Amateur season set for summer switch?

Ally McGilvray 1606 - 1606 • Published 5 May 2009 12:22 0 Comments

FOOTBALL fans in the Borders may no longer have to endure the worst of the winter weather to watch their teams in action.

Border amateur league bosses have revealed they would consider a switch to summer football if there was enough support.

However, with all three divisions going down to the final kick of the ball this season and a new team applying to join the current setup, they have questioned whether there is any need for change.

League secretary Wilma Moscrop told the Border Telegraph: 'It is a decision that the clubs would have to make themselves - we only do what they want.

'Given the recent warm weather we"ve enjoyed, I think it"s something some of the clubs would support. Personally, I am a traditionalist and think football should be played from August to May.

'We"ve had very few postponements this year due to the weather. We did have a spell of wet weather at the start of the season and although that created a backlog of fixtures I"m not expecting the season to over-run beyond May 31.'

The league secretary went on to point out that clubs would have to consider the impact of competing against other summer sports such as bowls and cricket.

She added: 'This season each league seems to be going down to the wire in terms of promotion and relegation which is making it more exciting for the fans and we already have an application from West Linton to join the current set-up league next season so we have to ask the question do we really want to change it?'

After watching his side shock Gala Rovers with a 3-0 win in the sun on Saturday, Stow secretary Tucker McCall said: 'Yes.' He revealed he had to postpone the 14th annual Stow Sevens due to problems with drainage on the park.

The event planned for Sunday has now been rescheduled for the pre-season.

Mr McCall said: 'I would go with a summer season providing the surfaces are good because although it"s glorious here the pitch is very bumpy.

'We"ve actually had to shorten our park and put up temporary goals until are flooding problems are fixed.'

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