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ARE you a fan of fitba played below the leagues that have the glitz and glamour? Then you’ve come to the right place. Join the Scottish Sun’s Gareth Law and Newmains United co-manager manager Paul Davies for a weekly look at football lower down the ladder. Hear the latest news, discussion and stories along with managers, players, administrators, fans and more from SPFL League One and Two, the Lowland and Highland Leagues, South and East of Scotland Leagues and the juniors. There’s a chance f ...
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Down The Divisions
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038 Carlo Walker: Maybole appeal & player fears, loans in the pandemic & why he'd take his 20-year-old self to a desert island
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LOWER LEAGUE football is back on hold again. That’s despite requests from some sides to halt certain levels being turned down by the Lowland League last week. One of the clubs who wanted a suspension was Maybole. Their manager, club legend Carlo Walker, joins us on the show this week. We’ll hear how player concerns and fears over asking them to pla…
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037 Clydebank boss Gordon Moffat part 2: biggest regret, his banter man & the car crash injury PLUS end of year special
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SO the special day is almost upon us – and it’s time for a special final show of the year. We’ll find out exactly what Paul is hoping to get in his Christmas stocking – and just who is doing the stuffing in the Davies household. On a more serious note we’ll talk about the vital handouts which have been promised to clubs after the SFA’s deal with th…
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036 David Baikie: how Liz McColgan helped Tayport, being back as chairman & how car boot sales saved the day
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DAVID BAIKIE is a man steeped in lower league football in Scotland. There’s not a lot he hasn’t seen as a player, manager and now a chairman. His most successful stay was at Tayport, where across 13 years he amassed nearly 30 trophies including two Scottish Junior Cups. We'll hear the part former top athlete Liz McColgan played in helping Baikie cr…
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035 Davie Menelaws: bouncing back at Bellshill, scoring at 42 & being told about Carluke axe at WWE
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BELLSHILL ATHLETIC are one of three teams riding high in the West of Scotland League’s Conference A. But they needed their 42-year-old assistant boss to grab their last ditch winner to keep them there in their last outing. Manager Derek Wilson reckons right-hand man Davie Menelaws no longer has the legs to play from the start. We’ll find out just w…
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034 Gordon Moffat: trying to take Clydebank back to the big time after players took wage cuts to play & why the No7 means so much
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ARE the Bankies on the way back to the big time? Clydebank are flying high in the West of Scotland League with 12 points from 12 and a cup win. It’s been 18 years since we last saw them in the top four leagues. But with the new pyramid system now in place could we see them back amongst the big boys once again. Gordon Moffat is the man who’s steered…
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Down The Divisions
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033 WOSFL IMG secretary Kennie Young: explanations, answering accusations & why some clubs could soon be using changing rooms again
1:09:22
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THERE can’t have been many busier football administrators this summer than Kennie Young. The West of Scotland League’s fixture secretary hasn’t just had a new setup to schedule. He’s had to deal with a global pandemic, ever-changing conditions and teams pulling out. That’s seen conferences ripped up and redrawn and matches altered and called off at…
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Down The Divisions
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032 Yoker co-boss Tommy Montgomery: appealing covid walkover, why ruling could cause others not to report positive tests & wanting to become the next Gordon Banks
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PARTS of Scotland have gone back into lockdown this week. We’ll wait to hear if or how these tighter restrictions could affect football. Our latest guest is still unhappy about what happened after his side called off a game because of a covid outbreak. News of the West of Scotland League dishing out a 3-0 defeat to Yoker Athletic after they cancell…
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031: Yoker verdict & St Roch's boss Paul Kelly part 2 on returning to a club with family links, how they're more than a club, self-doubt after Petershill exit and playing with Pat Nevin
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YOKER share the lead in a weather-affected West of Scotland League Conference C. But they’ve hit out at being given a 3-0 defeat to Drumchapel on the weekend after calling the sides’ game off because of coronavirus issues. They claimed the game should be postponed after a player tested positive with covid-19. But Yoker were told they needed to show…
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Down The Divisions
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030 John McKeown: Bon Accord's withdrawal, glory at Wishaw, fearing the sack after 1 game at Cumnock, the only time he cried at a game & injury ending his playing days
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WE’VE had matchday two of the West of Scotland League – and it’s Darvel and Clydebank flying high at the top of the Premier Division with maximum points. In another season Shots Bon Accord might have been battling it out with them in the top flight too. But instead they’re one of 15 clubs now looking on from the outside after choosing to sit out a …
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029 Jamie Nesbitt: Thorniewood's day one win, getting five in a motor to win Royal Albert's first title in 90 years & the WOSFL kick-off
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THE first ever West of Scotland League season finally got up and running on the weekend. But Dalry Thistle have become the 15th side to withdraw – after their opening game of the season was rained off. That’s left Conference C a side down – but with us we have a manager from that section whose side certainly started on the up. Lanark United are see…
