New clubs in the East of Scotland

[Whitburn Vale]

6 minutes ago, AlanCamelonfan said:

Sauchie Reserves?

Didnt make it,as far as I know alan....

[Burnieman]

On 25/04/2021 at 06:51, patriot1 said:

Any idea whose applications were rejected by the board? There were six of them of which two will be Letham and Forfar. But who were the other four?

There were 4 from Tayside, plus Letham, plus a kind of "Scoutable Utd" type application.  Not exactly sure who all 4 Tayside ones were, Forfar and Tayport were two we already know.

[patriot1]

1 hour ago, Burnieman said:

There were 4 from Tayside, plus Letham, plus a kind of "Scoutable Utd" type application.  Not exactly sure who all 4 Tayside ones were, Forfar and Tayport were two we already know.

I’d be interested to know if Letham were turned down on geographical grounds. While Jeanfield and Kinnoull can’t be made to move leagues will any future Perth based teams be directed to the Midland League?
 

 

[Burnieman]

I’d be interested to know if Letham were turned down on geographical grounds. While Jeanfield and Kinnoull can’t be made to move leagues will any future Perth based teams be directed to the Midland League?
 
 

It was probably their facilities not their geography. Perth is below the HL/LL line so in EoS territory.

[LongTimeLurker]

Just like Tayport.

[Ray Patterson]

20 hours ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Just like Tayport.

It's been said numerous times that the ML will cover DD postcodes such as Tayport - so if you can be please just stop it, that would be grand.

[LongTimeLurker]

you appear to have been whooshed

[WestHibee]

On 15/04/2021 at 22:31, Cyclizine said:

Newcastle University play at Step 6 in the Northern League Division 2.

Plus, in this country Stirling and Edinburgh Universities already in Lowland, Heriot-Watt (and Stirling Uni reserves) in the EoSFL, Aberdeen University in the soon to be senior NRJFA and the aforementioned Glasgow Uni in the WoSFL. Rumours also of a UHI team in the near future.

Just on an annoyance level reading this. I played for Aberdeen University a few years ago. We weren't just there to make up the numbers. The year Cove were promoted the league we lost 3-1 to them with two penalties late on. Then won what would've been back to back promotions to the NRJFA SuperLegaue (9 clear, season null and void).  Uni teams aren't just there to make up the numbers, I've played for teams in the LL and EoS and Edinburgh College has a far better set up...

[nomorekelso]

On 25/04/2021 at 06:51, patriot1 said:

Any idea whose applications were rejected by the board? There were six of them of which two will be Letham and Forfar. But who were the other four?

3G cage that Leith previously used and Peffermill? Farce.

[nomorekelso]

On 26/04/2021 at 12:05, AlanCamelonfan said:

Sauchie Reserves?

Edinburgh college? Tell me more.

[LongTimeLurker]

Letham's facility appeared to be better than the most basic of previous cages like the one Leith used at Meadowbank and potentially closer to what Blackburn have with a bit of work so not immediately obvious why they would be rejected when other recent successful applicants like Hillfield Swifts, Rosyth, Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Thornton have been given a grace period to get their ground up to standard.

Edinburgh College are reigning  Scottish champions at Uni/college level and are said to be sharing with either Spartans or Civil Service Strollers. They have a campus in Granton so that makes sense geographically.

Edited April 28, 2021 by LongTimeLurker

[WestHibee]

Also not sure where the rumours about LTHV playing at Ainslie have come from. Far as I'm aware LTHV first choice is Almondvale (Club has used before and has a strong relationship with Livi). Saughton Enclosure is set to be redeveloped into a facility for Hutchie I believe 

[patriot1]

16 minutes ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Letham's facility appeared to be better than the most basic of previous cages like the one Leith used at Meadowbank and potentially closer to what Blackburn have with a bit of work so not immediately obvious why they would be rejected when other recent successful applicants like Hillfield Swifts, Rosyth, Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Thornton have been given a grace period to get their ground up to standard.

Edinburgh College are reigning  Scottish champions at Uni/college level and are said to be sharing with either Spartans or Civil Service Strollers. They have a campus in Granton so that makes sense geographically.

That was my thoughts about Letham as well which is why I wondered if geography played a part in their rejection.

[Pyramidic]

1 hour ago, patriot1 said:

That was my thoughts about Letham as well which is why I wondered if geography played a part in their rejection.

There appears to be a big contrast now between the EOSFL approach to progressive new clubs and the WOSFL approach who appear to be bending over backwards to facilitate a feeder division for ambitious amateur and youth set-ups. The way that Letham’s application was discarded by the EOSFL management is disappointing but we of course do not know all the facts. It is noteworthy that Letham have not made an official statement on the reasons for their rejection.

