Highland Pyramid

[vikingTON]

6 minutes ago, welshbairn said:

It's a bit more sustainable though.

We'll soon see about that when the economic wreckage of Covid comes washing up on the shore. 

[Gordon EF]

9 minutes ago, welshbairn said:

It's a bit more sustainable though.

As with every situation like this, it's sustainable right up to the point whoever's doing it decides to stop. It's less likely Brora will be saddled with massive debt as a club, compared to say Gretna, but their current level of squad is utterly unsustainable beyond their benefactor's generosity. Same as Kelty, same as Cove, same as East Kilbride, same as Darvel.

[LongTimeLurker]

15 hours ago, Gordon EF said:

...Brora have as much right as anyone to a place in the SPFL but if they make it, it won't be because they've managed to find their 'natural level' in replacing "deadwood, unambitious" clubs like Albion Rovers. It'll be because someone is pumping money into them to inflate them well beyond their level.

Brora and Darvel are obviously being financially doped in a big way at the moment, but so are Queen's Park with their recent move to full-time status, so that's not only a factor outside the SPFL. Would Ross County be a Premiership team without Roy McGregor or would they be following more of an Elgin City or Peterhead type trajectory? Think it's important to bear in mind that there's ex-west region clubs like Auchinleck Talbot and Clydebank that are probably coming soon into the picture to join Bonnyrigg Rose and Bo'ness United that won't need a Kelty style sugar daddy to be a threat to the league status of clubs like Albion Rovers. They have the core support, infrastructure and organisation in place to be potential SPFL2 material without that. The LL is going to be much stronger a decade or so from now and relegation out of the SPFL will lose some of its fear factor.

 

Edited August 17, 2020 by LongTimeLurker

[Gordon EF]

1 minute ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Brora and Darvel are obviously being financially doped in a big way at the moment, but so are Queen's Park with their recent move to full-time status right now, so that's not only a factor outside the SPFL. Would Ross County be a Premiership team without Roy McGregor or would they be following more of an Elgin City or Peterhead type trajectory? Think it's important to bear in mind that there's ex-west region clubs like Auchinleck Talbot and Clydebank that are probably coming soon into the picture to join Bonnyrigg Rose and Bo'ness United that won't need a Kelty style sugar daddy to be a threat to the league status of clubs like Albion Rovers. They have the core support, infrastructure and organisation in place to be potential SPFL2 material without that. The LL is going to be much stronger a decade or so from now and relegation out of the SPFL will lose some of its fear factor.

 

Yeah, there have been and are a number of SPFL clubs that have been financially propped up over the years.

There are clearly a good few clubs who're "naturally" big enough to compete with current SPFL clubs and I agree, the LL looks like it's going to be an absolutely cracking league in a few years time. Honestly I can see quite a few SPFL fans not being that bothered about dropping into it to some extent when it provides an opportunity to visit loads of new grounds, loads of bigger non-SPFL clubs and will probably be an extremely competitive league from top to bottom.

[sdr71]

18 hours ago, Andy groundhopper said:

Just out of interest, would the Highland, Tayside debates be worse than the farce in England, Truro in the Southern Lge/Conf South - what a journey every week home and away - with Gloucester Inthe National North with those trips all the time ! So long as the NCL becomes a feeder into the HL, at least there's something there to aim for. 

The English silliness is caused by their FA's giving far more weight to geometry than geography, pooling clubs of an equivalent standard and splitting them rather than accepting that some leagues will be stronger than others.

The effect of pooling clubs on a north/south basis can be seen in this year's SPFL League Cup draw.  Dundee have been drawn against Cove and Brora in the north section...but so have Hibs.

[Marshmallo]

On 13/08/2020 at 19:02, Cyclizine said:

I, for one, feel that Scottish football needs a strong Campbeltown League at Tier 5.

It would probably be of a higher standard than "The South of Scotland League", to be fair.

[Robert James]

On 14/08/2020 at 10:41, welshbairn said:

Any team can apply to join the HL at any time, they don't have to wait for an invitation. The only team to do so whilst there's been an obvious vacancy since Cove Rangers were promoted, was Caley Thistle Colts who certainly weren't invited and were told where to go. Not sure what you mean by an intermediary HL2 season. As @FairWeatherFan said Golspie don't have floodlights, but not sure if that would be an automatic bar if they committed to installing them, I'm pretty sure Fort William were permitted to spend their first few seasons without them, probably aided by their inability to host home matches during the Winter months.

Golspie have applied for, and been successful in obtaining planning permission for floodlights. This time, no appeal was lodged by local neighbours, against their use.

Unfortunately their installation has been hampered by the lockdown, although it is still proposed that they will be erected soon, as without having them they run the risk of losing their SFA licence..

In recent years, the HFL has tightened its stance regarding its clubs needing floodlights. 

