Lowland Development League

[Dev]

http://www.theants.co.uk/st-anthonys-fc-and-erskine-yfc-football-partnership/

St Anthony’s FC and Erskine YFC football partnership

June 6, 2020

St Anthony’s FC and Erskine YFC are excited to announce our partnership to develop and grow a player pathway from grassroots to senior football within WOSFL. Our collective aim is to leverage our resources to provide youth players a route into semi-professional game.

Both clubs are thrilled that players from Erskine YFC will be provided the opportunity as part of our pathway to establish St Anthony’s U20s.
Erskine YFC are a well-established youth football club having been founded in 1975. Erskine YFC have players enjoying football from fun 4’s up to U19s with over 300+ registered players.

St Anthony’s founded in 1902 are based in Cardonald, Glasgow. Nicknamed ‘the Ants’ playing at McKenna park. St Anthony’s are joining WOSFL, a feeder to the Lowland league as part of the new Scottish football league pyramid structure.

St Anthony’s FC are committed to the future development of next generation football talent and will work with Erskine YFC to assist with the ongoing development of grassroots football.

Our goal is to provide a pathway into senior football and to ensure we continue to develop talent by providing a supportive football environment for all players.

Exciting times ahead for both St Anthony’s FC and Erskine YFC with our player pathway partnership which will provide further opportunities for both clubs.

We have also submitted an application to join the Lowlands Development League for the forthcoming season

 

[Pyramidic]

 

 

[oldandround]

But confused with Edinburgh south. The whole concept of them joining the EOS was to provide a pathway for the youth.

However it seems as if 6 of their u19 side have instead signed for tynecastle at u20.

Not saying this is not allowed or anything, just a bit odd

[Dev]

…… latest estimates. 28 teams from last season plus 32 newcomers:  60 current total. The most recent clubs to indicate they're applying or have applied are:

WoS

Beith Juniors

Irvine Meadow

Kilwinning Rangers

Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Neilston

St. Anthony’s

Yoker Athletic

EoS

Jeanfield Swifts

Tynecastle

[TheLad]

That will probably be following a coach, more than anything else.

But confused with Edinburgh south. The whole concept of them joining the EOS was to provide a pathway for the youth.

However it seems as if 6 of their u19 side have instead signed for tynecastle at u20.

Not saying this is not allowed or anything, just a bit odd [emoji2371]

[Jerry Macguire]

.

Edited June 8, 2020 by Jerry Macguire

[Steven W]

So many teams putting so much effort into next season, yet not a morsel of indication from SFA that the season will even happen at all. 

I worry all these efforts will be in vain

[Bestsinceslicebread]

8 minutes ago, Steven W said:

So many teams putting so much effort into next season, yet not a morsel of indication from SFA that the season will even happen at all. 

I worry all these efforts will be in vain

We are all in this together and its just something we will have to deal with and eventually it will start, when, we do not know yet but we are all hopefully.  The league will definitely eventually start, its just a case when and there's plenty of teams ready to start

[Steven W]

1 minute ago, Bestsinceslicebread said:

We are all in this together and its just something we will have to deal with and eventually it will start, when, we do not know yet but we are all hopefully.  The league will definitely eventually start, its just a case when and there's plenty of teams ready to start

Good stuff.

Sadly I don't share your optimism and my opinion is that the only league that will proceed will be the premier league. However, I can't tell you how much I hope I'm wrong (encouragingly I often am!)

[Pyramidic]

 

 

[Dev]

•  

  https://www.blantyrevics.com/post/club-statement-u20-development-league

   

  Blake Welsh

   
•  
• • 32 minutes ago
  •  
  • 2 min read

 

Club Statement: U20 Development League

Blantyre Victoria F.C. are delighted to announce that our application to the West of Scotland Football League U20 Development League has been accepted ahead of the forthcoming 2020/21 season. All matches will be played on Friday evenings.

 

We will be joining forces with David Flannagan and David Kyle head coaches of Holytown Colts U17's who have been loyal supporters of Blantyre Vics for many years. Joining them on the coaching staff of the Blantyre Victoria U20 squad will be former Clydebank and Shotts Bon Accord defender Gerry McGurn.

 

U20 Coach David Flannagan this afternoon said: “We are really looking forward to this new venture. With this development squad we will be able to develop and improve the skills of players, who are looking to reach a higher standard in the game. Looking long-term we hope to see many of our players step up to senior whether with Blantyre Vics or to go onto have a successful career elsewhere.”

 

Club manager John Gibson said: "It’s excellent news for Blantyre Vics to have our own development team, they will be joining a very good and hard league which gives our players a good chance of developing into better players. We are excited about the prospect of bringing these boys through with the incentive to become first team players, this pathway is important not only to us but to other clubs as well. This is why having this development league was a great idea, the club as a whole will now start the recruitment process for attracting players.”

 

The club are beginning to look for high quality players born in years 2001-2003. We look forward to announcing the first of our U20 development squad signings very soon.

Edited June 11, 2020 by Dev

[Dev]

FairWeatherFan posted earlier on the “new clubs in the EoS thread”:

https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/sport/18505911.sauchie-launches-new-academy-side-2020-season/

·        Sport

9th June

Sauchie Juniors launch new academy side for 2020 season

By Jack Haugh @JackMHaugh Sports Reporter

Sauchie's new under 20s team with coaches Paul McKinlay, Colin McGill and James Gilfillan

SAUCHIE JUNIORS fans will have even more to shout about next season as the club takes another step forward by launching a new academy side.

The Reds have plugged one of the few gaps in the Beechwood Park set-up by forming an under 20s side as they hope to take advantage of the hidden talent in Clackmannanshire.

