Much soulsearching for Bluebell

Dundonald Bluebell were one of the six Courier Country clubs to switch from the Junior ranks and join the Scottish Football Association’s pyramid system.

And yesterday they issued a statement indicating that after 80 years of having been mainly members of the Scottish Junior FA, it was a decision they only made after great soulsearching.

Next season, the Cardenden club will ply their trade in the East of Scotland League – the sixth tier of the Senior set-up.

Having confirmed it was not a move they took lightly, general manager Allan Halliday admitted: “We are certain it was done in the best interests of the club.

“With top East of Scotland Junior sides like Linlithgow Rose, Bonnyrigg Rose and Bo’ness United also making the switch and in total 25 East Region clubs also leaving hugely influenced our own exit.

“As a club, recently we have come a long way in a short period of time, establishing ourselves last season as a top four Superleague side.

“We have worked hard to get where we are and when it transpired all the top-flight clubs south of the Tay, with the exception of Kennoway Star Hearts, were departing, we felt we had no alternative but to join them.

“If we hadn’t, and with no disrespect to the teams left in the East Region, our income and the standard of opposition would have dropped significantly”.

Halliday continued: “As a club we are as ambitious as ever and hope to challenge for promotion to the Lowland League as quickly as possible.

“Having been drawn in conference B next season which contains number of quality sides including old foes Bonnyrigg Rose and Bo’ness United, the target is to finish in the top five to ensure we play in what will be the East Premier East of Scotland league the following season.

“In addition, we are aiming to working to obtaining licensing which will allow the club to participate in the senior Scottish Cup in forthcoming years.

“Ground improvements have already started and we are also delighted to announce the creation of Dundonald Bluebell Football Academy as a pathway partnership with local youth team Glenrothes Athletic, this will result in all 10 Glenrothes Athletic football teams from the ages of four to 19 years being under the Bluebell umbrella where we will assist the Athletic coaches to nurture players of the future.”