Impressive plans for new Louth league are unveiled
IMPRESSIVE plans to rebrand and turn the Dundalk Junior Soccer League into an all-Louth league open to clubs located within a 35-minute radius of each other as far as Carrickmacross, were presented on Thursday night last.
Fifteen clubs were represented at the launch and 21 have expressed interest in taking part in the revamped league, comprised of current members and clubs who in the past competed in the league and have played in the North East League for the last while.
Also among them are leading Drogheda clubs Boyne Harps - the current North East League champions - and their precedessors Newfoundwell who have been one of the leading lights in that league in the last number of years.
The Harps and Newfoundwell clubs notified the organisers in advance that they couldn’t attend, but Tully Bookmakers Cup holders Muirhevnamor and other leading North East League clubs Bellurgan United, Rock Celtic, Ardee Celtic and Carrick Rovers were represented, along with newly-crowned Division 2 champions Bay FC.
Carlingford, who had a distinguished history in the league down the years, and currently compete in the North Louth League, were also represented.
The proposals, which have been worked upon over the past few months, are for the 2019 season to run from March to the end of September, with the cooperation of the Louth branch of the Referees Association, and for three divisions - Premier, Championship and A League. There will be relegation and play-offs, togetheer with three cup competitions, retaining the names of the present trophies.
The league also intend to run again an Under-19 league after the success of the initial venture last summer, with a league and cup competition.
Two key questions emerged that will decide whether the North East teams participate in the revamped league. One is whether there is any barrier to these clubs moving to the Louth League and that point remains to be clarified.
As many as seven out of the nine teams that contested the Premier Division of the North East League before Christmas could conceivably make the switch, but most on the night indicated that they were undecided.
One of the club delegates articulated that the decision - if they are free to make it - will depend on what their fellow clubs decide.
They needed to know each others’ intentions, and time is pressing as the North East League and the new league are both due to start in March and run parallel over the summer months.
The meeting opted to reconvene this Thursday for the clubs to give a definite answer on whether or not to participate.
They were asked to fully commit to the revamped league if they decided to move, by entering their first teams and second-string sides.
Fifteen clubs were represented at the launch and 21 have expressed interest in taking part