North Caledonian League Expansion

[Marten]

One solution for the Highlands and Islands could be to tag the amateur leagues on the NCL, but with only optional promotion. Not many, if any, of the remote (island) clubs will take the chance of promotion, but it gives them the chance to go for licensing and Scottish Cup entry. The money from that might eventually entice some to make the step up.

[GNU_Linux]

Just now, Marten said:

One solution for the Highlands and Islands could be to tag the amateur leagues on the NCL, but with only optional promotion. Not many, if any, of the remote (island) clubs will take the chance of promotion, but it gives them the chance to go for licensing and Scottish Cup entry. The money from that might eventually entice some to make the step up.

Main issue is the amateur & welfare leagues up in that part of the world are all summer leagues. Also as far as I'm aware plenty of players play for a team in summer & then an NCL team for football during the winter.

[Dev]

18 minutes ago, Marten said:

One solution for the Highlands and Islands could be to tag the amateur leagues on the NCL, but with only optional promotion. Not many, if any, of the remote (island) clubs will take the chance of promotion, but it gives them the chance to go for licensing and Scottish Cup entry. The money from that might eventually entice some to make the step up.

 

15 minutes ago, GNU_Linux said:

Main issue is the amateur & welfare leagues up in that part of the world are all summer leagues. Also as far as I'm aware plenty of players play for a team in summer & then an NCL team for football during the winter.

If Bunillidh Thistle return next winter that would bring the current league back to 13 teams. There was mention by Uncle Bob last year that he was aware of an Inverness Amateur side considering applying to join this summer. Then there's the new facility which the Uni of the Highlands and Islands is building at Inverness with a view to entering the Junior or Amateur ranks. There are four current North Region Junior west of the Spey with two more just to the east of it.

Maybe in five years time a two division NCL would be possible and sustainable. The lower division could be regionalised to help to reduce travel issues, and so on. It will be interesting to see what, if anything changes in the next few years but, regardless of that, it would be surprising if more clubs didn't set out to become licenced.

[Dev]

 

twitter.com/NorthCaleyFA/status/1378441994771529734

 

 

 

North Caledonian FA

 

@NorthCaleyFA

 

 

NCFA Statement #NCFA An email has tonight been sent out to all

@NorthCaleyFA

member clubs. The email has informed member clubs that fixtures will be released soon to enable us to complete the North Caledonian & Ness Cup league seasons Further information to following

 

 

9:19 pm · 3 Apr 2021·Twitter for iPhone

 

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Retweets

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[Dev]

Lateral Flow Covid tests are now available free in England. If the SG follows then the league could start sooner.

[craigkillie]

Lateral Flow Covid tests are now available free in England. If the SG follows then the league could start sooner.

Lateral flow tests are not currently considered sufficient by the SFA (nor UEFA for that matter).

[Dev]

2 hours ago, craigkillie said:

Lateral flow tests are not currently considered sufficient by the SFA (nor UEFA for that matter).

The best test would be one which showed, with certainty, that a person was infected and was infectious at the time of the test. The test being instantaneous too.

Unfortunately neither PCR or LF are there. There are tests which are being developed which may achieve the ideal but we shall have to wait a little longer for those. There is, at least, one which will provide an almost instantaneous result for a number of specific viruses. Not just covid. It will be capable of being programmed to identify variations of viruses too and not only of corona type viruses. When this arrives it will be revolutionary - and it is a UK invention. 

As, no doubt, you will be aware the best uses for the PCR and LF tests are specified on the UK Government web site. If you read that you will understand why using PCR is not the most practical choice for testing e.g. football players etc. LFR isn't ideal either but it does have the possibility to identify people who are at the most infectious stage of the disease so, in football terms, where the chances of transmitting the disease are practically minimal anyway, there is some logic to using it in preference to the PCR.

With regard to the chances of catching covid from activities which are outside and which are organised have been shown to be minimal. This has been identified last summer and there are many scientific reports which have volunteered such results. These are all in the public domain and they have all been presented to the various UK Governments. Each Government has responded in its' own uniquely political way, mainly totally disregarding the science. In my view the Governments in Wales and Scotland have, at times, been remarkably "sincere" whilst ignoring the science. 

It would be pleasing to hear the SG say Thanks to the UK scientists who acted so quickly to identify the covid threat and came up with a game-changing, revolutionary, vaccine which is going to help so many of the World's poorest countries (the EU is not poor). It would also help if they expressed some gratitude to the UK Tax-Payers for the vast amount of additional funding (albeit via the Barnett Formula and subject to huge long-term UK debt) which has enabled the wonderful staff of the NHS (not over-looking their unsung military colleagues) to fight the disease. It was the UK Govt which backed the development of the AZ vaccine to the hilt and they deserve huge credit for making that happen so rapidly. This is the time to show gratitude and not to be so humourless and disapproving. 

