Pyramidic

In my book Bo’ness Juniors have shown on the park that they are a viable football club. If they can demonstrate to the EOSFL that they meet the ground criteria and the general requirements of the league there should really be no issue in accepting the club. I am not sure whether the club membership would perceive a rivalry or falling out with a Lowland League club as a defining issue.

Some positive news.

I know these issues are very emotive but I suppose they do heal with time. My own solution would be for Bo’ness United Juniors (or whatever title) to become the Senior section of Bo’ness Cadora AFC. There would be a certain historical poignancy to see the Cadora name being fielded again at a higher level. It would also perhaps cement the position of the club as a contributor rather than a competitor to the Lowland League club’s great heritage.

If a WOSFL league official says there has been 17 “expressions of interest” I would have thought he is expressing a fact. But there is a long way to go before an expression of interest germinates into a successful application endorsed by the membership. Gossip is when someone says Cupar Hearts are applying to the EOSFL but no evidence has yet to emerge. Fingers crossed that an application is submitted.

We will see what unfolds over the next month or so and whether the WOSFL have enough clubs to form a sort of Intermediate Division. Why Harthill would wish to play in a division that would be destined to become Tier Ten I am not sure. Hopefully someone from Harthill will explain. We will also see how the EOSFL copes with the latest influx of applications. The transparency of Parkcircus, a key official with the WOSFL, is not mere gossip and we have been able to get a glimpse of current issues in the WOS. Information provided has then been confirmed in podcasts etc. How things/structures will pan out remains to be seen. I am truly grateful to both the WOSFL and EOSFL regarding the numerous clubs that are being accepted into the Senior fold - potentially more than 20 this time around. Like a number of others on here it is very difficult at the moment not to take my eyes off P&B to watch the latest changes in our real-life football drama in our covid closeted world.

The deadline for applications to join the WOSFL for the 2021/22 season is 31st March 2021. To date there have been 17 expressions of interest, the majority of which appear to be Amateur clubs. There may be the possibility of establishing a new division. If you are interested enquire here: https://wosfl.co.uk/join-the-wosfl/ NB: It is possible that ground entry requirements will be relaxed for new applicants in an Intermediate Division.

The deadline for applications to join the WOSFL for the 2021/22 season is 31st March 2021. To date there have been 17 expressions of interest, the majority of which appear to be Amateur clubs. There may be the possibility of establishing a new division. If you are interested enquire here: https://wosfl.co.uk/join-the-wosfl/ NB: It is possible that ground entry requirements will be relaxed for new applicants in an Intermediate Division.

What measures are the EOSFL taking to assimilate progressive Amateur clubs or Youth set-ups whose facilities are currently not up to scratch but can be developed with a little time? In contrast the WOSFL appear to be on the crux of catering for such clubs - perhaps by establishing revised ground criteria for the lowest tier. We will see what unfolds in the next few weeks. EOSFL could do the same which would provide a window of opportunity for ambitious Amateur clubs in the Borders, Fife etc.

I am starting to form the opinion that as an organisation the WOSFL is more welcoming to new applicants than the EOSFL. On the other hand maybe I am being influenced by some of the negativity that is now appearing on P&B to hinder the efforts of small clubs desperate to gain a foothold on the lowest rung of the Pyramid ladder.

This article gives the latest position: Sure to be left feeling more disappointed than most are ambitious trio Clydebank, Darvel and Irvine Meadow whose outstanding `off the pitch ` achievements in gaining SFA Licensing approval will now become devalued by the loss of eligibility to take part in the Lowland League play-offs that would have been a given had any of them been crowned eventual Premier Division Champions. A sore one without doubt, however it has to be said all three clubs will not go unrewarded for their unstinting infrastructure improvements of the past twelve months, not least of all financially, in light of their new licensed status bringing automatic entry into next season’s lucrative Scottish Cup proper. Yet neither can it be denied that future step-up aspirations are about to come up against considerably stiffer competition should the similarly determined likes of Kilwinning Rangers, Rob Roy, Rutherglen Glencairn , Cumnock and Auchinleck Talbot achieve SFA approval. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/19175079.best-west-wosfl-look-future-null-void-verdict/

