Vale go longer than close season without football
Kristian Truelsen • Published 19 Jan 2010 12:00
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WITH the winter weather wiping out the Junior football fixture card again at the weekend, the summer football debate has been sparked again.
Clubs unanimously rejected the idea of the Junior football season being switched to the summer after the Scottish Junior Football Association asked for their views on the issue last year.
And Vale of Leven secretary Angus Wallace hasn't changed his mind on the matter despite Hugh Hamill's men being out of action for over two months.
He said: "I am a traditionalist and like to see the season to be played when it is. The thing about summer football is - when do you close the season down?
"With so many games being called off it is leaving clubs out of pocket with hiring indoor facilities, but I am happy with the way the season is.
"It would be impossible for us to get players in because of holidays and we carry out work on the pitch during the summer while the grass can grow.
"It might be okay for the seniors to play summer football but it wouldn't work for the Juniors.
"I was against it last year and I'm against it this year as well.
"I must admit I would rather be watching football in sunny weather than in the pouring rain. It is a nice idea, but I don't think it would work."
Vale assistant Scott McKernan would love to see the side playing in the summer sun instead of having to put up with yet another call off caused by a frozen pitch.
But McKernan, like the Vale secretary, reckons summer wouldn't work in Junior football.
He said: "We had a problem last year with the weather and some teams were playing on to the start of July.
"We were lucky because we were in a slightly smaller league and we managed to finish a bit earlier.
"You don't know when players would take a break because people are on holidays at that period.
"Summer football is something I wouldn't be against - I am just not sure how you would work around a schedule. But you never say never.
"That is 10 weeks since we have played a full game of football which is a longer spell than we would have on pre-season.
"Apart from the 20 minutes we had against Cambuslang Rangers, I don't think we have played since November. Even Petershill against Beith, which was due to be played on astroturf, was called off.
"The winter weather has also cost clubs a lot of money with booking for indoor facilities for training.
"It has been difficult for clubs and I think another problem with this country is the lack of indoor facilities.
"It is a topic that will be talked about for a long time and with teams not being able to play for so long you may get a U-turn in club's decisions to play summer football."
SJFA secretary Tom Johnston said: "We surveyed the clubs last March and the feedback we got from the clubs was that there was no appetite for summer football.
"We will continue to monitor the issue but until there is an appetite for it we won't change to summer football."
This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 19 Jan 10
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