[Highland Capital]

Is there ever any chance of one of the Aviemore teams join the NCL?  You'd imagine they'd have the population to sustain a side.

[Stag Nation]

1 hour ago, Dev said:

The best test would be one which showed, with certainty, that a person was infected and was infectious at the time of the test. The test being instantaneous too.

 

Not for the victim. The best test for him would be one which showed, with certainty, that he person was NOT infected or was infectious.

[Cyclizine]

8 minutes ago, Highland Capital said:

Is there ever any chance of one of the Aviemore teams join the NCL?  You'd imagine they'd have the population to sustain a side.

Too close to Grantown, I'd think.

[Spyro]

1 hour ago, Highland Capital said:

Is there ever any chance of one of the Aviemore teams join the NCL?  You'd imagine they'd have the population to sustain a side.

Nobody lives in Aviemore for 9 month the of the year, they barely have an amateur team.

As Cyclizine said too, Strathspey Thistle and Cromdale/Spey Valley United more than cater for that area already

[Cyclizine]

26 minutes ago, Spyro said:

Nobody lives in Aviemore for 9 month the of the year, they barely have an amateur team.

As Cyclizine said too, Strathspey Thistle and Cromdale/Spey Valley United more than cater for that area already

Aviemore is an odd place population-wise, massive number of second homes and holiday homes. There'd be the ground issue as well, I'd imagine a lot of call offs with weather in winter (when everyone's skiing anyway). There's an astro park behind the GP surgery next to the new school, but it's just a generic 3G cage. I think the welfare teams used to play in Carrbridge though.

Edited April 6, 2021 by Cyclizine

[Spyro]

1 hour ago, Cyclizine said:

Aviemore is an odd place population-wise, massive number of second homes and holiday homes. There'd be the ground issue as well, I'd imagine a lot of call offs with weather in winter (when everyone's skiing anyway). There's an astro park behind the GP surgery next to the new school, but it's just a generic 3G cage. I think the welfare teams used to play in Carrbridge though.

Yeah it’s a strange place indeed, I love it!

I think the majority of local boys who want to play semi-serious amateur league football play for Tomatin in the Inverness summer league. The rest play shinty for one of the big 2 further south

[SecretCEO]

In terms of the boundary between the new tier 6 divisions, the original spirit and agreement of the pyramid as described by Stewart Regan was to have a floating boundary between the HL and LL, so it could be flexible at lower levels too.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.scotsman.com/sport/football/league-reconstruction-regan-optimistic-yes-vote-1571608%3famp

 

[Dev]

34 minutes ago, SecretCEO said:

In terms of the boundary between the new tier 6 divisions, the original spirit and agreement of the pyramid as described by Stewart Regan was to have a floating boundary between the HL and LL, so it could be flexible at lower levels too.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.scotsman.com/sport/football/league-reconstruction-regan-optimistic-yes-vote-1571608%3famp

 

In England the floating boundary between the North and South Conferences was a disaster for clubs from the North and Midlands of England as it favoured those from the south-east and the English FA has recognised this and is doing something to correct the imbalance which it created.

Here is a fuller extract of that article which clearly shows that If a team which comes down is in a completely different geographical location to the team coming up, you will either have a league running slightly imbalanced or they will invite another club in.

www.scotsman.com/sport/football/league-reconstruction-regan-optimistic-yes-vote-1571608

League reconstruction: Regan optimistic of Yes vote

SCOTTISH FA chief executive Stewart Regan is optimistic that proposals for a single league body will be approved today, avoiding another summer of discontent, which he says is the last thing the game needs.

By STEPHEN HALLIDAY    Wednesday, 12th June 2013, 12:05 pm

“We have agreement from both Highland and Lowland League that we would have a degree of flexibility as regards where the losers of the play-off final would go, similar to what happens in England with the Blue Square North and South Conferences.

“They have a floating boundary and an agreement to shuffle the pack if they need to in order to get the balance right. If a team which comes down is in a completely different geographical location to the team coming up, you will either have a league running slightly imbalanced or they will invite another club in.

“The Highland League runs with 18 teams at the moment. The Lowland League will run initially with 10 teams, rising to 16 over time which they see as their optimum number. The Lowland League will go ahead irrespective of whether the bottom of the Third Division is opened up by the SFL on Wednesday.

Edited April 7, 2021 by Dev
.

[TheScarf]

13 hours ago, Cyclizine said:

Aviemore is an odd place population-wise, massive number of second homes and holiday homes. There'd be the ground issue as well, I'd imagine a lot of call offs with weather in winter (when everyone's skiing anyway). There's an astro park behind the GP surgery next to the new school, but it's just a generic 3G cage. I think the welfare teams used to play in Carrbridge though.

I built an extension in Aviemore last year and i think in the wee cul-de-sac its was the only house owned by someone who lived there permanently.  Don't think there was cars in the drives of any of the other properties.