Edited April 28, 2021 by Pyramidic

[LongTimeLurker]

...according to posts elsewhere they may be trying for the Midland League now but you will have no doubt seen those already. I have no idea if that's accurate and have no strong opinion either way on whether it should happen if it is.

[FairWeatherFan]

14 minutes ago, Pyramidic said:

There appears to be a big contrast now between the EOSFL approach to progressive new clubs and the WOSFL approach who appear to be bending over backwards to facilitate a feeder division for ambitious amateur and youth set-ups. The way that Letham’s application was discarded by the EOSFL management is disappointing but we of course do not know all the facts. It is noteworthy that Letham have not made an official statement on the reasons for their rejection.

A contrast that you've invented from the outside looking in. You're aware the WoSFL are in the middle of ground visits that might not see clubs put forward to a vote and with at least one club not going forward with their application for 2021-22. You also know both leagues are basically using the exact same criteria to assess applicants, so much so that the WoSFL ground criteria still lists the East of Scotland in the text.

Nobody knows the circumstances of Letham's application or why it has not been forwarded for selection in 2021-22. Which is why people have guessed at different theories.

 

[Pyramidic]

3 hours ago, FairWeatherFan said:

A contrast that you've invented from the outside looking in. You're aware the WoSFL are in the middle of ground visits that might not see clubs put forward to a vote and with at least one club not going forward with their application for 2021-22. You also know both leagues are basically using the exact same criteria to assess applicants, so much so that the WoSFL ground criteria still lists the East of Scotland in the text.

Nobody knows the circumstances of Letham's application or why it has not been forwarded for selection in 2021-22. Which is why people have guessed at different theories.

 

The league entry criteria for the EOSFL and WOSFL may be identical but the smoke signals currently emanating from them appear to be somewhat different. No mention of a feeder division for the EOSFL or framework to enable ambitious new clubs to develop and grow. The litmus test could well be the way that the WOSFL handle the Harmony Row application where there are similar parameters to Letham AFC in terms of a caged synthetic pitch.

[FairWeatherFan]

14 minutes ago, Pyramidic said:

The league entry criteria for the EOSFL and WOSFL may be identical but the smoke signals currently emanating from them appear to be somewhat different. No mention of a feeder division for the EOSFL or framework to enable ambitious new clubs to develop and grow.

There's a thing called supply and demand. The EoSFL has been open for years and seen the drip feed of clubs step into in various ways over the years, not only through amateurs & youth teams starting Senior sides but through mergers (LTHV, Tynecastle, Ormiston, Leith Athletic, Hawick RAU). It's not a new proposition that's opened up in the region as has happened in the West of Scotland.

The EoSFL have talked about a Division below their Conferences next season, and they've also talked about including all new members into reworked First Division Conferences. Just like the WoSFL. Everything that's been said by the WoSFL is that next year there will be a Division below the Conferences if there's enough teams to do so. With the intention of going Premier-First-Second-Third-Fourth. Fourth, not Development or Feeder division but a fully integrated part of the WoSFL with promotion and relegation between Third and Fourth. Which is just like the EoSFL

All the Development Division, linking up with amateurs, lowering criteria for Tier 10 is hypothetical long term stuff. Not about next season. That's why a number of clubs are apparently getting 2nd ground visits in the West so they can get their finger out to meet the existing critieria to the point they'd be forwarded to a membership vote.

That's actually the one key difference this year between the WoSFL and EoSFL. The EoSFL intends to vote in their members tomorrow? (29th rings a bell @Burnieman )

That way they'll know everyone in the league for 2021-22 and have dues collected ahead of the EoSFL AGM. That way going into the AGM the focus will be on league structure and cups for next season. Whereas the WoSFL seem to be doing their membership vote at their own AGM which has allowed applicants extra time to get up to the required criteria.

[patriot1]

The votes have been cast FWF and the results will be revealed at tomorrow night’s meeting. In past years the results haven’t been officially released until the applicants have been informed as it should be.

My understanding is that the conferences will be exactly the same as last season with the new applicants forming a division at tier 8. What is still to be decided is how tiers 7,8 and 9 will be formed for the following season.

[FairWeatherFan]

28 minutes ago, patriot1 said:

The votes have been cast FWF and the results will be revealed at tomorrow night’s meeting. In past years the results haven’t been officially released until the applicants have been informed as it should be.

My understanding is that the conferences will be exactly the same as last season with the new applicants forming a division at tier 8. What is still to be decided is how tiers 7,8 and 9 will be formed for the following season.

Good to hear!