Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale become 90th SFA member

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale are the 90th club to join the Scottish Football Association as they aim to reach the Lowland League.

Alan McRae, centre with Tam Smith, was joined by former Hutchie players Gary Locke, Gregor Townsend and John Hughes plus LTHV manager Raymond Carr

SFA president Alan McRae attended Saughton Enclosure to present their official membership certificate to former players John Hughes, Gary Locke and the Scotland rugby head coach Gregor Townsend.

The Edinburgh club helped produce Scotland internationalists Gary Caldwell, Leigh Griffiths, Jason Cummings and Scotland Women’s internationalist Lizzie Arnot.

“Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale are a club steeped in history and their past players list speaks for itself,” said McRae.

LTHV club leader Tam Smith said: “We have worked very hard to meet entry level requirements on all points and this will now hopefully act as a platform to establish ourselves in the lower leagues before moving onwards and upwards.”

The club, currently playing in the East of Scotland League, now enjoy automatic entry into the Scottish Cup and the pyramid system.