to step three and below. A campaign using the slogan "#LetFansIn" has gained significant traction among non-league clubs in recent days, while two petitions supporting the cause have received more than 6,000 signatures. Crouch posted on Twitter: "Football has many wonderful layers but non-league is often at its heart and soul. With fewer fans it's easier to make clubs Covid secure but without them coming back soon their future is shaky so we've written to Sports Minister calling for non-league clubs to #LetFansIn." She later told the BBC that not allowing fans to attend non-league football "makes no sense". An FA spokesperson said: "We continue to follow government advice with regards to the return of spectators and are working continuously with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, DCMS and Leagues to seek approval for a safe return as soon as feasibly possible." Top of Form

News of some progress from south of the Border: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53817206 BBC Sport 18th August, 2020 By Laura Scott Fans will be allowed to attend football in the seventh tier and below, after the government updated its guidance on recreational team sport events. Clubs in the leagues below National League North and South will be able to open their gates to spectators for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. The decision means a distinction has been drawn between the return of fans to recreational sport and elite sport, where pilots are required before an intended expansion from 1 October. It comes after more than 30 MPs wrote to sports minister Nigel Huddleston calling for the "urgent return of fans to non-league clubs". The letter, which was coordinated by former sports minister Tracey Crouch and Dame Cheryl Gillan, warned that clubs "at the heart of our constituencies" could be "lost forever" if an exemption is not granted. BBC Sport can reveal that the government's return to recreational team sport framework was updated on Tuesday afternoon to draw up protocols for allowing spectators in. Fans will need to abide by social distancing rules, and spectator groups must be restricted to "discrete six-person gathering limits". Meanwhile, organisers of events that are likely to attract a crowd will need to put forward a "named person or persons with responsibility for ensuring adherence with these guidelines and ensuring the facility is Covid-19 secure". They would also need to publish a risk assessment limiting the number of spectators, and assist with the NHS Test and Trace scheme by collecting information from spectators. The MPs who signed the letter had said that non-league clubs "tend to be supported by those within the town itself" and that average crowds are "in the hundreds". BBC Sport understands that the Football Association defines elite football as being everything from the Premier League down to National League North and South, which explains why the new rules apply to step three and below. A campaign using the slogan "#LetFansIn" has gained significant traction among non-league clubs in recent days, while two petitions supporting the cause have received more than 6,000 signatures. Crouch posted on Twitter: "Football has many wonderful layers but non-league is often at its heart and soul. With fewer fans it's easier to make clubs Covid secure but without them coming back soon their future is shaky so we've written to Sports Minister calling for non-league clubs to #LetFansIn." She later told the BBC that not allowing fans to attend non-league football "makes no sense". An FA spokesperson said: "We continue to follow government advice with regards to the return of spectators and are working continuously with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, DCMS and Leagues to seek approval for a safe return as soon as feasibly possible." Top of Form

News of some progress from south of the Border: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53817206 BBC Sport 18th August, 2020 By Laura Scott Fans will be allowed to attend football in the seventh tier and below, after the government updated its guidance on recreational team sport events. Clubs in the leagues below National League North and South will be able to open their gates to spectators for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. The decision means a distinction has been drawn between the return of fans to recreational sport and elite sport, where pilots are required before an intended expansion from 1 October. It comes after more than 30 MPs wrote to sports minister Nigel Huddleston calling for the "urgent return of fans to non-league clubs". The letter, which was coordinated by former sports minister Tracey Crouch and Dame Cheryl Gillan, warned that clubs "at the heart of our constituencies" could be "lost forever" if an exemption is not granted. BBC Sport can reveal that the government's return to recreational team sport framework was updated on Tuesday afternoon to draw up protocols for allowing spectators in. Fans will need to abide by social distancing rules, and spectator groups must be restricted to "discrete six-person gathering limits". Meanwhile, organisers of events that are likely to attract a crowd will need to put forward a "named person or persons with responsibility for ensuring adherence with these guidelines and ensuring the facility is Covid-19 secure". They would also need to publish a risk assessment limiting the number of spectators, and assist with the NHS Test and Trace scheme by collecting information from spectators. The MPs who signed the letter had said that non-league clubs "tend to be supported by those within the town itself" and that average crowds are "in the hundreds". BBC Sport understands that the Football Association defines elite football as being everything from the Premier League down to National League North and South, which explains why the new rules apply to step three and below. A campaign using the slogan "#LetFansIn" has gained significant traction among non-league clubs in recent days, while two petitions supporting the cause have received more than 6,000 signatures. Crouch posted on Twitter: "Football has many wonderful layers but non-league is often at its heart and soul. With fewer fans it's easier to make clubs Covid secure but without them coming back soon their future is shaky so we've written to Sports Minister calling for non-league clubs to #LetFansIn." She later told the BBC that not allowing fans to attend non-league football "makes no sense". An FA spokesperson said: "We continue to follow government advice with regards to the return of spectators and are working continuously with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, DCMS and Leagues to seek approval for a safe return as soon as feasibly possible."

Flood-Lights on the way up at Coldstream.

Whitehill almost there too with FloodLights.

They re-applied and now have planning permission for flood-lights. Presumably they will be going up soon so they can keep their licence?