[Andy groundhopper]

Think that so long as clubs can prove their  intentions, then most leagues seem to have a period of grace, say floodlights within 2 years for promoted clubs etc. Any ambitious clubs should  have lights and cover as their short term target, seeing as covid19 has had an impact it's brilliant how clubs have progressed with groundwork.

[Robert James]

On 30/08/2020 at 18:59, Andy groundhopper said:

Think that so long as clubs can prove their  intentions, then most leagues seem to have a period of grace, say floodlights within 2 years for promoted clubs etc. Any ambitious clubs should  have lights and cover as their short term target, seeing as covid19 has had an impact it's brilliant how clubs have progressed with groundwork.

Agreed.

When I went to Home Park 3 years ago, I couldn't see Coldstream being allowed to erect floodlight, nor having the finance to do so.. How wrong I was.

 

[Cyclizine]

On 30/08/2020 at 18:59, Andy groundhopper said:

Think that so long as clubs can prove their  intentions, then most leagues seem to have a period of grace, say floodlights within 2 years for promoted clubs etc. Any ambitious clubs should  have lights and cover as their short term target, seeing as covid19 has had an impact it's brilliant how clubs have progressed with groundwork.

This isn't the case with the HFL, LFL and SPFL. The league regulations mandate a minimum entry level licence. We can argue about the fairness of the licence requirements and what the standards required should be, but clubs know they must meet the them before they can be promoted to tier 5 and beyond.

[Jimmy Shaker]

Clubs were given time to sort themselves out during the last intake, and when Charlie Bangers Circus were elected. Not happening again tho.

[welshbairn]

58 minutes ago, Jimmy Shaker said:

Clubs were given time to sort themselves out during the last intake, and when Charlie Bangers Circus were elected. Not happening again tho.

Don't get the reference but assume you mean Fort. The more annoying ones for me were the likes of Formartine and Cove who spent a fortune on players for years while doing f**k all about their unplayable swamp of a pitch in the former case, and Cove who spent even more whilst paying by the hour to any hoor who was willing to rent out a bit of raddled turf for game time.

[Cyclizine]

Charlie Banger's Circus = Inverurie Locos

[Jimmy Shaker]

Correct.

[Jimmy Shaker]

Going to have to try and get that back into regular circulation this season.

[welshbairn]

On 01/09/2020 at 09:12, Jimmy Shaker said:

Going to have to try and get that back into regular circulation this season.

Tell them that dry cleaners have been invented, they were well whiffy last time I encountered them.

[Robert James]

On 01/09/2020 at 07:37, Cyclizine said:

Charlie Banger's Circus = Inverurie Locos

 

I'm chuffed about your art work !!

 

 

[Robert James]

It was excellent that the Highland League  Cup semi finals were streamed, and congratulations to Rothes and Buckie Thistle for reaching the Final. Shame about the weather yesterday.

Rod Houston has asked if streaming could this be a viable solution, in allowing the HFL to restart ?  The outcome of the proposed league meeting during week commencing 9th October, is awaited with interest.

 

 

[Dev]

Some views from Fraserbugh about the Highland Pyramid i.e. see article for full story from NE98:

 

Fraserburgh Chairman Finlay Noble on potential promotion, linking the northern juniors and lockdown

Posted byne98ftFebruary 5, 2021Posted inUncategorized

By Keiran Fleming

Assistant Editor Keiran Fleming recently had the chance to sit down with Chairman of Highland League outfit Fraserburgh FC Finlay Noble to chat about promotion aspirations, the impact of the pandemic and the potential for Junior football in the north-east to join the pyramid.

Finlay Noble says that it is highly likely Junior Football in the north of the country could follow in the footsteps of their counterparts in the south and act as a feeder to the Highland League:

“There’s a meeting coming up on that subject between the Highland League and the Juniors. I think whatever’s below the Highland League would be the bottom of the pyramid in our area because obviously there’s a limited population and a limited amount of clubs.“

“The North Caledonian League are onboard so we’re hopeful that the North Juniors will also come onboard so that it allows clubs in the North-East of Scotland to get into the Highland League. I’m sure there are one or two clubs that could easily survive and it also allows clubs to find their own feet.

 Dyce Juniors are in the Aberdeenshire FA, I think Bridge of Don Thistle are quite ambitious, Culter are certainly a capable club. Banks o’ Dee are very capable of getting into the Highland League they’ve proved that, and if they were to be in the Highland League they’re pool of players will be guys who want to be in the Highland League. What you’ll find is these clubs who want to get in the Highland League will attract the players who are happy to do that. I think one or two of them will be quite a good addition to the pyramid set up.”

[LongTimeLurker]

...not a peep about the Tayside juniors as per usual. Don't have a strong opinion personally on which way Tayside junior clubs should go on this as there are reaonable arguments to be made both ways, but it is noteworthy that in local media stories in the Highland League catchment it is only ever the NCL plus the north region that rate a mention on this. Tayside being a factor is something you only really see on P&B.