Dev Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 2 hours ago, ham1sh68 said: There was a meeting last week involving representatives of the HFL and the NRJFA at which the North Juniors expressed a willingness to join the Pyramid as a feeder for the Highland League ( although the vast majority of clubs would not qualify to accept promotion should they win any play-off, Banks o'Dee currently being the only exception). It is understood that the North Caledonian League would also be involved in this set up but there has been no official notification of their commitment yet. The tone of the meeting was such that it appears the SFA want this regional solution to the Pyramid question resolved quickly and it appears that there may be a willingness on all sides for this to be in place for the start of next season. This would not cause a great upheaval in the North with only Banks o'Dee in a position to be promoted through the Pyramid but it may well affect long time strugglers Fort William who could possibly find themselves en route to the NCL if their fortunes do not improve. In the long run however, there would be a great incentive for those North Juniors with enough ambition to better themselves and progress up the ladder. At last some common sense! The point in the northern portion of the Pyramid is that there should be a route for automatic promotion (subject to meeting Highland League criteria) for any club which has such ambitions. The majority of NCL, Northern Junior and Tayside Junior clubs won't be affected as they don't have the potential to make the step up but, at least, it opens the door and they could make plans for progression over time. If title winning clubs are not licenced then they won't/cannot be promoted in any case - so nothing to fear. If the experience in England and Wales is anything to go by then, once there is a way forward i.e. certainty re criteria and a pathway for clubs outside the Highland League to plan ahead and show ambition, some will do so as they won't be knocked back for other reasons! This also gives the potential for the standard of the Highland League to be raised as weaker clubs can be replaced. Imagine the contribution which clubs like Lochee United, Broughty Athletic, etc could make to the Highland League. They would quickly find that many of their matches were within easy reach i.e. Inverurie Loco Works, Fraserburgh, Formartine United, Turriff United, Banks O'Dee (next season?) plus relegated SPFL 2 sides with Brechin City an obvious possibility. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 10 minutes ago, GNU_Linux said: Absolute scenes when the north beat the west into the pyramid Just goes to show. When the SJFA isn't involved then progress is possible! Perhaps this is a clue that the SFA's next step is to disband the "other" Associations at last i.e. Junior, Amateur, Works FA's. Other Nations have gone down this path. Is Scotland finally recognising that there is no longer a justification for these fiefdoms? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongTimeLurker Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Dev said: ...Imagine the contribution which clubs like Lochee United, Broughty Athletic, etc could make to the Highland League.... They do not appear to have been at the meeting and would have needed to be if this is being geared up for as soon as next season. It's Banks o'Dee and Culter that are relevant on this. The SFA came up with options for the PWG in which the ERSFA feeds into either the LL, the EoS premier or a new LL East. There was no mention of a subset of ERSJFA clubs feeding into the HL, and we are already seeing a BBC website story about the possibility of the HL:LL boundary being shifted. Edited January 20, 2020 by LongTimeLurker 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 45 minutes ago, Marten said: With the south of Tay ERJFA having pushed regionalisation and likely to pretty much disappear soon with more clubs moving over, that would be a better solution than just having the same few clubs in a small area to play against. No disrespect to the other ERJFA north sides, but playing the same teams all the time and rarely travelling outside of Tayside will get boring soon. Maybe, if the stronger Tayside clubs move up to the Highland League then it will encourage amateurs to step up to the Tayside League. There could even be some sort of merger or agreed pathway between Tayside leagues? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 minute ago, LongTimeLurker said: They do not appear to have been at the meeting and would have needed to be if this is being geared up for as soon as next season. It's Banks o'Dee and Culter that are relevant on this. The SFA came up with options for the PWG in which the ERSFA feeds into either the LL, the EoS premier or a new LL East. There was no mention of a subset of ERSJFA clubs feeding into the HL, and we are already seeing BBC website stories about the HL:LL boundary being shifted. The NCL weren't at the meeting either. Only referenced as an addition. Guess what could happen if everyone says the boundary stays the same. Tayside league in the Highland area. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted January 20, 2020 Author Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 minute ago, Dev said: Maybe, if the stronger Tayside clubs move up to the Highland League then it will encourage amateurs to step up to the Tayside League. There could even be some sort of merger or agreed pathway between Tayside leagues? This is what a 16 teams combined North/Tayside league would look like. Almost all clubs in the Dendee to Aberdeen corridor Carnoustie Panmure Broughty Athletic Lochee United Dundee North End Downfield Kirriemuir Thistle Scone Thistle Forfar West End Montrose Roselea Banks O’Dee Culter Dyce Juniors Hermes Bridge of Don Thistle Nairn St.Ninian Deveronside 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marten Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, Dev said: Maybe, if the stronger Tayside clubs move up to the Highland League then it will encourage amateurs to step up to the Tayside League. There could even be some sort of merger or agreed pathway between Tayside leagues? There are some decent Tayside amateurs. If Tayside get in the pyramid, I think a logical next step would be a link with the local amateurs. I'd be quite happy to see that happen. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Che Dail Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Burnie_man said: This is what a 16 teams combined North/Tayside league would look like. Almost all clubs in the Dendee to Aberdeen corridor Carnoustie Panmure Broughty Athletic Lochee United Dundee North End Downfield Kirriemuir Thistle Scone Thistle Forfar West End Montrose Roselea Banks O’Dee Culter Dyce Juniors Hermes Bridge of Don Thistle Nairn St.Ninian Deveronside So for Lochee / Carnoustie / Broughty the question is would you prefer this or travel to Berwick / Tweedmouth / Hawick instead? Just.... some common sense eh. P.S. add Brechin City...? Edited January 20, 2020 by Che Dail 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnie_man Posted January 20, 2020 Author Share Posted January 20, 2020 3 minutes ago, Che Dail said: So for Lochee / Carnoustie / Broughty the question is would you prefer this or travel to Berwick / Tweedmouth / Hawick instead? Just.... some common sense eh. P.S. add Brechin City...? Not sure Brechin will fall through the HL anytime soon. You could have the likes of Clach, Lossiemouth or Strathspey fall into it over time, but the majority of that league will always be in the Dundee to Aberdeen corridor. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongTimeLurker Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 7 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said: The NCL weren't at the meeting either. Only referenced as an addition.... They had already indicated their interest in being a tier 6. It was the north region that needed to be persuaded by the SFA and the SJFA. The SJFA have a mandate from their membership to negotiate SJFA entry. The north region were always going to fall into line to make that possible if things got sorted in the south. If they are being pressured to be on board by next season it shows the powers that be at Hampden think a fully integrated pyramid is very close to happening now. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Che Dail Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 30 minutes ago, Dev said: This also gives the potential for the standard of the Highland League to be raised as weaker clubs can be replaced. Imagine the contribution which clubs like Lochee United, Broughty Athletic, etc could make to the Highland League. They would quickly find that many of their matches were within easy reach i.e. Inverurie Loco Works, Fraserburgh, Formartine United, Turriff United, Banks O'Dee (next season?) plus relegated SPFL 2 sides with Brechin City an obvious possibility. Woul they need to displace weaker teams in the HFL? in time this league could operate ALONGSIDE the current HFL at the same tier. So in a similar vein to discussions around LLW and LLE, we would have a HL north (as existing) and a HL south (Tayside and Aberdeenshire) Clubs get licensed (and can do a Broxburn / Penicuik / Bonnyrigg in the Scottish Cup) and after a couple of seasons the winner plays off with the HFL north for pyramid entry. The clubs will get stronger and facilities will improve. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bestsinceslicebread Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) I will say if and when this does happen, the North section /Highland league sorted and Tayside thing sorted wherever they go and all the East side sorted and the West side sorted and the South. The football will be more expansive, I believe more local youths will want back into football and fans will come and Scottish Football will be better for it with more people interested n Scotland Football. I have my views as every other person on here does. I do not like Option Z, why, Option Z could have been started at any time as I feel it will be knocked back and delayed the pyramid growth again. BUT The West should have just went in as four divisions with the top in at tier 6 and you could have changed the Lowland League in a year later or years to come once East juniors joined. That would have had the West in with no objections whatsoever and then eventually the West and North would jump as well. The West is a simple fix and the East and Tayside and North still need some work but at least we would have known it was growing. I feel there is too many with agendas and power struggles that has made it a farce over the past few years, just get a grip as we all want Scottish Football to improve Edited January 20, 2020 by Bestsinceslicebread 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Che Dail Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Burnie_man said: Not sure Brechin will fall through the HL anytime soon. You could have the likes of Clach, Lossiemouth or Strathspey fall into it over time, but the majority of that league will always be in the Dundee to Aberdeen corridor. They'll have to go somewhere and it won't be the LL. I think the whole L2 should be absorbed into the regional set up