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028 St Roch's' Paul Kelly: WoSFL lacking leadership & punishing teams who want to compete, clubs' honesty & sharing the pain, appetite for Ayrshire football to return & season preview
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THERE’S been more upheavel in the West of Scotland League this week. On the day of recording, 13 teams had confirmed they CAN’T take part as long as fans aren’t allowed into games. Lesmahagow have since joined them. That’s seen the conferences redrawn and confirmation there will be no relegation or promotion. In the meantime fixture secretary Kenni…
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027 Tommy Sloan: the legendary boss on Auchinleck Talbot pulling out of the league and looking back on his all-conquering career
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IT'S been a bombshell week Down The Divisions as football tries to make a comeback. While the BetFred Cup and Lowland League has kicked off, the start of the new West of Scotland League is still up in the air. With no fans allowed in some clubs have pulled out and there might be no promotion or relegation for the ones who will try to play. Last yea…
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026 Ashfield striker Callum Graham: 198 goals in five seasons, 11 in one game, 42 last term & why he's stayed at Ashfield
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CALLUM GRAHAM scored 198 goals in five seasons. After making his name at amateur side Motherwell Kings he stepped up to the juniors with Ashfield last season. The strikes kept coming as he hit 30 by November and had 42 to his name when football when into lockdown. He’s decided to stay with Paul Maxwell’s side for another season and joins us on the …
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Down The Divisions
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025 Scott McLaughlin: Retiring to become an agent, lockdown running, best pal Snoddy, cup glory at Livi, promotion at Morton, cup success at Airdrie & his holiday trilby hat
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SCOTT McLAUGHLIN spent lockdown doing 5ks, 10ks and even a marathon. But last month he decided his football career had ran its course. After more than 18 years as a player he felt it was time to hang up his boots to focus on being an agent. We hear how that’s been going – and the way his running inspired others to get their trainers on too. Scott t…
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Down The Divisions
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024 Ross Wilson: Restoring Maryhill at 31, cutting his teeth at Kello, learning from what happened at Irvine Meadow & this week's West of Scotland League announcement
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ROSS WILSON is only 31 but he’s already in his third role as a manager. In December he was handed the task of trying to restore Maryhill to their former glories. After steering Kello Rovers to an unlikely promotion on a shoestring budget he was installed as Irvine Meadow boss at the age of 28. But he was sacked just 13 games in amid claims of a fan…
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023 Matt Flynn: Promotion ripped away at Kelty, Fergie, Scott Allan, losing both parents & his way, bouncing back, teammates chipping in for op & selling lubricants
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THERE'S no Paul this week so Airdrie director of football Stuart Millar joins Gareth as guest co-presenter to speak to Kelty Hearts midfielder Matt Flynn. Matt could have been preparing for a new season back in the SPFL but the promotion door from the Lowland League was slammed shut during lockdown. Sitting on a fishing chair in his front room, he …
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022 Jim Chapman: winning at Ibrox & meeting his hero, losing a captain, the legless guy who helped him deal with injury ending his playing days, buying back his Albion Rovers shirt on ebay & missing Twirls ...
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WE’RE going trans-Atlantic on Down The Divisions. For the past two years Jim Chapman has been assistant coach for the University of Kentucky’s women’s team. But before that he had a long and distinguished career in Scotland’s lower leagues. After turning out for Albion Rovers and Dumbarton his playing career was cut short by a cruciate injury at th…
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021 Berwick Rangers director David Buglass: locals loving their club again, AVB playing Championship Manager, players having their chips & why he'd appoint female coaches
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DAVID BUGLASS has travelled around Europe working in corporate business. But in January he returned to his roots and joined the board of directors at Berwick Rangers. Born in the town across the border in England, David has made it his mission to encourage locals to fall back in love with the club that plays in Scotland. After falling out of the SP…
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020 Drumchapel United co-boss Adam Hopes: from amateurs to landing Darian MacKinnon, their 90-year-old player and how Austin Powers nearly got him a move to New Zealand
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ADAM HOPES owns his own roofing company. But he’s also one of the men hoping to show there’s no ceiling on what Drumchapel United can achieve. The Drum have made the bold switch from top amateur team to the new West of Scotland League setup. When football resumes they’ll be mixing it with the traditional former juniors’ sides in Conference C. Adam …
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019 Stevie Farrell: lockdown relegation, bottling the chance to meet his hero, Alan Ball, Chris Kamara, Paul Lambert & a love for Eastenders
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STEVIE FARRELL has signed the likes of Roy Keane, Terry Butcher, Paul Ince and Stuart Pearce. Not as boss of Stranraer, but in his high-powered day job working for a trade union. This summer life in charge of the Blues hasn’t been quite as much fun. Stevie was one of the three managers who saw his side relegated without completing the season. Stran…
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018 Kilwinning Rangers boss Chris Strain: Lockdown title loss, sacked then reinstated after 2 promotions, secret weapon Winston, Scottish Cup regrets at Irvine Meadow, Ross Stewart proving him right ...
