Tynecastle FC and Tollcross United merge

TOLLCROSS United, members of the East of Scotland FA and currently playing in the first division, are to merge with Eastern Region Youth FA club Tynecastle FC.

Although an agreed merger, from next season the playing name of the club will be that of Tynecastle Football Club and the famous maroon colours of the long-established juvenile club will now be seen in the higher leagues and cup competitions of the East of Scotland FA.

The senior team will continue to play their home matches at Fernieside Recreation Park and are at present in discussion with the City Council in an effort to improve the playing surface and changing facilities.

The merger of the two clubs is seen as a tremendous step forward and allows the members of the Tynecastle Club to continue their playing careers with the club well beyond youth football.

In turn, Tollcross, with no current youth set up, will benefit from the steady steam of players coming through the ranks.

Tynecastle FC manager Douglas Dalgleish is already very excited about the development. He said: "The coming together of the two organisations will be of enormous benefit.

"Having a team in the East of Scotland Association is seen as another step forward in our plan for growth.

"Another immediate benefit is our under-19 team now being able to compete in the East of Scotland Youth League.

"This in effect becomes the reserve team for the Seniors as the under-19s play on a Sunday the younger players will also be available for the Senior team on a Saturday.

"Discussions about the merger have been going on for some time with the outcome never in any doubt.

"We both wanted it to happen, and it was merely a case of everyone being comfortable with the technicalities."

Alistair Wilkie, the secretary of Tollcross, has absolutely no reservations about the move, saying: "For some time now we have struggled to encourage younger players to join and the tie up with such a club as Tynecastle is the only way forward.

"It is sad that the Tollcross name will disappear after all those years but we need to look to the future and the new set up will allow us to move forward."

Tynecastle Football Club are looking for players born in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Any player interested should contact Doug on 0793 114 0724.