The age group, which has been in the works for a number of months, has been created after an agreement was reached to move the under 17s from amateurs Milton FC to Sauchie.

The exciting news comes less than a year after the Reds launched feeder team the Wee Sauchie, who play in the Junior leagues and work closely with Fraser Duncan's Premier Division outfit.

For Duncan, establishing an under 20s side takes Sauchie another step closer to unlocking the full potential of the Beechwood Park team.

He told Advertiser Sport: "We are delighted to get it done and it is an exciting time for the club.

"We have spoken about doing this for years with Noel (Dalli, former chairman now honorary president) and Karl (Rennie, chairman) and we have wanted to get that development at the age group.

"We need to give guys in our local area the chance to progress."

The year group from the Bannockburn-based side will move to Clacks and provide a platform for players from Sauchie's academy to progress to either the Wee Sauchie or Duncan's East of Scotland side.

Duncan added: "We can play two of our over-aged players in that group as well and that can give game time to those who might not be getting it.

"They are going to wear the same strips as us and have the same training gear and everything will be exactly the same.

"The more people we have involved in the club then the bigger and the better it is going to get.

"This is a massive step in what we want to do."

Coaches James Gilfillan, Colin McGill, and Paul McKinlay will make the move to Beechwood with several players from Milton also agreeing to the switch.

The rest of the squad will be filled in the coming months by local talent with Duncan especially keen to offer a place to youngsters who have been released or moved on from Forth Valley teams in recent years.

Under 20s coach Gilfillan, 55, said: " We are really looking forward to it and we are hoping to give the boys a good opportunity to progress.

"Sauchie were looking to fill a gap they had, so I think it is a good fit. We've been part of Milton for around ten years and it was all on good terms.

"We've had some great support for them throughout the years and Colin had been there for the full ten years.

"Sauchie having that pathway into the Junior side and the East of Scotland team was a big appeal for us. Playing at a higher level than we would have with Milton gives the boys a chance to develop and carry on through it.

"Hopefully they can then get to the Senior ranks of football and that is what we were aiming for.

"We felt this was going to give us the best opportunity as we are then picking up a level and they are going to be going up against under 20s.

"It's going to be tough and the first year will be a tough year for them. It will be a great experience and a tough one for the boys.

"It's then in the second and third year where we will hopefully see them develop and progress. It's all about that."

As part of the continued overhaul of the Reds set-up, the team will train at Beechwood Park alongside Sauchie's two senior sides at least one night a week.

Players and backroom staff from Duncan's outfit will take turns in leading and getting involved in sessions with the under 20s in a bid to provide the youngsters with as much knowhow as possible.

In turn, the teenagers will be given the chance to train with Stuart McInnes' Junior team or the East of Scotland side as part of a one-club approach.

Gilfillan continued: "It will be hugely beneficial to be able to share those ideas between the teams.

"Ideally we are looking to mix with Fraser's team. That will help to develop our team and bring them on and then hopefully one or two of our boys will be able to make the step up and go and help that team out as and when required.

"It's giving the boys a great opportunity to learn from older players and also from different coaches at that level.

"The idea is to have us all training together and playing some games against each other and with each other. It gives everyone a chance to develop.

"From Sauchie's point of view, it saves them having to go and pull teams and boys from all over the place. Whereas if they have that conveyor belt and can pick up one or two boys, it's a big start for them.

"We can hopefully focus in on the local side. We have six players in and around Alloa who have been playing with us and for them it's great to be associated with their main team locally.

"It gives them a sense of belonging and being part of their local team and culture.

"Sauchie's senior team will help to support us and they will then benefit by filling that gap.

"We hope that out of our squad two can make the step up to the East of Scotland team every year. But, there will be some who need the interim step.

"They can go on and play with the Juniors and get some more experience of playing with adults. We will also work very closely together as one Sauchie team.

"It's all one club and not three separate teams."

Sauchie chairman Karl Rennie said: "We are glad we have managed to get it over the line. Everyone has jumped into it and are delighted to join the team.

"It is giving us another option to develop players and if we think they are good enough they will get their shot at the first team.

"The coaches are positive, the players are positive, the parents of the kids are positive. It's a good challenge for them as well and gives the a chance to see what they can produce."

 

[Dev]

Listing a few more recent new applications after this one as they're posted on the WoS thread.

Edited June 15, 2020 by Dev
.

[Dev]

 

[Dev]

 

[Dev]

 

[Dev]

https://www.facebook.com/maybolejuniors/

The U20s squad will be managed by Calum Nairn and he will be joined by Daniel McLeod and Glenn Kelly. Calum said ‘ When Maybole asked us to join up it was a no brainer for us. They are a club going in the right direction and I’m really looking forward to making the step up and working with the Maybole first team. We had clubs interested from the top league but we felt Maybole was the right option for us and are looking forward to things to come.’

Pictured on the left is first team manager Carlo Walker and on the right is 20s manager Calum Nairn.  [I.e. see above]

Edited June 15, 2020 by Dev
added facebook

[Dev]

Largs Thistle FC (at 

 

)

 

@LargsThistleFC

 

 

We are delighted to have applied to join the

@OfficialSLFL

under-20s Development League, giving young men born during and before 2001 the best chance to develop and reach the first team. For now please, #stayhomesavelives - we can’t wait to see you again. #theesel

 

 

 

 

[gaz1959]

Largs Thistle twitter is wrong. It's players born on or after 1st January 2001. Anyone born before that are too old. Can someone advise them in case players born in 2000, contact them.

[Dev]