other than the top 4, making it 3 pro leagues of: Prem (12), Champ (12), League 1 (12). Below that its LL or HL at TIER 4. Standard is quite evidently comparable between these regional leagues and L2. Brechin are a big club, but if they're that good they should get out the HFL - or will they? Maybe they just found their natural level. There are simply too many clubs in the 'pro leagues' still playing each other 4 times a season and travelling all over the country for what? Elgin to Cowdenbeath in a league game - how is this advancing Scottish football? Edited January 20, 2020 by Che Dail 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inanimate Carbon Rod Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 It's not splitting hairs, it's fact. Stop peddling suppositions and guesses as fact. You clearly don't want Tayside to be in the HL area and will resort to twisting anything that might prevent that.Tayside clearly should be in the HL area. You want to run a club in the north of Scotland, thats where you play! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 10 minutes ago, LongTimeLurker said: They had already indicated their interest in being a tier 6. It was the north region that needed to be persuaded by the SFA and the SJFA. The SJFA have a mandate from their membership to negotiate SJFA entry. The north region were always going to fall into line to make that possible if things got sorted in the south. If they are being pressured to be on board by next season it shows the powers that be at Hampden think a fully integrated pyramid is very close to happening now. Yes, and they weren't there at this all important meeting. NCL absent = that's fine they're totally in for 2020/21. North of Tay absent = nope! Can't be done, not enough time. They had to be there. I also noticed on rereading that there are BBC website stories about the HL/LL boundary. Could of sworn there was just one. That amounted to a single sentence saying there was a meeting on the 29th. You know the same day as the PWG meet to discuss the boundary and all the options. On the other hand there is the actual interview with the current Brechin City chairman that covers getting relegated to the Highland League. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShrimpLok Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 46 minutes ago, Burnie_man said: This is what a 16 teams combined North/Tayside league would look like. Almost all clubs in the Dendee to Aberdeen corridor Carnoustie Panmure Broughty Athletic Lochee United Dundee North End Downfield Kirriemuir Thistle Scone Thistle Forfar West End Montrose Roselea Banks O’Dee Culter Dyce Juniors Hermes Bridge of Don Thistle Nairn St.Ninian Deveronside Although of course Scone Thistle are in the LL area so without a change to the HL / LL boundary they'd actually be needing to apply for EOS membership or remain in the ERJFA rump South of Tay league (despite being north of the Tay). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongTimeLurker Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 18 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said: Yes, and they weren't there at this all important meeting. NCL absent = that's fine they're totally in for 2020/21. North of Tay absent = nope! Can't be done, not enough time. They had to be there. I also noticed on rereading that there are BBC website stories about the HL/LL boundary. Could of sworn there was just one. That amounted to a single sentence saying there was a meeting on the 29th. You know the same day as the PWG meet to discuss the boundary and all the options. On the other hand there is the actual interview with the current Brechin City chairman that covers getting relegated to the Highland League. Getting very petty now. I had already fixed the website story to the singular to try to avoid a post like this and the first part completely fails to address the point I made. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeek Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 The fact you can see posts, when quoted, from people you have on ignore, is a major flaw in this fine forum's design IMO. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 47 minutes ago, Che Dail said: Woul they need to displace weaker teams in the HFL? in time this league could operate ALONGSIDE the current HFL at the same tier. So in a similar vein to discussions around LLW and LLE, we would have a HL north (as existing) and a HL south (Tayside and Aberdeenshire) Clubs get licensed (and can do a Broxburn / Penicuik / Bonnyrigg in the Scottish Cup) and after a couple of seasons the winner plays off with the HFL north for pyramid entry. The clubs will get stronger and facilities will improve. In the short term there would be a Super Highland League but why not go down the route which you suggest with North & West and East & South parallel leagues in due course? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 1 hour ago, Burnie_man said: This is what a 16 teams combined North/Tayside league would look like. Almost all clubs in the Dendee to Aberdeen corridor Carnoustie Panmure Broughty Athletic Lochee United Dundee North End Downfield Kirriemuir Thistle Scone Thistle Forfar West End Montrose Roselea Banks O’Dee Culter Dyce Juniors Hermes Bridge of Don Thistle Nairn St.Ninian Deveronside No. I wasn't thinking that there should be a merger of the top North and north of Taybridge Juniors. They need not to travel outside their areas at the level beneath the Highland League. They would be separate feeder leagues to the HL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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