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HEADING into lockdown Chris Strain had Kilwinning Rangers flying high at the top of the West Premiership. Coming out of it they’d watched Auchinleck Talbot handed the title. Before last year Chris guided the Buffs to two successive promotions - only to be sacked then reinstated. Still only 40 he’s already had six years in the dugout after growing u…
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017 Caledonian Braves owner Chris Ewing: building & branding a new club which fans control through an app & heading to France with just £40
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Chris Ewing is the brains behind Caledonian Braves, one of the most unique and innovative clubs in Scottish football right now. He wants to give fans the right to run their club and has even created an app to make it easier for them to call the shots. A new documentary Brave Calling was released on the STV Player last week and charts their rise. In…
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016: BSC Glasgow boss Stephen Swift: from daftie player to serious in the dugout, singing karaoke to Paul McStay & impersonations during Stranraer's glory years
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AS a player Stephen Swift had a reputation for liking a laugh and a joke. But now he’s deadly serious about becoming the best manager possible. Stephen is boss of Lowland League side BSC Glasgow. Last year he led them to an historic clash with Hibs in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. Their achievement in getting there – and the way they played on t…
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015 Linlithgow boss Brown Ferguson: continuing family fortunes at The Rose, why Uruguayan football succeeds where Scottish football fails, lessons learned from Stenhousemuir & working with Commonwealth ...
1:10:41
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LINLITHGOW'S eye-catching main stand is named after Brown Ferguson's grandad's brother. The lounge at Prestonfield has his grandfather's name above the door. Plus there's a plaque not far from the pie stall which remembers his late uncle. Brown used to charge about the ground as a toddler - but now he's the man charged with bringing them glory. But…
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014 Kilbirnie Ladeside No2 Des Roache: top ref to assistant boss, training with Paula Radcliffe & racing Haile Gebrselassie, talking Chinese meals on the pitch, why he chucked refereeing & the Champions ...
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DES ROACHE was once the ninth best Under-20s athlete in the world over 1500 metres and used to train with Paula Radcliffe. When a knee injury ended his dreams of making it on the track he turned to refereeing. He took charge of the 2010 Scottish Junior Cup final and spent five years as a category one whistler. But when football gets up and running …
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013 Pollok boss Murdo MacKinnon: Life at The Lok & Budgie McGhie, the glory & lucky pants at Ashfield, Irvine Meadow's highs & lows, why half-filled water bottles annoy him & the day a player's tie caused ...
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MURDO MacKINNON had his Pollok side sitting second in the West Premiership when football went into lockdown. On episode 13 the business and computing teacher tells Gareth and Paul how he's trying to maximise the output at Newlandsfield along with his assistant, the legendary Budgie McGhie. After Paul reveals he received his first ever Moonpig card …
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012 Mark Docherty on being St Mirren's worst boot boy, ditching his gambling addiction, being smashed by pal Andy Millen and the Alloa Legends' group chat
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WHEN Mark Docherty joined Annan in January he probably didn’t know how lucky he was. Mark is one of the fortunate ones thanks to the 18-month deal he penned at Galabank. But he tells Gareth and Paul how he was already counting his blessings after a trip to Gamblers' Anonymous eight years ago turned his life around. In a frank interview Mark reveals…
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011 Stephen Aitken: Kilby's ambitions, Ian Durrant, history-making at Dumbarton, unlocking Allan McGraw's knees, Jari Litmanen, why he'd be a better player & Stuart Millar's exploding pen
1:22:54
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STEPHEN AITKEN had the high of taking over at ambitious East Kilbride last week - only to suffer the crushing blow of losing his day job at Rolls Royce just a few days later. With the aviation industry on its knees, Stevie’s focus is now on sparking Kilby’s take off. The former Dumbarton manager has been handed a budget to get the club up up and aw…
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010 Rossvale boss David Gormley: Signing players in the bedroom while quarantined with coronavirus, no plans to be a manager, saving a penalty, learning from Fergie, Auchinleck-Cumnock & helping players ...
