Capital's clubs not deterred by barriers obstructing their progression

SPARTANS JUNIORS and Civil Service Strollers were back in action for the first time this year with Spartans running out 2-0 winners over their north Edinburgh opponents.

With the result largely irrelevant, Strollers co-manager Keith Stewart was delighted just to see his players touch a football again after a freezing past four weeks that denied them the opportunity of ball work in training.

From a wider perspective, any uninformed neutral spectator would have wondered why two evenly-matched teams from Pilton and nearby Muirhouse never have the opportunity to meet on competitive duty – given that one is a junior side (Spartans), while Civil Service Strollers plies its trade in the senior East of Scotland League.

The coaches of both clubs agreed that a single national pyramid set-up, inclusive of all teams irrespective of their current status, could benefit football in the country.

"We need the pyramid to progress the state of football in Scotland," said Stewart, after seeing his side beaten by first-half strikes from Spartans' Paul Sutherland and Kenny Young. "At the moment in the SFL, there's no incentive not to finish bottom – the team that does still gets a great whacking pay-out. In Edinburgh City, Spartans and Preston Athletic, there are plenty East of Scotland teams with ambitions, so why should they be denied that?

"I can't speak for the junior teams, as I'm not involved in that side of things and I don't know that much about it, but some clubs might be wondering why they would want to go into a different league where their crowds might dwindle. I can understand that."

David Cowan, the Spartans manager who last season took charge of Hearts' reserve and under-17 outfits, wholehearted supports the idea of a league structure that allows all clubs to find their level.

"The pyramid is the only way forward. You have junior teams who are more than capable of matching senior sides, but you'll also have clubs who are happy where they are. Teams who want to get into it should go, certainly there should be an access route.

"But, the junior leagues are well-established and there a lot of loyalty towards them. There certainly needs to be something done – you've seen the set-up we have with our stadium here and we're a lot better run than some league teams."

Certainly, the senior branch of Spartans' all-encompassing hierarchy has made no secret of its desire to enter the Scottish Football League, denied a couple of years ago when Annan Athletic got the nod for a place in the Third Division after the demise of Gretna.

Their Ainslie Park home is one of the best-equipped stadiums of any outside the Scottish Premier League, and the artificial surface there played host to four of the few competitive and friendly games that went ahead last week.

Captain Ollie Antoni, continuing his comeback from injury at the heart of the Spartans' midfield, was instrumental in crafting victory over Strollers. Paul Sutherland prodded over the line for the opening goal in the 16th minute after Antoni's header had been saved, and two minutes later Adam Perry laid the ball to Young on the edge of the penalty area, and the veteran midfielder showed textbook technique to drive his strike into the middle right-hand corner of the netting.

"Everybody was looking for a game, and we were looking for a test to see where we're at," said Cowan, whose side are contesting their first campaign in the junior ranks since forming last year. "For the first 25 minutes I thought we were good.

"When you make seven changes at half-time, though, consistency will always be a problem.

Antoni, has been out injured and it's good to have him back in the centre of midfield. You've got to have respect for Kenny Young, too – he scored a great goal, is a big influence, and is one of the oldest but fittest players in our team.

"I was at Hearts, where I took the reserves and the under-17s, but then the reserve league folded and I took the opportunity to take over at Spartans. The aim of the project is ultimately to get into the East Super League. There's a decent standard, and we'll maybe not get out of our league this year but we'll be looking to the Premier League next season."