Kirkcaldy & Dysart ready for new season on and off the pitch

General Secretary Matt Lawson says the club has been working hard as they make the step up from the Junior set up but still await confirmation of who next season’s opponents will be.

“There will be two First Division Conferences of 16 teams each,” he said, “actual teams in each conference have not yet decided due to Bo’ness United awaiting confirmation that they have been awarded a licence.

“If they obtain a licence they will be promoted to Lowland League and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts shall move up to the Premier League.”

Provisional league placings have been advised based on last season’s league positions on a points per game basis.

Existing East of Scotland teams will be placed first followed by the returning Eyemouth United, then teams which were Junior last season and then amateurs.

Teams will then be placed in a conference alternately.

“Matt says: “Based on expectations Kirkcaldy & Dysart will be in a conference comprising of five Fife teams, five East Lothian teams, three Edinburgh teams two teams from the Borders and one from Stirlingshire.

“There has been a lot of talk about the increased travelling in the East of Scotland League, but, realistically, apart from the two visits to the Borders travelling will not be dissimilar to previous seasons.”

As well as league matches there are several cup competitions in the pipeline for Kirkcaldy & Dysart to compete in.

“The one with the most participants is the South Region Challenge Cup,” Matt says, “which includes all of the teams from the Lowland League, the East of Scotland Leagues, the South of Scotland League and the new West of Scotland Leagues – almost 160 teams.

“Its a more than adequate replacement for the Scottish Junior Cup. I would imagine that in view of what will almost certainly be a shortened season, League matches will take priority.”

As the club awaits the green light to begin the new season there has been a flurry of activity behind the scenes in preparation.

“Most of last season’s squad has committed for a further year,” Matt says.

“We have also agreed terms with a number of new players so we will have a mix of youngsters and two or three experienced players.

“We’ll be announcing them once their current arrangements at other club’s expire.

“We shall also be running an U20 squad led by Paul Browne which will play on Friday evenings. Due to the coronavirus we have as yet to firm up on a venue but they shall play in Kirkcaldy.

“The U20 rules also allows two over age players in each league match.”

He added: “All players will be registered for Kirkcaldy & Dysart FC making a total squad of around 35-40.”

Off the pitch Matt says the club has also been busy with some cosmetic changes to Alex Penman Park.

“A new perimeter fence will be erected and we are re-developing a hospitality suite and improving the already adequate toilet facilities.

“Anything we do from an infrastructure viewpoint is with an eye on eventually applying for a licence which would allow us entry to the Scottish Cup.

“When the season starts we shall be well prepared both on and off the park.”