Ha! But seriously full time pro footballers train 52 weeks a year so they are fit. Match fitness and team preparations are also essentials. OK. That takes time but what's needed will vary according to the team e.g if there haven't been many changes it won't take so long compared to a team which has brought in a number of new faces. Also starting team-work too early can make teams stale by league season kick-off so it's the responsibility of each club to figure out what's best for them and those decisions will vary under normal circumstances. A point made earlier on this thread was along the lines of - if other Championship clubs are as prepared as Hearts are in terms of covid then why on earth prevent them from training in a responsible manner? JRP and SPFL haven't got this right or they've allowed themselves to be pushed into this by the SG? It is one or the other.

No it's not.

Clubs, under normal circumstances, would be choosing when to start ahead of a league season and those start of training dates would vary in any case. Is it suggested that all clubs must start pre-season training on the same date for each league or division? No. Of course not. It may even be argued that players get stale if they start club training too early.

Well. Either it is or it isn't. Shouldn't be difficult to establish that. Presumably the SPFL is up in arms about the JRG over-stepping its' remit???? or maybe not!

Spot on there Romeo! and Aberdeen and Celtic down to the Championship too. That would boost attendances - whenever the season starts.

It's interesting to hear that some clubs are looking at a way to join-up with the Pyramid leagues and are carrying out Ground work which would, presumably, help with that aim. It has been mentioned on the Juniors East Region thread that clubs such as Armadale and Whitburn have been busy working on their Grounds/facilities etc this summer. Hopefully it is with a view to joining the East of Scotland League sooner rather than later and their colleague clubs will join them in preparing for a move. We shall see!

It's important to remember that all clubs beneath the Tier 5 Division won't have to be licenced so the cost of investing in facilities etc wouldn't be a deterrent. In the event that the NCL, North and Tayside Juniors joined up and Tier 6 was run on an the basis of these three geographically determined areas travel wouldn't be an issue either. Joining and not getting licenced would be just the same as it is now i.e. just playing NCL or Juniors from the North or Tayside. I guess the rules would be amended to comply with the Highland League Rules. Tier 6 may require facilities to match other Tier 6 leagues but, even then, time could be allowed for clubs to comply. Other clubs could fit into Tier 7. If clubs went for such a structure they could even become licenced without, in practice, being at significant risk of promotion to Tier 5. Regionalised Tier 6 and 7 etc leagues would be much as now so clubs could remain happy with their lot. One thing is likely if the NCL, North and Tayside Juniors do join in. Tier 5 in the Highland League will become more competitive and the geographical spread of the clubs will change.

I like to speculate on what might/might not happen in the foreseeable future so, at present, I am thinking along the lines of what happens if the NCL becomes a Tier 5 league ahead of any such movement from the North and/or Tayside (East Region) Juniors. Will it spur ambition and investment in the NCL area amongst clubs which are currently outside the NCL or even don't currently exist at adult level? I say this as all clubs in the area would then know that the door is open and that it will stay open, so ambition and long term investment might become less unviable than it has been to date. Note to Inverness City Council to get off its' rear end and do more to encourage and to support local football. If the NCL becomes Tier 5 with effect from 2020/21 or 2021/22 will that cause current Juniors in the North/Tayside to get restless? Maybe just as has been seen in the East and West? Banks O' Dee (already licenced) and Dyce will be in the Aberdeenshire FA next season and have, or are close to having, the necessary facilities to go senior. Aberdeen University may see some benefits to being a senior club too - even if stopping short of a club licence? If these three went it could create a ripple effect with enough clubs also going to set off the rest?? If the door is opened, creating opportunity, then clubs will consider taking it as they will have reason to believe that this is for keeps i.e. worthwhile to, at least, consider what's involved to step up to senior status - and they won't need floodlights just to do that as becoming licenced is another level of investment altogether. It has happened in the East and West and may be starting in the NCL area (Loch Ness, Scourie). If the North Juniors stick with the JFA will the more westerly clubs consider that there could be some merits in switching to the NCL and becoming senior clubs with the chance, if desired, to take the licencing route in future, joining Under 20's Development league football, etc. (Is there any merit?) In the Tayside (East Region) there's scarcely any movement into this set-up from the Amateur ranks. When was the last time an amateur side moved into the Juniors here? Will there come a time when e.g. Scone Thistle might get cold feet and switch to the EoS? It's said that they're more Dundee oriented but if players decide to switch to nearby EoS clubs this could create a pressure which may be difficult to with-stand. The current leading East/Tayside clubs include most which could cope with a joint top division shared with the best of the North Juniors. Travel to Aberdeenshire isn't really a major issue these days for the strongest clubs. Would it be practical to create a North-East Senior League with only the top division covering the whole of the present North and East/Tayside Juniors areas i.e. the lower clubs playing in the same geographical areas as at present. Pushing up the best Tayside clubs could make it easier for current amateurs to plan for and to make the step up?

16k capacity stadium for BSC?

Troon tweeting this:

Amazing things not just behind the scenes:

Is there any news on the NCL formally becoming a Tier 6 league? If this happens will any more clubs/teams be likely to switch to the NCL from the North Juniors or the Summer Amateur leagues? I have mentioned this previously, so apologies, but being at Tier 6 it would give clubs a way to go for a SFA club licence etc. Would it make any sense for the likes of Nairn St Ninian, Dufftown, Burghead Thistle, Forres Thistle and Spey Valley United to consider switching in due course? Would the possibility of being able to get a licence and (mostly) reduced travelling be enough incentive for them?