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NO SUMMER FOOTBALL IN SOUTH
SOUTH of Scotland sides have turned down the chance of summer football despite having nearly 400 games postponed because of the weather in the past four seasons.
The 2009-10 season was one of the worst according to South of Scotland League secretary, Dick Shaw, who has revealed that 96 games were called off last season.
But at the annual general meeting of the Southern Counties FA and the South of Scotland League, the member clubs voted to start the season at the end of July but decided not to play for a cup during the earlier part of the month.
Representatives of Crichton and Heston Rovers moved that the season should start on Satuday July 31 and it was successful over an amendment from Mid Annandale and Threave Rovers who wanted a July 24 start. The voting was 8-4.
Mr Shaw said that the season had commenced last year with 10 league matches so that trialists could be included in the squads at the start of the season.
This meant that the League Cup did not commence until September, bringing with it many postponements and resulting in the League Cup final not being decided until February.
"The League Cup previously was a short sharp competition allowing clubs to get into their stride before the important league championship but deferring it until later proved to be a hindrance and perhaps a re-think on the start of the League Cup competition should be undertaken," he said.
Mr Shaw also said that the league was a close run competition with three clubs - St Cuthbert Wanderers, Threave Rovers and Dalbeattie Star in contention right up until April 24 when Threave defeated St Cuthberts with a penalty at Meadow Park.
The only match that Threave lost was against Newton Stewart on August 8 last year. "This was the second successive championship win by Theave and the fourth time in five years they have won the title, a real mark of consistency," he said.
Mr Shaw added: "My opinion on some football in the summer months are well documented and in my discussions with clubs during the season, I'm sure that many of them are considering proposals to that effect."
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