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FOOTBALL wasn’t at the forefront of David Gormley’s mind when we all went into lockdown. He was suffering coronavirus symptoms – and his wife was 30 weeks pregnant. But after a spell of self-isolation and getting meals delivered to his door he’s back up and running again and joins us on the show this week. After a successful playing career down the…
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Down The Divisions
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009 Cammy Bell on Queen's Park's project, Coisty's Rangers reign & rejecting paycuts, Mixu's football education & working for Manchester City
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IN February Cammy Bell linked up with manager Ray McKinnon for a third time after he joined Queen's Park. The Spiders had voted to end their 152 years as an amateur club and McKinnon made a move for Bell as they prepared to go full-time this summer. Cammy joins us for a revealing feature-length Episode 9 and lifts the lid on why he was persuaded to…
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008 Darvel boss Michael Kennedy on targeting the WoSFL title, those changing rooms, life in the amateurs & owning The Black Rooster
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AFTER a glittering spell managing in the amateurs Michael Kennedy is now the man turning Darvel into a growing force. In his first season he had attracted some star-studded names and steered the club to the top of the West Juniors Championship before lockdown halted things. They'll take their place in the new West of Scotland Premiership next seaso…
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007 Glenafton captain Craig Menzies on the Treble, WhatsApp groups, Gazza, his most talented teammate & working for MacMillan during lockdown
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If lockdown hadn't happened then Glenafton would have been preparing for their final league match as a juniors club this weekend. If they'd won all their games in hand they could have been vying for the title too. Their captain Craig Menzies joins Gareth and Paul and looks at the change to the new West of Scotland League setup. He reflects on a stu…
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006 Is the juniors game dying? A Down The Divisions Special with all three regions
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The whole of the West region juniors have moved across to the West of Scotland League. A group of clubs had already done the same in the East. Meanwhile up in the North the vast majority of clubs at that are happy to stay as they are. So where does this leave the juniors game in Scotland? For so long the school of hard knocks and a breeding ground …
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Down The Divisions
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005 Davie Irons on Stenny, selfishness in Scottish football, highs and lows at Gretna and working in the police. Plus Davie Syme on the juniors title controversy
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Stenhousemuir manager and Bruce Springsteen fan Davie Irons is this week's special guest. He's already given his wage back to the club to help them survive the coronavirus lockdown. Davie tells Gareth and Paul why he did that plus why he believes Scottish football's selfishness could backfire on clubs. In the week which marks the 13-year anniversar…
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004 Vale of Leithen player-coach Gerard Rossi: Escaping relegation, Scott Brown, trials in LA and nude training while playing in Slovakia
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This week we speak to Vale of Leithen player-coach Gerard Rossi. His side were bottom of the Lowland League when the season was brought to an end last week but they won't be going down. He tells Gareth and Paul why they deserve that second chance and what life at The Vale is like. Gerard talks about his early years at Hibs, when he'd have days tryi…
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003: Airdrieonians director of football Stuart Millar on coronavirus, the Nolans, managing in the juniors, Stranraer's highest ever league finish and Ian Murray
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Nolans-loving Airdrieonains director of football Stuart Millar has been at the heart of steering his club through the coronavirus crisis.. In Episode 3 hear him talk about: • The current state of the game in Scotland as it faces up to the effects of the coronavirus • Starting out as a manager in the juniors at Carluke Rovers and Cumbernauld United …
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002: Lowland League chairman George Fraser on the juniors becoming part of the pyramid
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George Fraser isn't only general manager at Lowland League side BSC Glasgow. He's also chairman of the Lowland League itself and right now is the man behind the West Region Scottish Junior Football Association's ground-breaking move into a new West of Scotland League setup. Tuesday's deadline saw all 68 teams in the existing structure sign up to th…
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001: Coronavirus crisis, juniors joining the pyramid and a Whitburn fan's song
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To kick-off the new Down The Divisions podcast, Gareth and Paul discuss how the coronavirus shutdown is affecting clubs lower down the leagues. Junior football is set for its biggest shakeup in its 134-year history this summer - and ahead of Tuesday's deadline for clubs from the west juniors section to apply for the new West of Scotland League, Pau…
