New West of Scotland Leagues revealed for Lesmahagow Juniors, Carluke, Lanark and Forth

Lesmahagow Juniors boss Robert Irving reckons the new West of Scotland Football League set-up could have a revitalising effect on football whenever the sport resumes after Covid-19.
Lesmahagow Juniors manager Robert Irving is looking forward to being part of the new West of Scotland Football League set-upLesmahagow Juniors manager Robert Irving is looking forward to being part of the new West of Scotland Football League set-up
Lesmahagow Juniors manager Robert Irving is looking forward to being part of the new West of Scotland Football League set-up

An elite 20 clubs, including the 16 West Premiership sides, Bonnyton Thistle from the South of Scotland League and the Championship’s Darvel, Blantyre Victoria and Cumbernauld United, will form the top league at tier six of the senior football pyramid.

Meanwhile, the remaining 47 sides – including Lesmahagow and Clydesdale rivals Carluke Rovers, Lanark United and Forth Wanderers – will ply their trade within three conferences below the main league, at tier seven.

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Craighead Park gaffer Irving, whose side have quit the junior league ranks, told the Carluke and Lanark Gazette: “I definitely think this new set-up brings a freshness.

“There is definitely a variation and there’s certainly more travel involved going to play eight Ayrshire teams.

“That brings its own problems with boys working on a Saturday morning.

“It is what it is. We’ve just got to get on with it now.

“At this moment in time I just wish we could get a date to get started back.

“We’ll be lucky to play this year again.”

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Lesmahagow are in Conference A along with local rivals Forth Wanderers, Arthurlie, Bellshill, Craigmark Burntonians, Girvan, Glasgow University, Irvine Victoria, Johnstone Burgh, Lugar Boswell, Maryhill, Maybole, Muirkirk, Saltcoats, Shotts Bon Accord and Whitletts.

Clydesdale rivals Carluke Rovers are in Conference B with Annbank, Ardeer, Ashfield, Cambuslang Rangers, Dalry Thistle, Gartcairn, Greenock, Kello Rovers, Newmains, Port Glasgow, Renfrew, Royal Albert, Shettleston, St Cadoc’s and Thorniewood.

And Conference C is where we find Lanark United along with Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Drumchapel United, East Kilbride Thistle, Glasgow Perthshire, Kilsyth Rangers, Larkhall Thistle, Neilston, Petershill, St Anthony’s, St Roch’s, Vale of Clyde and Vale of Leven.

After the new set-up was announced on Monday evening, WOSFL chairman Dave McKenna said: “We feel we have achieved fair and balanced conferences and can only hope we get as much of a season as is possible under current circumstances.

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“I know you are all keen to get back to playing football, rather than just talking about it – me too.

“This is an exciting time for all our clubs and we still have many aspects to work out (including any promotion and relegation arrangements).

“We will get to them in due course.”

With the coronavirus crisis ongoing and a full public lockdown having been in place for over six weeks, the current sabbatical from football and sport in general makes it impossible to say whether or not the new league will start this summer as scheduled.