Category: East of Scotland First Division

Vale in Lowland League Next Season

The Board of the Lowland League have confirmed that the 2019/2020 season is over and no more games will be played due to COVID-19. The Board have declared Kelty Hearts champions and confirmed that there will be no relegation this season.

Manager Chris Anderson said “We believe this is the correct decision and I am now looking to forward to start planning for next season’s Lowland League campaign.”

Vice Chairman John Anderson said “We would like to congratulate Kelty Hearts on a successful campaign and deserved recognition as Champions. The decision not to relegate any team based on a incomplete season is the right call, and we now look to draw a line under this season and look forward to a successful 2020/2021 season in the Lowland League.”

All I want is a performance

Manager Chris Anderson has given us an insight into tomorrow big game vs Dalbeattie Star, a team only three points ahead of the Vale.
“All I want is the same level of performance, effort and desire we showed last week. I thought we were excellent last week and as a manager when the full time whistle goes all you want is to look at the players eyes and to feel they’ve given you their absolute all. 
Everyone has written us off as relegated already but I’ve been in football a long time and football can turn in your favour at anytime. I believe in the players we have and on our day we can match anyone. 
It will be a tough game but we are at home. Hopefully with a good support it will push the players to perform. Win lose or draw i just want them to step up and leave nothing at the side. It’s a game to look forward to that’s for sure.” 

Like racing a Dacia against a Ferrari

“”

Manager Chris Anderson has challenged his players to defy the odds again and get a result away to big spending Kelty.

We have an excellent spirit in the camp and one of the best groups I’ve worked with in terms of commitment but we will need a bit of luck to go our way on sat.

I was approached by an agent during the week to sign a player – he wanted a big wage and I suspect an avenue to take my job so I said no. What happens is Kelty go and sign him as a squad player. The gulf in finances between the two teams is huge but it won’t stop us giving it our all.

We have Liam Ireland back from suspension and a few more who were unavailable last week. The Christmas period will decide our season for that there is no doubt.  Everyone is writing us off which is fine. Let’s just see where our effort takes us.

The Vale is an original member of the lowland league and one of the oldest clubs in Scottish football and it’s our job to make sure it stays where it belongs.

Home Comforts

Ahead of Saturday’s game against Spartans, Manager Chris Anderson issues a rallying cry to his players to start taking advantage of home turf.

“A lot of teams don’t like playing at Victoria Park, it’s a bit cold and windy and we play on this funny surface we call grass.  In order for us to stay up we have to win our home games against Gretna, Edinburgh Uni and Dalbeattie. We know that Spartans will be a tough game and anything we get will be a bonus as they have a superior team to us. It will be a bit of a shot to nothing for us.

This is by far and away the nicest group of players I have been involved with , young and willing to learn but nice doesn’t win football matches. If we are to stay up we will need to be ruthless and show guts when the chips are down.

Hopefully there will be a good support on sat as I know the locals are desperate for us to do well. They know how hard the players are working for the club and the players have the ability to start winning games.

Keep the faith.

Chris”

Public Meeting – Tuesday 12 Nov, 7.30pm, Vale Club

All supporters and interested parties are invited to a public meeting on Tuesday 12 November 2019, at 7.30pm, in the Vale Club.

The SFA have confirmed that all licensed clubs will require to have floodlights from summer 2020. Failure to do so will result in the license being revoked. This would mean expulsion from the Lowland League, exclusion from participation in the Scottish Cup, loss of SFA Club License grant, and would put the future existence of the club in serious doubt.

The meeting will discuss the floodlight issue, as well as the general lack of satisfactory football facilities in Innerleithen.