The following article also sets a framework of what the future holds: https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/19175079.best-west-wosfl-look-future-null-void-verdict/

Bo’ness Junior CFC application has been lodged: https://www.linlithgowgazette.co.uk/sport/football/international/boness-united-chairman-anger-as-rival-senior-club-application-is-lodged-3170082 “They informed us via email on – I think it was Sunday or Monday night – that they are going ahead with an application to join the East of Scotland League which hasn’t gone down very well,” Muirhead told the Journal and Gazette.

Is it Sauchie Community or another title? When they were applying to the Juniors I recall Dunblane Soccer Club being mentioned. It will be interesting to see what they”morph” into this time. The title of the club may influence the success of the application to join the EOSFL.

West Calder Juniors Facebook - just an update “Well it's now the end of an era for the club, due to the covid restrictions the SJFA was left with no other option but to declare the league null and void which now brings over 70years as a junior club to an end. We now look forward to gaining membership at a senior level of the East of Scotland football league, onwards and upwards,at this point we would like to thank the SJFA for their support over the years”.

More progressive actions from the WOSFL.

Unfair treatment of Rosyth https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/19167206.rosyth-fc-must-given-home-work-starts-lidl-supermarket/

Not really a problem if the bottom tier is regionalised. We need to build pyramids at the lowest levels not towers.

Perhaps a better example is Campbeltown Pupils AFC If Campbeltown join the WOSFL, Harthill would face a 3 hour 26 mins journey covering 158.8 miles.

When Oban Saints (and their Argyll friends) join the WOSFL the travelling scenario for Harthill will be truly turned on its head Harthill to Oban - 2 hr 33 min (117.7 mi) via M8, A82 and A85 Harthill to Berwick will become a "walk in the park" at 1 hr 29 min (81.2 mi) via A1 The WOSFL is going to grow! Some 17 expressions of interest at the last count.

Agreed. I am very sad that we are not able to complete the 2020/21 season or get anywhere near the half way point. Truly gutted. I think we need to accept the fact that this season has been prematurely terminated and keep the same format for 2021/22 with the 18 teams in the Premier Division. The First Division should be reformatted into three conferences with the addition of the new applicants. One promotion place for each of the conferences with five clubs relegated from the Premier Division. The other top clubs in the Conferences will play in the new First Division in 2022/23 so plenty to play for and to look forward to. I think the sensible option would be to start the 2021/22 season in early July and see if we can beat this dreadful pandemic this time around. An early start should ensure that if there is an enforced break at some time in the new season it will not destroy the whole campaign. It is hard to come to terms with termination of our season and its consequences but much harder to accept the loss of family, friends or associates to this dreadful pandemic.

A very exciting move. Facilities worthy of the WOSFL.

Cheers!

Any news whether Linlithgow Rose Community (renamed) are likely to submit a application to the EOSFL after going into abeyance for the curtailed season. Or are they candidates to return to Amateur football?

There would be some benefits in creating a four team promotion / relegation play-off incorporating the EOSFL, WOSFL, SOSFL champions along with the last but one placed team in the LL. Clubs would play for two LL places / reduced to one if an extra team is allocated to the LL following the LL /HL / L2 play-off. Such a move would soften the blow of potentially two clubs being relegated from the LL each season, giving the last but one club a realistic opportunity save themselves and prove that they are worthy of a place in the LL.

This is an example of a Step 7 league down South that uses slightly tougher ground grading requirements. Perhaps food for thought if the WOSFL are considering staggering the entry requirements for Amateur and Youth sides: https://countyleague.co.uk/downloads/Ground_Grading_Criteria.doc