[Dev]

19 hours ago, craigkillie said:

Lateral flow tests are not currently considered sufficient by the SFA (nor UEFA for that matter).

For the record that is incorrect.  This is made absolutely clear as the NI League uses Lateral Flow Testing and there are numerous others who also use it elsewhere so it's nothing to do with UEFA. It is also very much to do with the Scottish Government who imposed their demands upon the SFA. See below:

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/health/scots-football-clubs-plea-rapid-23253558

Scots football clubs plea for rapid Covid-19 test to cut time and costs

Hamilton Accies have said the current regime – which is costing them about £36,000 each month – could force them and other clubs to the wall.

By     Gordon Blackstock       04:30, 3 JAN 2021

Scottish football chiefs have accused Nicola Sturgeon’s Government of putting their future in jeopardy with a­£5million coronavirus testing bill.

Clubs are lobbying to change rules on how players and staff without any symptoms are screened for the killer bug.

Hamilton Accies have said the current regime – which is costing them about £36,000 each month – could force them and other clubs to the wall.

They have called for the ­introduction of rapid lateral flow tests to be used on players instead of more expensive PCR tests. Both involve swabbing the nose and throat but the lateral flow tests cost a quarter of the price.

 

“Yes, we signed-up to use PCR testing but that was at the start of the season when there was no viable alternative. There is now.

The Antigen Covid test is cheaper and gives results in minutes, compared to the current PCR tests

“I want to know why the rapid tests are good enough for our doctors and nurses to use but not for our players performing in empty stadiums. It makes ­little sense.

“Surely the Scottish ­Government has the ­responsibility to aid us further in this health and financial crisis by authorising and ­implementing rapid testing.”

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is the most ­common form of testing in the UK. A swab is used to collect a sample from the patient’s tonsils and inside their nose. The test is then sent to a lab for testng.

Lateral flow devices – similar to home pregnacy test kits – give results in 15 minutes and have been used in care home visitor trials and on Scottish students. In England, the kits are used in some NHS hospitals and by local authorities.

They helped clear the backlog of lorry drivers trying to cross the English Channel last month.

However, safety rules drafted by the Scottish ­Professional Football League (SPFL), Scottish Football ­Association (SFA) and the ­Scottish Government ­dictate clubs must only use PCR tests.

The SPFL and SFA worked together as the Joint Response Group (JRG) to secure the return of professional football earlier this year, which saw them agree to the measures. Each PCR test costs about £90. Clubs say the money saved on testing is vital after losing revenue generated from gate receipts.

Hamilton Accies, who were the first club in Scotland to ­introduce body temperature cameras at their stadium to help fight coronavirus, estimate the bill until the end of the season will be about £400,000.

Other clubs are also ­pressuring the JRG to switch to lateral flow tests. A Livingston spokesman backed McGowan’s calls.

He said: “We’d like to see ­lateral flow tests used and have been in discussions about it with the SFA. We’re already using them on non-essential staff and besides the cost savings, it’s a quicker way of finding out who has ­coronavirus.”

Scottish clubs – apart from Aberdeen, Rangers and ­Livingston – use Hampshire-based Cignpost Diagnostics to carry out the current PCR tests.

The firm also works with the BBC, golf’s PGA European Tour and Netflix.

Cignpost was previously ­criticised for how quickly it turned around results. In July, Hibs had to call off a friendly with Ross County after Cignpost was unable to return test results in time. In the same month, a closed-doors friendly between Rangers and ­Motherwell was delayed because neither team had received their results.

Andy Smith, of the Scottish ­Football Supporters ­Association, said: “Clubs have been hit hard by fans not being allowed inside stadiums.

“If football authorities want to help, they would assist the clubs in paying for these tests.

“The SFA got a windfall of around £8million to qualify for the Euros, which wasn’texpected.

“We’d like to see that used to support football in this country and that may well ensure clubs’ survival during the pandemic.” A Cignpost spokeswoman said: “It’s widely accepted that the PCR test is the gold standard and most accurate test for Covid-19 levels, evidenced by the fact it is the test the NHS uses.”

McGowan added: “I want to make it clear I’m not having a go at either the SFA or SFPL.

“It’s the Scottish Government which is refusing to budge on this issue of rapid testing. We need it to see sense on this to ensure our clubs survive. Why give loans to businesses such as football clubs that will go to the wall?”

Edited April 7, 2021 by Dev
.

[craigkillie]

UEFA use PCR in their competitions, just like the SFA. I didn't say anything about the Northern Irish FA.

[Dev]

45 minutes ago, craigkillie said:

UEFA use PCR in their competitions, just like the SFA. I didn't say anything about the Northern Irish FA.

but we're referring to football in Scotland and particularly the NCL.

[craigkillie]

2 minutes ago, Dev said:

but we're referring to football in Scotland and particularly the NCL.

Which is why I mentioned the SFA.