Hail the Fifers, 3rd division champs

By: Ian Rose | March 17th, 2008

It might not be making the cover of any major football magazines anytime soon, but the fact is that this past weekend, the first league title of the year in Britain, probably in Europe, was decided. East Fife wrapped up their first league championship in 60 years on Saturday with their 3-0 win over East Stirling and taking home the Scottish Third Division (actually the fourth tier) title. The last time the Fifers raised a major trophy, it was the 1954 league cup. It’s been a long wait for the fans in Leven, and they deserve it. Congratulations to the all-Scottish Fifers.

The other end of that fixture was just as interesting. East Stirling has been at the bottom of the Third Division five years in a row, and thus, at the bottom of the entire SFL system. Scotland lacks an organized pyramid system for promotion and relegation beyond the top four levels, but under new rules, such a consistently underachieving team has to reapply for league membership, and it looks like they’ll be out at the end of this season unless major changes happen. That leaves the door open for an applicant from the Highland League or one of the other regional leagues to throw in their hat. For my own self, I’d like to see Cove Rangers from the Highland League get a shot (even though my personal loyalties lie with Nairn County in the HL). Cove has done well in cup competitions, and has a reasonably large fan base, for a local side. Wouldn’t be too bad to see another side from Aberdeen in the league either. We’ll see how it pans out. With Gretna falling apart, there may actually be two open spots in the league.

Category: Scottish League

Tags: Cove Rangers, East Fife, East Stirling, Highland League, League structure, promotion, Relegation, Scottish League, SFL, Third Division

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• Tavis |  March 17th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

  
  
  

  That’s excellent for the Fifers, and to have locked it up so soon is really an accomplishment.

  Of course, eventually I’d like to see a restructuring of the Scottish pyramid. With an addition of 6 teams into the league structure, it would make a nice sixteen team per, three division pyramid.

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• Ian |  March 17th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

  
  
  

  I’m all for that as well. There are so many different messes to clean up within the SFA/SFL/SPL, it’s sometimes hard to tell where to start.

  Posted from United States

  

• Matt |  March 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

  
  
  

  I think the SFA needs to really look at their requirements for the SPL and either not allow teams that aren’t ready or loosen their requirements. I’m all for the second more, as I have to wonder if Gretna would be able to survive (well financially, at least) without having to spend all that cash for their stadium.

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• Matt |  March 18th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  
  
  

  Heard a story that the Fifers weren’t allowed to celebrate with champagne after their title because of the no glass bottles in football stadiums law…haha

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• Ian |  March 18th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

  
  
  

  Yeah … really lame. The police stopped them three different times, and would have arrested the club staff if they came out again with them because all that glass caused a danger to the families around them. What a load. I understand why people in the stands can’t have glass bottles, but you can’t celebrate your first title in 60 years with a bottle of champagne in the middle of the pitch? That’s ridiculous, and sad for the Fifers.

  Posted from United States

  

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