St Andrews fans relishing a Fife derby fest next season

The East of Scotland League has announced the make-up of the First Division Conferences after Bo’ness United’s promotion was confirmed by the Lowland League.

Saints will face league games against five sides from last season’s Conference A including Leith Athletic and Haddington Athletic, as well as taking part in Fife derbies versus Rosyth, Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Kennoway Star Hearts and Thornton Hibs.

Next season should be the last where conferences are required to integrate new teams from the junior ranks but only the top two sides in each section will be promoted to the Premier League following the vote back in April.

However, the inter-conference games will be scrapped and decisions still have to be made regarding which cup fixtures will be contested.

St Andrews United will again be part of Conference A yet the bottom eight teams will be relegated to a newly created eighth tier next spring.

Saints spokesman Donald Gellatly said: “Everybody on the committee is delighted to be talking about football again, though matches are highly unlikely to take place until October at the earliest.

“Whilst Scottish Premiership football returns this weekend, clubs in the East of Scotland League will have to wait until phase four of lock down before getting back to business on the park. At least the players are now allowed to train in a Covid 19 secure environment but we don’t yet have a date for the first fixture of the season.

“The players already on our books are desperate to resume competitive action, though we are not yet allowed to involve trialists in training so new signings will have to wait. Everybody at the Rec is desperately hoping flu cases remain low so that we can start enjoying football again as well as rearranging our centenary events.

“Obviously, we want fans to feel safe when they visit our ground but we don’t want to arrange centenary events, such as the special friendly with Greenock, if spectators can’t attend.”

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