I was texting with a friend and local high-up club exec yesterday- sounds and smells like Balls- and we both agreed it was an interesting concept that clubs like Surrey United have to have a hard, serious look at, and not a lot of time.
Basically, two decisions for clubs like SU, CMF, et all:
The failure of the VMSL / VISL / FVSL to get together years ago and essentially create this will now haunt them. Those mens leagues will not become irrelevant- older players will still need a place to play- but they would presumably be watered down of young talent. You'd suspect that, upon establishment of the Tier III league, that it would be granted a certain number of Provincial Championship berths. Eventually, you'd see the league expand it's number of games into what would otherwise be a full season of 18 matches plus Cups (Provincial, Amway), played over late Spring / Summer / Early fall, to match the rest of the country.
Basically, this is an endeavor to correct a longtime wrong. It's an endeavor to fill in the cobblestones of a broken pathway. Anyone who truly believes the big three leagues are part of a cradle-to-grave pathway are fooling themselves. Some clubs are trying to integrate, and good for them for doing so, but essentially, if you find yourself in playing Premier in any of the three leagues, you are on your last stop. That's OK, there is nothing wrong with that. We have some good quality football being played in those leagues...but it's still the last stop.
Here is the huge irony...we may yet see a team from the Valley win Provincials, but that team will not be a FVSL team, it'll be a Tier III team.
@LION, you've been conspicuously quiet. What say you?
Basically, two decisions for clubs like SU, CMF, et all:
- Is this concept viable, and is it right for our club?
- Can we as a club justify financing $70K / year to this endeavor?
The failure of the VMSL / VISL / FVSL to get together years ago and essentially create this will now haunt them. Those mens leagues will not become irrelevant- older players will still need a place to play- but they would presumably be watered down of young talent. You'd suspect that, upon establishment of the Tier III league, that it would be granted a certain number of Provincial Championship berths. Eventually, you'd see the league expand it's number of games into what would otherwise be a full season of 18 matches plus Cups (Provincial, Amway), played over late Spring / Summer / Early fall, to match the rest of the country.
Basically, this is an endeavor to correct a longtime wrong. It's an endeavor to fill in the cobblestones of a broken pathway. Anyone who truly believes the big three leagues are part of a cradle-to-grave pathway are fooling themselves. Some clubs are trying to integrate, and good for them for doing so, but essentially, if you find yourself in playing Premier in any of the three leagues, you are on your last stop. That's OK, there is nothing wrong with that. We have some good quality football being played in those leagues...but it's still the last stop.
Here is the huge irony...we may yet see a team from the Valley win Provincials, but that team will not be a FVSL team, it'll be a Tier III team.
@LION, you've been conspicuously quiet. What say you?