Lads Club to take a break from Junior football

By Ross McTavish

Published:

IN LIMBO: Lads Club's Cammy Bruce in action against Banchory last season.

ABERDEEN Lads Club juniors will not play any football next season.

The club’s eight-man committee have decided that the Jamieson Park side will enter a period of abeyance.

A lack of players, continuing problems over Lads Club’s Woodside ground and disappointment at missing out on promotion to the Superleague were all cited as the reasons behind the decision.

Club secretary Alistair Hendry said: “The committee met on Saturday to discuss the situation.

“A decision had to be made, and it’s basically down to a lack of players and the commotion at the end of last season.”

Lads Club finished third in the First Division, behind Banchory St Ternan and Lewis United, who were both promoted amid much controversy.

Despite being homeless due to the Chris Anderson Stadium being demolished, Lewis successfully won the right to go up to the top flight.

They will be joined by First Division champions Banchory, after their appeal against a 12-point deduction was upheld.

As those two clubs wrangled with the North Region Junior Football Association, Lads Club were left in limbo, to much frustration.

Hendry said: “These things hit the players badly.

“We started pre-season with seven players and I reckon we have lost around 10 players from last season.

“That was a massive body blow and we did try to get new players, but we were virtually right back at square one.”

Promotion would have caused difficulties for Lads Club because Jamieson Park does not meet Superleague standards as the changing rooms are too far away from the pitch.

The committee hope by taking a break they will be able to address this issue and sign new players, before returning for the 2009/10 season.

Hendry said: “We are disappointed to take a year out, but the committee is now looking at taking things forward.”